Hello wonderful readers, I am sorry these chapters took so long to go up. Many factors, both in my life and the flow of the story lead to it. I will not bore you with exact reasons.

What was originally going to be nine or ten chapters has become twelve. And rather than drag it out any longer I am posting the last four chapters all at once. I hope you enjoy them!

Ch.9 Shadow Hunter

(CLARE)

"Thanks for telling me the truth Jeremy," I smile as Ric begins driving us back to their house.

"Hey, it doesn't do any good to lie. You'd know something was wrong and be worried anyway," Jeremy says not so subtly hinting to Elena.

"Don't worry about Stefan and Damon, they'll be fine," Elena tries to assure me. I nod and look out the window at the new falling snow, I don't have much time to worry as it's a short drive back to their house.

"Christmas movie time," Elena grins in this elatedly childish way that makes me smile, "you want to watch with us Clare?"

"It's tradition," Jeremy explains getting out of the car.

"Uh, sure sounds fun. Just as soon as I change out of this dress, it's much too nice to lounge on a sofa watching movies."

"I'm headed to bed, don't stay up to late," Ric comments as we enter the house. He says it with a yawn and yet something in his voice tells me that he's not actually going to bed yet.

"You can sleep in my room, I just changed the sheets this morning, so they're clean," Jeremy says.

I smile and follow Jeremy and Elena up the stairs. Jeremy's room is a fairly typical room for a teenage boy, actually it reminds me a bit of Adam's. Jeremy takes a pillow from his bed and his pajamas before leaving the room. I unzip my dress and let it fall around my feet as I open my purse to retrieve my phone. I do it to call Damon, to see if he and Stefan made it home and are okay, only when I look at my phone I see a missed call from Adam.

"It's about time, we were just starting to talk about coming to find you," Adam answers.

"You don't even know where I am," I giggle as I open my bag.

"We could find you. So, how is Christmas with Damon?" Adam questions while I pull my pajamas out of my bag.

"It's been good, Damon and Stefan are good company. As is everyone else I've met here, we just got back from a Christmas ball. How's Christmas at your grandparents?"

"Good, but I think Bianca is getting sick of all the attention from our family. She and Drew escaped for a while tonight."

"Tell Drew and Bianca I said hi, I'll see you guys when I'm back in Toronto."

"When are you coming back?" Adam questions.

"A few days, I don't think I'll be spending New Year's here and we start school again just after that," I reply.

"We go home on the 27th, if you haven't told me that you're coming back by the 28th then we will come looking for you," Adam insists.

"Adam!"

"Goodnight Clare, Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Adam," I hang up with Adam and quickly change into pajamas before calling Damon.

"Worried?"

"You could have told me that you didn't want me at your place because you were worried about something."

"I was afraid, being as stubborn as you are, that you wouldn't stay at the Gilbert's. I couldn't have you here with an unfamiliar scent in the air. Especially one that circled our house," Damon replies.

"So, I'm supposed to sleep soundly at the Gilbert's while you and Stefan are in potential danger?"

"We're vampires, whatever it is we can handle it. If you're here then I'll be worried about you, and you are not immortal. I know you're safe there, we'll be over in the morning."

Damon hangs up and I growl with slight annoyance at my phone, since I can't growl at Damon. After brushing my teeth, I go downstairs and find Jeremy and Elena on the sofa. Elena puts on White Christmas, Jeremy hands me a bowl of popcorn and I settle back to watch the movie.

It's nice to watch the old movie with Jeremy and Elena, it evokes memories of happy Christmases when I was a child. Christmas Eve with Mom, Dad and Darcy, drinking cider and hot chocolate after dinner. Arguing with Darcy over which Christmas movie to watch. Going to midnight mass and returning home to open one present, always pajamas or a new bathrobe.

The memories are nice, but also painful. As much as I am enjoying my Christmas with Damon, Stefan, Jeremy, Elena, Ric and even Klaus, I do miss Christmas with my family. Of course Mom and Glen thought I'd be with my dad for Christmas. My dad, well he seems to forget that I exist half the time, so it wasn't much of a surprise when he changed his plans at the last minute.

"Alright, time for bed," Elena yawns when the movie is over. "Goodnight Jeremy," Elena says hugging her brother.

"Goodnight girls," Jeremy replies.

I say goodnight and follow Elena up the stairs. Jeremy's bed is comfortable, but I still can't fall asleep. I'm worried about Damon and Stefan; I even consider calling Damon again. I'm thinking about past Christmases, and my family. Somewhere near dawn I fall asleep, and wake to the smell of pancakes a few short hours later. I change into the clothes Damon packed for me, at least he packed me a nice outfit for Christmas day. If I were at home for Christmas with my family (Mom, Glen and Jake anyway) I would just go downstairs in my pajamas. Not here, I get fully ready for my day before going down to the kitchen where Ric, Elena and Jeremy are just putting pancakes on the kitchen table.

"Merry Christmas Clare," Elena grins.

"Merry Christmas," I smile.

"We made breakfast," Jeremy says motioning for me to sit down.

"We'll do presents after breakfast," Elena tells me as I sit down, "when Jeremy and I were little we'd wake before dawn and race down to the Christmas tree."

"Darcy and I would do that too," I smile taking a couple pancakes from the stack. My smile fades a little as I remember the last truly happy Christmas spent with my entire family. Not wanting to ruin the day I shake the memory from my mind and enjoy breakfast.

We haven't even finished breakfast before the doorbell rings. Ric gets up to answer the door, and returns a moment later followed by the Salvatore brothers.

"Does this mean nothing happened last night?" Jeremy asks while chewing his food. Elena smacks him for talking with his mouth full.

"Not a thing, the night was quiet, the scent is fading," Damon replies. Stefan sits down by Elena, while Damon stands behind me.

"Hopefully, that means whatever it was decided you were too much of a threat," Ric comments.

Us humans finish eating and clean up before going to the living room. The tree is nicely decorated and in some ways it feels very much like home. I expect there to be no presents for me, after all I was invited rather last minute to spend Christmas with people I hardly know. I sit on a chair, Damon sits on the arm, and I spend a while watching mostly Elena and Jeremy opening gifts, Ric has a few. Elena got a couple for Stefan and even one for Damon.

"This is for you Clare, I hope you like it we didn't have a lot of time to shop," Elena says handing me a gift.

"I didn't think you had any, I didn't have time to shop and I wasn't expecting anything," I smile gratefully as I begin opening the wrapping paper on the box. "It's beautiful, thank you everyone," I smile taking out the journal and pen.

"Merry Christmas Clare," Elena grins.

"Our turn," Stefan says he moves so fast we don't see him, and returns a moment later with a box of Christmas gifts. He hands one to Ric, it's a weapon of some sort, Ric is pleased. Jeremy is next, he gets a very old book, it has something to do with his family history. Jeremy and Ric both seem excited about this, Elena does not. "Just don't use whatever you learn against us," Stefan says.

"Never, thanks guys," Jeremy grins as he begins looking through the book.

"Elena this is for you from Damon," Stefan says handing Elena a large square box.

"I found it months ago," Damon replies in a dry voice. He's trying to sound like he doesn't care, but even I can hear the strain in his voice and I know he does.

Elena gives him a soft smile and opens the box, inside is a smaller, very ornate carved wooden box. It looks very old, and it's very beautiful. There's nothing in the box, it's lined with velvet. The gift brings a soft smile over her lips, she runs her fingers over the carvings.

"Thank you Damon it's beautiful, where did you find it?"

"Very far away, I believe Stefan has a gift for you as well," Damon replies.

Stefan produces a very small golden bag with silver tissue paper. Elena reaches in and pulls out a very small velvet covered box. She opens the lid and the hinge squeaks a little, when Elena sees what's inside her entire face lights up. She gasps with surprise and smiles with gleeful elation as she pulls a beautiful ring from the box. White gold or silver band with three colored gemstones.

"Stefan, it's amazing," Elena exhales before overtaking his lips in a passionate kiss.

"They could be a while," Jeremy remarks while he begins to gather the discarded wrapping paper.

"Here," Damon says handing me a small box he pulls from his pocket.

It's wrapped only with a small red bow, I untie the bow and open the box. Inside is a velvet pouch, I open the pouch, my fingertips enjoy the soft satin of the inside of the pouch. Then my fingers come upon something cold and metal. Curling my fingers around the chain I pull it from the pouch, a necklace. On a silver chain with a gorgeous pendant swinging on the chain. I let the pendant rest on my hand to see it better and really look at it. It's a teardrop shape beautifully decorated, and suspended in the center of the teardrop is a green stone.

"It's beautiful Damon, incredibly beautiful, it's exactly like one my…"

"Your great-grandmother had, I know. I saw her wearing it in one of your family pictures, and in another I saw you wearing it as a little girl. I saw in your eyes the way you admired it, so I found it. At least one exactly like it."

"Damon I can't take this, it must have cost a fortune," I insist trying to hand the necklace back to him.

"Yes you can, I got it for you, and I went out of my way to find it. I would be insulted if you didn't accept the gift," Damon replies curling my fingers around the necklace.

"Thank you Damon Salvatore, it's beautiful. Quite possibly the most thoughtful gift I've been given," I smile wide and give Damon a grateful kiss.

When we break from the kiss he puts the necklace on me. I help Jeremy and Elena clean up the living room, Damon and Ric disappear, for a short time.

"Jeremy and I are going to Bonnie's, you're welcome to come with us Clare," Elena says when we're done cleaning.

"Actually, I believe it's time we return home," Damon answers for me.

"I'll go get my bag, thank you for letting me stay last night, and for a lovely Christmas morning. I had a far better Christmas than I expected to," I grin before hugging Elena, Jeremy and Ric.

I go upstairs to Jeremy's room and pack my things, including my new gifts. When I return downstairs Jeremy and Elena are gone. Ric follows us back to the Salvatore's home, he's not the only company we have, Klaus is waiting when we arrive.

"NO," Damon yells leaping out of the car and running over to Klaus. "You very nearly killed her last time, you cannot see her anymore!"

"Damon," I call getting out of the car, I start to run over, but Ric grabs me. Stefan on the other hand walks calmly over to the faceoff between Damon and Klaus.

"He's right Klaus, we can't allow Clare to be alone with you. She's our guest and we need to keep her safe. She has to go home in a couple of days, if she comes back nearly drained it only endangers everyone," Stefan says in a placid tone. Damon meanwhile has his fists clenched and his fangs bared.

"I did promise Klaus I'd spend time with him," I remind them.

"Yes," he almost hisses with a smug smirk, "she did."

"Then spend it with her here, where we can watch you and make sure you don't kill her," Stefan says.

"I'll be watching very closely," Damon growls.

"Let's go inside," Ric comments.

He lets go of me and I retrieve my bag from the car. I walk inside and straight up to the room I've been staying in. I set down my bag and turn around gasping when I find Klaus standing there.

"I hate when you vampires do that," I scold him.

"Damon gave you this," Klaus says fingering the pendant on my new necklace. It wasn't a question it was a statement.

"Yes, for Christmas."

"Klaus, out of her room," Damon snarls. Klaus simply smiles and saunters out of the room. "I don't trust him at all," Damon says coming over and putting an arm around me.

"So, if you didn't see anything last night, and there's no threat, why did Ric come back with us?" I inquire as we begin walking downstairs.

"We have some things to discuss, and besides he didn't want to visit the witch," Damon replies with a shrug. He's not going to tell me anymore than that. I shake my head. "We'll be just in the next room, if I hear anything I don't like I'll be back in here," Damon warns Klaus before leaving the room.

"Having a nice Christmas?" Klaus asks.

"Yes, it's been lovely," I respond sitting on the sofa.

"It's not over yet," Klaus says. He retrieves a lavishly wrapped box and hands it to me.

I pull open the ribbon, unwrap the pretty sliver and blue paper, and pull the lid off the white paper box. Inside is a book, a very old book, one of my favorite books, I open the cover and look at the first panel. It's a first edition, it's nearly two hundred years old, it's in wonderful condition and it was very very expensive.

"It's incredible, thank you Klaus," I smile kissing is cheek.

"I saw it on your shelf in your house, I knew you would like it," Klaus smiles.

"I do, it's wonderful and must have been very hard to find, and very expensive."

"You're worth it," Klaus smiles stroking my cheek.

"I'm hungry, will you excuse me for a moment?"

(STEFAN)

"What is she doing?" Damon questions cutting Ric off in mid-sentence. He's looking out the window, so we look out the window and see Clare outside.

"She's outside, getting some air maybe? Klaus doesn't appear to be with her," Ric replies.

"She shouldn't be outside alone; we don't know that whatever it was is truly gone. Nothing scouts around once and then leaves," Damon says.

"I'll go," I comment stopping my brother from going outside, "you two check on Klaus and see what he's up to." There's no door outside in this room, so I go out the front and run around to the side of the house where Clare is. "Are you alright?"

"Just needed some air, it's all just a little too much."

"What is?"

"All of it I guess. I've been having a great time, and I'm grateful to you and Damon for bringing me and letting me stay over the holiday. It's been a far better and happier Christmas than I would have had at home alone. Klaus gave me a book, a first edition. This necklace that Damon gave me, very old and expensive. I love both gifts, it just seems like too much, they hardly know me, they've popped in and out of my life since October. They're vying for my attention, lavishing me with gifts," she says with a sigh and then starts laughing a little.

She continues laughing and I look at her, a second ago she sounded confused, angry, sad, many emotions, but not laughter.

"I'm sorry, it's all just so…absurd. I'm in a love triangle with vampires, two very old vampires. I know that vampires are real, vampires, werewolves, witches all are real. In so many ways this is so unreal, a fantasy and soon I'll go home. Back to reality, parents, school, life will go on and I'll have a beautiful new necklace, and a first edition book I'll be too afraid to touch. I'm sure that with time Klaus will forget me and then so will Damon, I'll grow old and they'll live on. Maybe one day after some time, I'll return to a normal life, college, falling in love again. Yet I'll always have this knowledge of vampires and werewolves and witches. How long do you think it will be before I stop looking at everyone on the street and wondering? Wondering if they're really something else? If they know? If they've encountered vampires and had their memories taken?"

"I can give you the means to know if there's a vampire a werewolf if you'd like? Witches are a bit trickier, but few witches care to harm mortals."

"By carrying around vervaine and wolfsbane?"

"Yes."

"I think if it's not trying to kill me then I'd rather not know. Maybe I would," she huffs, "maybe ask me when I go home."

This time I chuckle, "For what it's worth you've been handling yourself incredibly well. If we don't get back inside however, I do believe both vampire lovers will come looking for you."

She smiles and we return to the house, we give her a little more time with Klaus while we finish our conversation. We were discussing what might have been prowling around the house. It could have been a number of things, but few things stalk an entire perimeter first, and all of them are bad. Ric helps us set up a couple early warning systems and possible defenses at the main access points. By the time we're done Clare has made dinner for her and Ric, he stays since Elena and Jeremy are staying at Bonnie's for dinner.

"I should get home, I'll call you tomorrow," Ric says after dinner.

"I think I'll stay," Klaus smiles.

"Over my dead body," Damon growls.

"Easily done," Klaus smiles.

"Easy, let him stay we have another guest room," I comment with a hand on my brother's arm.

"I'm going to shower, alone," Clare says.

"Neutral corners both of you, if I can't trust you I'll sleep in her room just to keep you out," I warn them.

Klaus sneers and saunters off, we follow him out to the living room as he helps himself to our liquor. Damon and I sit down and take a drink ourselves. We all hear Clare get in the shower, and we all hear Clare get out of the shower after a while. We hear her walking in her room and get into bed. Damon and Stefan both stay down here, and I stay with them. We stay awake for a while drinking, before going to our rooms, and I make certain that Klaus goes into his room and stays there. I go to bed, ready to sleep, thinking of Elena which puts a smile on face, and I fall asleep.

Waking sometime later to a blood-curdling terrified scream. I jump up and race out of the room, Damon and Klaus do the same. We look at each other and run to Clare's room, I get there first and she's not there. Her window is open and I run to it, I look out to see Clare on the ground being attacked by something. It's dark and hard for even our eyes to see from here. Without a second's hesitation we all jump through the window and off the roof to the ground below. Whatever it is hears us jumping onto the roof and it runs.

"Go after it, I'll take care of her," I tell them.

Damon and Klaus chase after the thing, by the scent I know it's the same thing that scouted the house the other day. I look at Clare, she's coughing up blood, and her stomach has been sliced open. She's losing a lot of blood, and if I don't do something she'll be dead in moments.

"Sorry, but you have to drink or you will die," I tell her before ripping open my wrist.

I hold it to her lips, she's weak, but when the first few drops begin to do their job she starts to drink. Holding my wrist to her mouth and drinking as if nothing had passed her lips for days. When I'm sure that she's had enough I pull my arm away.

"Damon?" She asks before coughing up some blood, hopefully it's hers and not mine because mine can help her heal. "Kl…" she tries to ask before coughing up a little more blood.

"Chasing the thing that attacked you. Don't worry, together they'll find it and kill it or they'll chase it off and return. Right now I need to get you inside, I'll be gentle, but I'm afraid this is going to hurt."

I pick her up and she shrieks in pain, I move fast and get her into the house. Lying her gently on the sofa she sucks in another painful breath.

"I don't want to be a vampire," she says weakly.

"You'd have to die with my blood in your system, rest now. You need to heal," I assert. I can already hear Damon and Klaus returning.

"It ran off," Klaus remarks, "Venandi Skia."

"How is she?" Damon questions running over.

"Weak, but healing, I had to give her quite a lot of blood."

(DAMON)

"Good Morning Lover, how do you feel?"

Clare stirs a little more before opening her eyes to look at me, "What happened?"

"You were attacked, Klaus and I chased it off. We just don't know how, you should have been inside in bed, yet we found you outside when you were attacked."

"I went out to the roof ledge, I wanted some air, I couldn't sleep and I had a lot on my mind. I was sitting there, looking at the stars and suddenly this shadow, with crazy red eyes was there. Next thing I know I'm on the ground and that thing cut me."

"You shouldn't have been outside alone," I scold her.

"Do you know what attacked me?"

"Venandi Skia, a shadow hunter, a very ancient creature. They're not bright though, more like dogs, which means something was controlling it. I think you were an unfortunate casualty of something that was sent for us. Either way you are not safe here. Now that you're awake and healed I'll take you home, where at least I know you'll be safe."

"But you won't be. What about Elena, Jeremy and Ric? It came after me, it could go after them."

"We'll be fine, and we'll make sure that everyone else is safe too. When I take you home Stefan and I will lead the shadow hunter away, and we'll kill it."

"Somehow, that doesn't exactly make me feel better."

"I'm going to pack your things, the sooner we get you home the sooner you'll be safe."

"First, you insist that I come, and now you can't wait to get rid of me," she says from the bed.

"Not true Lover, I would love for you to stay forever, but you're not safe here. At home you'll be safe, I'll see to it, now stay in bed while I get you packed."

She watches me pack her up and then I help her dress, it's just after dawn. She slept for a couple of hours and Stefan's blood did what it needed to. I pack her quickly, and then watch impatiently while she dresses. I much prefer watching her undress, right now all I want is to know that she's safe.

"Will your parents be home?" I question.

"Not for a couple days, Adam returns tomorrow, but you said this thing wasn't after me."

"It's not, I'll still feel better knowing that someone is with you."

"You expect me to return home and not know that you're safe as well? I won't go, I'll stay here with Klaus if I have to," she responds with her hand on her hip.

"You're not any safer there, and you're going home. If you're so worried about our safety I promise I'll call. Can we go now? You're still not strong, and the longer you're here the longer you're vulnerable, and I'm vulnerable worrying about you. You are not safe here Clare, you were almost killed simply because you were here. You won't be safe with Klaus either, I'm taking you home. Stefan and Klaus are waiting to say goodbye," I tell her.

"What about Jeremy and the others?"

"We'll explain why you had to leave suddenly, and I can give them messages if you'd like. I'll give you everyone's contact information if you want to do it yourself."

"I'm surprised Klaus didn't insist on coming to take me home, or to do it himself," Clare remarks.

"I did actually, I also insisted that you stay with me rather than here, where your life is in danger," Klaus says appearing at the bottom of the stairs. I make a deep growl at this last comment. "It was however decided better for me to stay here, to help fight the shadow hunter if it returns. There is a possibility however that Damon leaving would lure it away. In the event that you encounter it again on the road, I shall come to your aid. If not, I will come to check on you as soon as this thing is vanquished."

I growl again, both from his comment and the fact that he takes Clare from me. Encircling his arms around her he crushes their lips together. When I think he's been kissing her too long I move to take her from him and Stefan puts his hand on my arm.

"Let them say goodbye."

When Klaus finally releases Clare she hugs Stefan, he tells her to stay safe and it was our pleasure to have her. She waves one more time before we go out the door, we walk to the car and I open the trunk to put in her bag. I hear something and look up just in time to see Clare fall to the ground with her throat slashed.

"NO! CLARE!" I scream bringing Klaus and my brother running out of the house.

"Klaus, Ripper, how nice to see you again," the vampire says as he steps over Clare's body.

Clare is dead, Stefan's blood in her system still, nothing I can do for her now. I can however kill whoever this is.

"Alexi," Klaus hisses.

I don't really care who this guy is, I leap for him, ready to tear his head off. Before I can get to him the shadow hunter pounces on me knocking me to the ground. I begin to struggle against the beast, it's strong, vicious and has one objective right now; kill me. While I struggle with the beast, Stefan and Klaus attack his master, the vampire Alexi.

While I fight with the beast I can only catch glimpses of their fight. I do see Clare healing already, she's starting the transition. I'll have to get her out of the sun soon, but first I must kill this thing. The shadow hunter moves to bite my neck, probably not deadly, but from what I've heard very painful. I move my head and avoid the bite, shadow hunters move fast, but vampires move faster. Using all my strength I push the beast away, sending him flying back and into a tree. I get up and run, not to the beast, to a weapon, something Ric left behind. A dagger, one that can hurt or kill just about anything. It works, I stab the beast, it's black oily blood spills out over my hand.

I let the beast drop to the dirt, wiping it's blood on my pants. I glance over to Stefan, I see blood, but the two of them are able to handle Alexi, even though he has weapons. Clare is still unconscious, but already begins to burn in the sun. I run over and pick her up, running her into the house. I lie Clare on the sofa and grab one of the vervaine bombs Ric left with us.

"Stefan, down," I call as I throw the bomb.

The glass breaks on Alexi's back, the vervaine burns him. Stefan dodges, some vervaine hits Klaus, but he's only minorly burned. The distraction forces Alexi to drop his weapon, Klaus gets on top of Alexi taking his weapon and using it to cut his throat.

"I should have killed you a long time ago Alexi," Klaus says.

They seem to have things well in hand, so I return to Clare. I quickly remove her vervaine bracelet and toss it across the room before it hurts her. Her burns are starting to heal, the wound on her neck nearly gone now. She's still weak though, she needs rest, and blood. I open my wrist and force some into her mouth, my blood is not what she needs, not really.

"How is she?" Stefan asks coming in.

"Weak, where's Klaus?"

"Taking care of the bodies, Alexi will burn up in the sun. The shadow hunter will have to be buried. Alexi is almost as old as Klaus, they were friends, they became enemies when I was…"

"Ripper, yeah I got that. Stay with her I'm going to get her some of the human blood from the cooler."

"She won't be happy about the transition," Stefan says looking at Clare.

"It's better than death," I reply before running downstairs.

I grab several bags and return upstairs, sitting next to Clare I hold the tube to her lips. She's too weak to drink still, I squeeze the bag forcing the blood into her.

"She's turning," Klaus comments as he walks in covered in blood and dirt.

"You should go home and clean up," Stefan says looking at Klaus while I force the human blood into Clare.

"No, I'm not leaving her now. Anyway, we have no way of knowing that Alexi did not have backup. Ric's weapons and defenses did not warn us about Alexi or the Venandi Skia. I'm going to borrow some clothes Damon," Klaus remarks before going upstairs.

I force two bags of human blood into Clare, her wounds are healed, the blood needs time to work, and the transition time to happen. Klaus returns downstairs in some of my clothes, though he looks fairly disgusted to be wearing them.

"I'm going to call Elena," Stefan comments.

"They can't come, she'll wake any time," I warn my brother.

"I know Damon, I'd never let any of them come to danger. No fighting while I'm upstairs," Stefan says before disappearing up the stairs and returns a few moments later. "Elena will call Bonnie, have her make a ring for Clare."

"Good," I nod just as Clare's eyes shoot open. She gasps and grabs her throat, her last memory playing through her mind. "Easy Clare," I tell her putting a hand on her arm.

"What happened? Did one of you give me more blood?"

"Yes, but you already had Stefan's blood in your system when Alexi killed you," I inform her.

"You mean I'm turning?"

"The transition is complete, you were given human blood," Klaus says.

"I'm a vampire!" She exclaims jumping up and moving with vampiric speed for the first time.

"When Alexi killed you the transition had already begun. If I hadn't fed you the human blood you would have died," I explain.

"I need some time, space, I want to go home now," she demands.

"You can't Clare," Stefan speaks up.

"I can't? Are you saying I can never go home?"

"No, but you have to gain some control first, and even then one of us will need to go with you. You're dangerous right now, everything is heightened, you'll be powerful, thirsty and deadly," Stefan tells her.

"I could kill everyone I love to satiate my hunger. I need some time alone," she says and using her new speed and agility leaps up from the sofa, and runs upstairs. I begin to follow her but Stefan grabs my arm.

"Don't, she's angry and confused right now. She won't speak to any of us, but I think I know some people that could help and that she might talk to," Stefan says and then disappears again. "They're on their way."