A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…..though I wished I owned the rest….*sighs*


Stefan skipped rocks as he stood on the edge of the dock, watching them hop along leaving perfect infinite waves in their wake. His thoughts drifted to the night before when Tyler and Brady had ambushed him and Elena in the hopes of killing them both. He also thought of Brooklyn and how she had been handling the entire drama with Damon. Elena had been so kind as to fill him in about his brother's latest exploits involving a certain blonde reporter.

As he watched the last rock slip from between his fingers, his phone began to vibrate and didn't have to venture a guess as to who was calling.

"Hello?"

"Well I've showered, shaved and had breakfast and very relaxed…."

"Nice," Stefan shook his head. "Lemme guess you had the early riser?"

"Oh ha ha…But on a lighter note Tyler Lockwood ran away from home last night!"

"How did you know?"

"Well I heard it from Sheriff Forbes who heard it from a very distraught Carol Lockwood thus ending our werewolf chapter and bringing us too…"

"Killing Elijah," Stefan finished his brother's words. "So Elijah plans on sacrificing Brook and Elena?"

"Exactly!"

"Well it won't be easy since he's crafty and managed to keep two steps ahead of us."

"Well I've got a crafty little dagger."

"He's an Original Damon and who knows what that all encompasses."

"You need to keep Elena at the lake house and as far away from Elijah as you can."

"What about Brook?"

"Leave her to us. Rick's on Elijah duty anyways. He's tagging along with Jenna and Don Juan to see if he can get anything else from him."

Stefan snorted doubtfully at his brother's plan. "So I take it Alaric and Brook didn't kick down the door wanting your head on a stick?"

"Not anymore….."

"Alright Damon what happened?"

"Jules and her merry band of wolves ambushed Rick and me at the boarding house but then Elijah showed up with Brook."

"And she didn't kill you?"

"No….."

"Damon, Brook and Alaric love you more than you can even begin to comprehend. Why can't you get that through your head?"

"Yeah well she made that clear when she took care of the last one standing."

"Well just don't jump in head first to anything like you normally do Damon."

"Oh trust me Stefan I'm crossing all of my T's. I don't want any surprises."

"Wow, Damon, you're actually gonna be careful for once?"

"Yes Stefan, I've become you….How tragic for both of us. Gotta run, gotta murder to plan….Busy day."

Stefan hung up and turned to watch Elena as she continued reading Jonathan Gilbert's journals. They would stay at the lake house until Elijah was dead.


Alaric pulled up beside Jenna's car and sprinted through the woods. He knew she was meeting Elijah to survey the old properties of the Founding Families but Alaric knew the vampire was looking for something else. As he hurried through the thickets and underbrush, Alaric spotted Elijah and Jenna walking through a clearing.

Good…..They're still there….

"My research showed me this area was settled a full two centuries before any the Founding Families settled here."

"Really as in Salem Massachusetts? Well then if that's true then the Founding Families didn't find anything. But it was probably the men who made a big deal about it anyways."

Elijah heard the approaching hurried steps and caught Alaric's scent. He knew Damon had more than likely sent his errand boy to spy on them.

Salvatore won't give up…..

"Alaric," Jenna smiled as he slowed and casually approached. She turned to Elijah and introduced him to the vampire.

"Elijah this is my friend Alaric Saltzman."

"I heard from Brook you and Elijah would be surveying the property lines and I figured if it was okay I could tag along since I'm a history buff and all."

He laughed uneasily as he felt the lean dark stare of Elijah's ageless depths strike through his soul. Alaric felt the awkward silence simmer into an unspoken tension as they stood there in the clearing.

"Where to next?" Alaric hoped to break the tension he sensed gathering between all three of them.

"Well I was hoping to look at the freed slave property owners. I understand some believed that the descendents of the slaves were the true keepers of American history," Elijah made a veiled indication about Bonnie which made Alaric cringe.

"In that case I need to get the rest of the surveys from my car," Jenna started back along the trail towards their cars leaving Alaric and Elijah alone in the clearing.

"Alaric Saltzman," Elijah smiled thinly. "Brooklyn made it very clear you were to be one of her loved ones to be protected along with Damon Salvatore."

"I know what you're doing Elijah," Alaric took a step closer towards the shorter man. "Stay the Hell away from Brook."

"Lemme think about that….How about no," Elijah's eyes briefly flashed revealing his vampire nature. "Brooklyn made the agreement as did Elena and as long as they abide by the terms than you and the others shall be spared."

"We will not let you hurt her or Elena," Alaric felt his body trembling as adrenaline slowly crept throughout his veins.

"Is that a threat Alaric? Because if it is I do not take such words lightly and you should tread perhaps a bit more wisely as they say."

"Stay the Hell away from Brook," Alaric growled. "She's been through enough without you coming into the picture."

"Oh yes I'm well aware of the dreams and visions."

The knowing smile crept up across Elijah's lips which infuriated Alaric even more. He knew if he dared to take on the Original, Elijah could easily rip him in half without a second thought. Elijah stood taller and smirked as he knew the human wouldn't make any stupid moves.

"Ah Jenna," Elijah waved as Jenna returned with the survey maps. Alaric was disgusted as he felt his stomach churning at the sight of Elijah standing so confident and victorious.

"Look I need to go," he mumbled something incoherent and hastily retreating down the trail.


Damon tapped his fingers as he sat in the booth in the middle of the Grill. Alaric had hurriedly called him, warning him about what Elijah told him in the clearing.

He knows about Brook's nightmares and visions Damon!

"Damon are you okay?" He looked over at Andie who was perched comfortably beside him. Damon smiled and nodded as his brow betrayed his true feelings.

"So what is going on with you Alaric and Brooklyn? You didn't call for over two days and then you ignore me when I get here."

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with. Stop talking," Damon grumbled. He felt hints of remorse over hurting Brooklyn and Alaric by keeping company with Andie. She had said nothing about it after helping him heal from Jules's attack but then again had stayed away since. The vampire quietly admitted he missed seeing her beautiful face as it brightened up any room she entered and how her touch chased away the stinging needles of pain from the wooden nails in his throat.

"Damon," Alaric slid in across from him and Andie. Damon's anxiety ran wild as Alaric was a few agonizing feet away from him. But the voice inside screamed at him to keep his distance, the cold unfeeling part of him. He felt Andie's hand slip beneath the table and gently massage his inner thigh. Alaric noticed the sudden shift in the vampire's position and raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Rick hey," he nodded and sat straighter in his seat. "So besides the lecture on the history of Mystic Falls, did you get anything out of Elijah?"

"No it was boring," Alaric exhaled and felt the anxiety leaving Damon. "But of course Jenna finds him charming."

"Where's Brook?" He noticed the hunter was absent and tried to keep his voice level though Alaric suppressed a laugh at his poor attempt to mask it.

"Yeah, she's home. Brook threw herself into the books and research Isobel left behind."

"Right," Damon muttered. "That's my little walking encyclopedia."

Alaric sensed Damon wasn't keen on being seen with Andie, let alone around him or Brooklyn. It was almost as if he was ashamed of it. He kept his lips sealed but continued watching with his eyes and decided to talk about it when no one was around let alone Andie Star.

"Oh look here comes Jenna with her new boyfriend," in an instant any indication of his guilt vanished, replaced with gentle sarcasm. Alaric twisted around and spied the pair strolling through and down the entrance. He had to admit Elijah was very charming but he was a vampire, an Original at that. Maybe if he were still living and breathing it would have been another story.

"Hey guys," Jenna smiled but noticed someone was missing.

"Where's Brook?"

"Oh, Brook's not feeling well," Damon covered. "Said something about a migraine, you know how that goes."

"I wanted to share the property surveys with her," Jenna sounded a little down.

"I could take them to her," Elijah offered knowing it would infuriate Damon and Alaric.

"You know I need to go and grade papers so why don't I take them?" Alaric offered as Damon flashed a secret smile towards him. "See you guys later?"

"Hey why don't we have a dinner party? In honor of Elijah of course," Andie's eyes brightened at the idea of a formal gathering. The wine and food would be of the finest products as everyone would dine in grand splendor.

"Looks as if my girl here has a great idea," Damon raised his hand, "I'll host. Let's say around seven tonight?"

"Well I'm in," Jenna chimed in.

"As am I," Elijah added. "Hopefully Brooklyn will be well enough to attend?"

"We'll see," Alaric was reluctant to attend but he needed to be there. "I'm gonna go see how Brook's holding up. Oh Damon can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure," Damon slid up and out following Alaric towards his car.

Alaric waited until they were in the parking lot before saying a word. "Brook's not gonna want to be there and you know it. Besides you need to ditch the news chick."

"Then convince her," Damon looked over at the door and noticed Elijah standing on the landing. "Look Andie is a spy and has quite the tasty blood. I'm not screwing her!"

"Then you need to do something because Brook won't wait around for you. And neither will I. We laid our cards out for you Damon now the question is will you take the hand you've been dealt or walk away?"

"Gentlemen," Elijah interrupted them. His calm and unnaturally cool demeanor was chilling. "In case either of you are considering any kind of attack or move against me, you should reconsider now or I will kill everyone in the house and you will never see Brooklyn again."

Damon straightened up and narrowed his eyes menacingly towards the Original. No one threatened them like that and lived to see another sunrise.

"Relax Elijah there aren't any ill intentions as your paranoid mind calls it."

"Very well," Elijah carefully studied Alaric and Damon's faces, hoping to catch the slightest betrayal crack through their stone expressions. "In that case I shall see you tonight and do remember my friendly warning."

Alaric and Damon traded worried looks as the Original walked away. Neither one could stand the thought of losing the fiery hunter each had come to love so fiercely.


Brooklyn tossed and turned on the bed, attacked by an unseen force. She had decided to rest until Alaric returned but her slumber quickly deteriorated into a hellish vision of blood and fire.

The flames danced around her body, challenging her to cross their deadly guard.

"Someone! Help me!"

The heat radiated like laps of acid that threatened to peel away her skin and flesh. A cruel taunting laughter filled the air around her yet she remained the only one standing.

"Don't be afraid my dear," the ancient voice whispered.

"I know that voice….Klaus!"

Footsteps crunched behind her causing Brooklyn to twist around too fast. She landed to the ground, scratching her hands and arms against the rough uncaring rocks. Brooklyn struggled to rise but Klaus pounced and pinned her down against the ground.

"I have plans for you…..Grand plans."

"Get the Hell off of me!"

"Now is that anyway to greet me? I'm so hurt."

The sarcasm rolled off his tongue and lips. Brooklyn battled to stand and fight, but her strength proved to be no match against Klaus's endless power.

"Rick! Damon! Help…." Her voice trailed off into a quiet whimper.

"Oh but they can't help you Brooklyn," Klaus hissed in her ear. He hoisted Brooklyn to her feet getting a better look at his prey. Brooklyn's eyes, once two hard orbs had softened to those of a frightened animal. Klaus grinned revealing his deadly fangs, letting them gleam in the eternal flames.

"So beautiful…."

He caressed her cheek like he was her lover, letting his fingers lightly stroke the smooth warm skin. Brooklyn jerked her head back, away from the cold vile touch but Klaus simply laughed and gripped her face firmly in his fingers.

You're mine…..My lovely….."

Brooklyn's scream died in her throat as flesh and blood was savagely ripped apart against the smooth hungry canines. Klaus feasted upon her blood, allowing it to flow down his lips and chin like a raging torrent of crimson. Brooklyn felt her life slipping between her fingers as the sinking feeling of Death slowly embraced her like a cold heavy blanket.

I decided to have Alaric lay down the law with Damon! Also a little Klaus never hurt anyone! ;) Feedback is like my crack! Feed me and I shall post sooner!