Chapter 25

Stefan and Caroline drove in silence as they headed towards their destination. It had been a few hours and Katherine had yet to stir. Guilt was stirring inside Stefan. Katherine had wanted to tell him something but he hadn't wanted to listen and he had been saved by Damon's phone call. But what he had seen now only made him want to know the truth. What did she want to tell him?

Stefan was a hundred percent positive that the witches she had went to would have never punished her for querying after Klaus; after all they would only be too eager to rid the world of Klaus. So whatever Katherine did it was personal and she had suffered by the looks of it. If she hadn't made it to them in time she would be dead by now.

Katherine stirred in the backseat. Her eyes opened and a white light flooded her eyes. Katherine groaned and clapped a hand over her eyes as she moved herself into a seated position.

"Katherine ... are you alright?" Caroline asked as she looked back at the brunette with concern.

Katherine mumbled incoherently.

"What did you say?" Caroline asked failing to hear what Katherine had said.

"I said do I bloody look okay?" Katherine sneered as she tried to open her eyes and was greeted to the same white light.

"What's wrong?" Stefan looked into the rear view mirror and saw that Katherine could not open her eyes.

"I can't open them. It burns like fire." Katherine groaned as she leaned back into the seat her eyes still closed.

"It's a blinding spell." Stefan sighed.

"Katherine's blind?" Caroline asked outraged. What kind of witches did she come across?

"It's only temporarily. They must have known she would survive her attack. I guess they're just punishing her for fun now." Stefan shrugged his shoulders.

"Damn witches." Katherine said through gritted teeth.

"What did you do, Katherine?" Stefan asked ignoring Katherine's remark.

Katherine stiffened. She had wanted her answers and she had gotten them. Yes she had paid the price for her mistake and due to the fact that she couldn't see a damn thing, just meant that she was still paying for it. But she knew that there was no way that she could tell them what she had done. It had honestly been a mistake but she didn't think they would see it that way.

"I stole their candy." Katherine spat out sarcastically.

"You must have done something really terrible to get this response from them." Caroline frowned aware that Katherine was being obtuse. Caroline knew that she wouldn't be very forth coming with what had happened but she still tried to coax Katherine into spilling the beans.

"Dealing with witches is one of the occupational hazards of being a vampire. They like to bring us down to size; make us feel human just for a little while." Katherine sneered.

Caroline glanced at Stefan. He shook his head. They both knew that was all that they were going to get out of Katherine for now. After sometime Katherine spoke again:

"What no interrogation from Sherlock and Watson?"

Caroline rolled her eyes.

"We know better not to push you, Katherine."

"For all we know you may have deserved what you got." Stefan said.

Katherine didn't respond. Yes she had gotten what she deserved but her punishment wasn't nearly enough.

The trio drove down the streets of Portland until they came to a dirt road that lead them towards a cabin situated deep in the forest. Caroline's heart fell to her stomach when she saw Elena hugging herself from the porch watching their car. Stefan glanced sideways and noticed Caroline's distraught features. He stopped the car and reached over and grabbed her hand in his before smiling faintly.

"Whatever happens nothing changes." He spoke softly aware that Katherine was listening.

Caroline immediately understood. Nothing changes between them. Caroline nodded before she exited the vehicle and was engulfed in a tight hug from Bonnie. Stefan moved out the car and helped Katherine climb out the back of the car. Elena stopped her pursuit towards him when she saw that he was holding Katherine upright. Damon and Jeremy followed behind her.

"What's wrong with her?" Damon asked looking pointedly at Katherine with distrust in his eyes.

"Witch attack." Stefan answered.

Bonnie dropped her arms from around Caroline and made her way towards Katherine. She gasped when she felt the darkness rolling of Katherine in waves.

"Dark magic." Bonnie whispered wide eyed.

Katherine snorted from Stefan's side.

"Can you help me or not?" She snarled out.

Bonnie frowned for a second before she too closed her eyes. A few seconds passed and then Katherine's body went limp in Stefan's arms.

"What did you do to her?" Caroline asked.

Bonnie shifted uneasily before she reopened her eyes.

"I undid the blinding spell." Bonnie frowned.

Jeremy moved towards Bonne's side.

"Is that why she passed out?" He wrapped an arm around her waist.

Bonnie nodded.

"Dark magic weakens the host whether it's entering or exiting its host."

Elena frowned but she moved forward and placed a kiss on Stefan's cheek. Stefan stiffened uneasily, Elena hadn't noticed but Damon and Caroline had seen the gesture.

"Hey." Elena whispered as she pulled back.

"Hi." Stefan answered.

Damon glanced towards Caroline. Caroline could feel Damon's eyes on her but she refused to look at them instead she focused all her attention on Bonnie.

"Is this your family cabin?" Caroline asked.

Bonnie shook herself from her momentarily stupor and smiled at her friend.

"Yes. Its gram's family cabin it's been passed down for generations."

Damon moved forward and pulled Katherine's limp body from Stefan and slumped her roughly over his shoulder.

"Meaning it's protected by witchy voodoo." He called over his shoulder as he walked back into the cabin with Katherine.

Elena moved forward and wrapped her arm around Stefan's waist. Stefan glanced at Caroline but she wasn't looking at them. All he wanted to do was drop Elena's arms and comfort Caroline but they had both agreed that they would keep up the charade till Klaus was defeated.

"Is it safe for us vampires?" Caroline asked.

"Yeah they seem to be fine but every now and again Damon get's hit with something in his head ... hence the foul mood he's in." Bonnie couldn't help but grin.

Caroline giggled. Perhaps this wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. She could easily sit back and watch Damon be on the receiving end of the witches taunts and antics. However when she glanced back at Stefan with Elena by his side she couldn't help but feel that she was going to be in for a tough time.

An: I just wanted to say thank you for the reviews on the last chapter – so glad you guys enjoyed it. Next Tuesday the next chapter will be posted, however from the 5th – 15th I am on vacation so updates will proceed as normal after the 17th of December. Just wanted to really butter you all up and say thanks again for being my continued inspiration for this story!