Ch. 18 Book of Blank Maps We're Using

(DAMON)

"A siren?" Ric asks in a dubious tone. School let out thirty minutes ago and everyone was gathered at our house to discuss the new people in town. "No, she can't be a siren," Ric repeats. Guess he doesn't want to believe he's going out with something not human.

"She's a siren, she told me, but she's not here to hurt anyone, I don't believe she's a threat to any of us. She was drawn by the energy here, and she just wants to feed," Clare says.

"She didn't seem like a threat, but I guess I'll get to know her better tonight," Ric comments.

"I don't think Miss Scarlett is a threat either, other than the fights that break out because of teenage boy jealousy. Nathan Nietzsche on the other hand he may be a threat. Liz and I went to the Lockwood estate after I left the school. No one was there and Carol didn't answer when we called. Liz finally got a hold of her, but all Carol said she had business and wouldn't be home until later. Her voice sounded odd though, you were right Tyler, almost as though she was being compelled, but it was a little different," I tell everyone.

"Great, so what do we do? Whatever he is he has my mom under some type of spell," Tyler says with a huff.

"Figure out what he is and get rid of the threat," I reply.

"What if he's not a threat?" Klaus asks.

"He's got the mayor in his control, sounds like a threat to me," Stefan says.

"So, our priority is to find out what Nathan is and how to get rid of him," I state.

"I'll try asking my mom, but I don't think she'll answer or even be able to answer me," Tyler comments.

"Liz and I will do some research tomorrow," I speak up.

"I have to get ready for my date with Varen," Ric says after a moment.

"I should get home, check on my mom," Tyler remarks standing up.

"I'll come with you," Caroline offers.

"What if he's there?" Tyler asks.

"All the more reason for me to come with you," she says.

"We should get home Jer," Elena tells her brother.

"You should come home with me Clare," Klaus grins going over to Clare and pulling her from the sofa.

"I'll come this weekend as I always do," she tells him.

"That's your cue to leave," I tell Klaus in a firm voice.

He smirks at me, takes Clare into his arms and gives her a deep forceful kiss. Just as I'm about to pull him off of her he releases her and runs out the door. I put an arm around her waist and pull her against my chest.

"Tyler if Nathan is there or something happens you'll call?" Clare asks him and he nods.

Tyler leaves with Caroline and Bonnie leaves the with the Gilbert sibs, Stefan walks them out to their car to say goodbye to Elena.

"You know the siren is here because of us," Clare comments as she leaves my arms to get a blood bag.

"What?"

"Last Monday, when you and Klaus were…staking your territory. She was drawn here by the sexual energy that night. She saw the last couple of hours from the window. She stayed in town, and acquired herself a job at the school."

"Hmm, I wonder how many times she's been near the house when we've been satisfying that wanton sexual appetite of yours?" I comment kissing the back of her neck as she begins drinking from the bag.

"Of mine? You are just as ready to go as I am at any time," Clare comments lightly hitting my stomach.

"I am, so finish that blood bag so I can get you upstairs," I comment and she giggles.

She finishes her blood bag and I pick her up and run her upstairs. I take her to my room, and lie her down on the bed, quickly stripping her clothes off and getting mine off as well. The siren is with Ric tonight, so she won't be enjoying our sexual energy, but maybe she'll be making some of her own. It's too bad really, she missed a good show, I take Clare in four different positions and make her scream out in pleasure in each one. When we're done we go downstairs for some blood and Stefan is sitting in one of the arm chairs.

"Tyler called, Nathan is staying at the Lockwood's. Carol won't talk about him and he says Nathan is behind a locked door. Tyler's afraid to approach him alone, I told him to stay away until we know more, and to just call if he needs help," Stefan enlightens us.

"That can't be good," I comment.

"No, definitely not," Stefan agrees.

"Miss Scarlett seemed to know who Nathan is, but Ric came in and she said we'd talk later," Clare tells us.

"I'll go with you to talk to her tomorrow," Stefan says.

"I'm going to do my homework, and call Adam," Clare says going upstairs after finishing her blood.

"What do you think he is?" I ask Stefan.

"No idea, we've already got a siren in town, he could be anything."

"Great, so who is he after or what is he after?"

"Well, he's staying at the Lockwood's so mostly likely Tyler, maybe Carol or something at the estate. Though he could just be using Carol to stay in the nicest part of town," Stefan replies and I pour myself a drink.

We're all up early the next morning, Stefan and Clare on their way to school, and I on my way to meet Liz. I kiss Clare goodbye and drive to the Forbes house, Caroline spent the night at Tyler's, but when I get here Tyler's car is in the driveway. When I get to the door Tyler opens it for me.

"Anything happen last night?" I ask him.

"No, Nathan stayed locked in his room all night, I didn't hear anything from him. My mom is fine, unless she's around Nathan or you ask about him. Then she's compelled or under a spell, no idea. I just brought Caroline home to change before we go to school," Tyler explains.

"Stefan and Clare are already on their way, they were going to talk to the siren again," I tell him and Caroline comes out of her bedroom with Liz. Caroline hugs her mom and leaves with Tyler.

"We need to do a background check on Carol's new houseguest, see if we can find anything," I tell her.

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Liz nods.

She gets her laptop and logs in, we spend an hour trying to find anything on Nathan Nietzsche. If he's not using a fake name then he's covered his tracks well. We can't find anything on him, I just hope Clare and Stefan have better luck.

(CLARE)

"We need to talk to you," Stefan says to Miss Scarlett. She walked in with Ric and he's giving us a look.

"You said we'd talk later," I remind her.

"Let's go into my classroom," Ric says.

"Do you know who Nathan is?" Stefan asks her as soon as we're behind a closed door.

"He's very old, he was a witch, I don't think he can even be called that anymore. He's very old, he prolonged his life through the use of dark magic. He makes his life longer by siphoning life from others, not like a vampire satiating hunger. If he's in town then you have a problem, he will move through town and siphon life from as many people as possible. He may kill some, he make some ill, he will shorten the lives of many. I can see what would tempt him here, so much energy, so many supernatural forces in one town," Miss Scarlett says.

"What can we do Varen? There must be a way to kill him or get rid of him?" Ric asks.

"I don't know, but I'll do what I can to help. If he kills and hurts people then I'll have nothing to feed from. No one wants to make love or gets jealous when they're dead or ill. I will reach out to some old friends, for now I have something to do before my first class. I'll see you later Ric," Miss Scarlett says and kisses Ric on the cheek. Stefan and I follow her out of the classroom. When we're a good distance away from Ric's classroom Stefan holds Miss Scarlett's arm.

"What is your interest in Ric?" Stefan asks her.

"Ric is very attractive, he's fun while I'm here. I won't harm him, as I said I have no interest in harming anyone," she replies and walks off to her room.

"She's going to go sing, there's going to be fights soon," I comment.

"Yeah, let's go find the others," Stefan says.

We go outside and Stefan texts the other to meet us. When everyone is there we tell them what Miss Scarlett said about Nathan, and that she'll help us get rid of him.

"Is he taking life from my mom?" Tyler questions in a frightened tone.

"I think right now he's just using her to stay in your house. Maybe using her to get to other people, your mom knows most of the town. Keep a close eye on her, but stay away from Nathan," Stefan tells him.

"I've never heard of a witch extending their life that way," Bonnie comments.

"From what Miss Scarlett said it's not something a witch would normally do. She hesitated to call him a witch even," Stefan says.

"I believe she will help us, and she knows more than we do. I'll tell Damon what she said at lunch," I tell them as the bell rings.

We go inside and walk to class, Jeremy is the only one of us that doesn't have Ric for homeroom. Ric seems less distracted today, though he does seem to be thinking of Miss Scarlett. Our chemistry teacher on the other hand shows a movie and spends all of class doodling in a notebook. At morning break Stefan, Caroline and I go into Ric's room to have some blood. Damon is waiting for us at lunch, he and I go up to the roof and have some blood. I tell him about what Miss Scarlett said about Nathan.

"A very old witch using black magic isn't good. If he's been siphoning life he won't be mortal like a normal witch. I've known witches to prolong youth, that haven't aged for decades, but it doesn't last. She's right though, this place would be a buffet for someone siphoning life. Stay away from Nathan," Damon warns me.

"I've never even seen him," I remind him.

"Good, stay away from him. Is Klaus coming to get you after school?"

"We hadn't talked about it actually, but I usually spend the weekend with him."

"I'll be here after school then," Damon says.

We finish our blood, make sure no one is below us and jump down from the roof. Damon kisses me before I go inside. I have a couple minutes before the bell and I go straight to art class.

"You should know," Miss Scarlett says coming out of the art supply room, "when I said Nathan was very old I meant it. He's older even than the original vampires, he's so many centuries old I'm not even sure he can count them anymore and he won't be easily killed."

More people come into the room and she stops talking. Jeremy and Caroline come into the room. I want to tell them what she said but there's other students in the room. I could say it low enough for Caroline to hear but not Jeremy. I don't tell anyone until after school and then I tell Stefan as we're leaving last period, he'll tell the others. When I leave the school building I find Damon and Klaus by their cars. I start walking and they both come to me.

"It's the weekend, it's my time with her," Klaus says.

"You make it sound like you're in a custody battle over her," Elena admonishes.

"Who do you want to go home with Clare?" Jeremy asks.

"I'll go with Klaus for tonight," I reply.

"Call if you need me," Damon says, giving me an ardent, salacious, possessive kiss. It's as much Damon showing his desire for me as it is him reminding Klaus that I'm with him most of the time.

"Me too Clare, I can be at Klaus' place in half an hour," Bonnie tells me but with her eyes narrowed at Klaus.

"You think I would harm her?" Klaus asks in an innocent voice as he pulls me to him.

"YOU HAVE," they all shoot back.

"I'll call if I need you," I assure all of them really.

Klaus keeps his arm around me and we go to his car. The minute we're in the door he has my clothes off and has me bent over the sofa. We make love for hours, it's like he hasn't seen me in a hundred years rather than just a couple days. I'm sure the siren is somewhere close by, close enough to feed off all the energy and sexual emotions we're emitting. She must be the way we're going at it, everything I feel in those hours is raw and primal and pure, clouded by nothing.

"I need to feed," I tell Klaus when we're finally done and it's now after eight.

"Then get dressed, we won't go as far as last time. How about just the university nearby, we can find a party and blend in," Klaus replies kissing my breast and licking the spot where he bit me. I bit him too, drank from him, but of course it does nothing to satisfy the hunger. It does taste good and it's an intimate act, it adds to the passion.

"You know the siren came here because of us, we called her here," I tell Klaus a couple minutes after he begins driving.

"She came for the two of us? I should have known we were that good," he grins.

"The three of us called her here actually," I correct him.

"Oh, yes," he grins, "that was quite the night wasn't it?"

"She's dating Alaric."

"Worried about him?" Klaus asks as we pull into the area with the dorms at the university.

"Not really, I don't think she wants to harm him, she wants to feed."

"Sirens are rarely dangerous, they've caused a few deadly duels and such over the centuries. Accidental deaths for people acting in the name of love, but she doesn't feed off of death. She won't hurt Alaric," Klaus assures me and starts to open the door but I take his hand.

"She knows Nathan Nietzsche or at least of him. She says he's older than you, that he's prolonged his life through dark magic and siphoning the lives of others. She says she'll help us get rid of him."

"Good, we'll need all the help we can get if he is doing what she says he will be hard to kill. If he's older than me he's been around a very very long time. Are we going to feed now?" Klaus asks.

I nod and we get out of the car. I should run, I should call Damon or Bonnie, but I don't. He compelled me to feed from live humans when I was with him. So, I will. I hate the thought of it, but I always enjoy it in the moment. We were meant to feed from live humans, it tastes and feels great, until we're done and I feel terrible. We go into the party, most of what I smell is liquor, some vomit, lots of sweat, at least three couples fucking upstairs. Nothing that would draw a siren, it's not passionate, jealousy fueled, anger fueled, or even lust fueled. It's alcohol fueled, it's quick, just getting their rocks off.

I easily find a boy that's appealing and not too drunk, it's more than easy to entice him upstairs to a room. To kiss his neck and bite in, drink until I'm satiated and then compel him with a wonderful story for him to tell his friends. I find Klaus outside, he's already eaten, he needs less than I do.

"Did you kill him?" Klaus asks. He's not worried, he's amused by the thought. Thinking of the girl I killed at DeGrassi sickens me.

"No, he's alive, weak but alive, his friends will find him soon, I gave him a good story."

"I'm sure you did," Klaus grins getting into the car.

We drive home and I shower, I always want to shower after feeding. We make love again and I go to bed. The next morning Klaus has to go out for a while, he only says he has some business, and I ask him to take me to The Grill. I want to see my friends, to see people, to at least feel a sliver of normalcy.

It's still pretty early but The Grill is open, only a few people here. Matt is working, he seems to work here as often as he can. I sit at a table facing the bar, Matt comes over and I order coffee with a slice of pie. Matt goes to the bar to put in the order, he returns with the coffee pot and pours me a mug. As he's pouring the door opens, we both look over and a short man that looks to be in his late thirties of early forties walks in.

"Take a seat anywhere you like," Matt says and walks back to the bar.

I take a sip of my coffee and the man sits down by me. I hear the door open again but don't look over because I'm looking at the man sitting next to me. He's very odd, his scent seems to be masked, but I do hear his heartbeat. He smiles at me, and for a brief second his eyes seem to glow this amber gold color, I almost drop my coffee.

"You are delectable, I could…" he pauses and looks me over licking his lips, "eat you up."

I suddenly feel ill, the way he says it has a shiver running up and down my spine. I can't say anything, can't move, and he's still looking at me as though he's going to swallow me whole.

"Hey, when I said sit anywhere I meant an empty table," Matt barks at him. The man grins, gets up and walks to the bar sitting on a stool. "You alright Clare?" Matt asks.

"Yeah, but I've lost my appetite. You can cancel the pie," I tell him. Not that I would have gotten anything from eating the pie, I only ordered it to appear human.

"I'll take her home," Tyler says suddenly from behind me. He must have been the other person that came in when the man sat down next to me.

"Thanks Tyler," I smile standing up and wanting to be as far away from the man as possible. "What do I owe for the coffee?" I ask Matt.

"On the house," he smiles. I smile back and Tyler takes my arm escorting me out of The Grill.

"What did he want?" Tyler asks when we're outside.

"He told me I was delectable and he could just eat me up. I think he meant it literally," I tell Tyler.

"That was Nathan Nietzsche," Tyler tells me and I shiver again.

"His eyes glowed Tyler, I swear they did, this amber gold color, just for a second."

"I believe you, come on, Damon is at my house with Sheriff Forbes," Tyler tells me. We walk to his car and get in.

"What are Damon and Sheriff Forbes doing at your house?"

"Talking to my mom, she's under Nathan's spell," Tyler says.

I nod and look out the window, Tyler drives pretty fast, not nearly as fast as Damon or Klaus, but certainly over the speed limit. Though I'm guessing with his family's standing he's fairly untouchable. When we get to the Lockwood estate I see the Sheriff's car and Damon's. I know Damon heard Tyler's car approach, but probably doesn't think anything of Tyler coming home. He'll pick up my scent though, if not as soon as I'm out of the car then as soon as we come in the door. We don't even make it in the door before Damon has it opened.

"What did Klaus do?" Damon asks, looking me over.

"It was Nathan," Tyler says. Damon narrows his eyes and pulls me into his arms, just as Sheriff Forbes comes into the hallway. "Where's my mom?" Tyler asks.

"In the kitchen," Sheriff Forbes replies, "what's going on?"

"My dad's office, the door locks," Tyler says.

"You don't want your mom to hear?" Sheriff Forbes asks.

"She's under his spell, I don't know if it will make a difference, we don't know what he's done to her," Tyler says. We follow him to his dad's office and he locks the door. "I've been following Nathan all morning," Tyler tells us and Sheriff Forbes interrupts.

"Tyler that was dangerous," she scolds him.

"I was careful, I followed at a distance. He went to the store and the shopping center, I didn't go in but he stayed in one store for a long time. He didn't come out with any bags at all. After that he went to The Grill, I waited a couple minutes before following him in and when I did he was sitting with Clare. He stayed with her a moment until Matt told him to sit at a table that wasn't occupied," Tyler informs them.

"What did he do to you?" Damon asks, tightening his grip on me.

"He said I was delectable and he could just eat me up. Not in a pleasant way, in a make my stomach churn and my spine crawl way. His eyes glowed, I know how it sounds but it's what I saw, and not dark like his eyes, an amber gold color."

"This isn't good at all, he probably wants to siphon your life. Where the hell is Klaus?" Damon growls.

"He said he had some business to take care of, I asked him to drop me at The Grill."

"You're coming home with me, he'll just have to deal with it," Damon says.

"What about my mom?" Tyler asks.

"Whatever spell he has her under is very powerful, I don't know that we can break it. I have Bonnie looking at a few possibilities, but this is magic she's never seen before. Your mom isn't harmed, I don't think he's even siphoned her life, but his spell is stronger than a vampire's compelling. I even tried to compel the spell gone, but it didn't work. When it comes to Nathan she's totally under his influence. She's like a zombie, she'll do or so say anything he wants. She completely believes he's an old business associate of your father's and he's been invited to stay with you. He seems to be using your house merely as a place to reside while he's here. I don't think he'll harm either one of you, but keep your eye on him. If it looks like he will call us right away," Damon tells him.

"I don't want to leave her, but I lost Nathan when I brought Clare here," Tyler responds.

"I'm glad you did," Damon says kissing my neck.

"I'm going to stick around for a while Tyler, I'll only leave if they call me in for an emergency," Sheriff Forbes says.

"You should stay here with your mom, maybe have Caroline come over, Jeremy and Bonnie maybe?" I suggest and Tyler nods.

"Let's go home, call us if there's any trouble at all," Damon remarks, taking my hand and leading us out of the Lockwood house. He drives home very fast and we arrive in a few minutes. "Are you okay?" He asks when we're inside.

"I need to eat."

Damon zips into the kitchen and returns with a blood bag for me. I start drinking from it and he takes me in his arms.

"I won't let him hurt you, I won't let him get to you, I'll kill him first."

(ALARIC)

"I reached out to some friends," Varen says as she traces the muscles on my chest. We're at her apartment, and we just made love, she's an incredible lover. "I think I have a way to kill Nathan. Whatever he has planned killing him is the only hope you have or Mystic Falls will be decimated. People may survive but the town will never be the same. I have to go out of town to see a friend that has something that may kill him. I'll be back Monday in time for my class."

"Do you want company?"

"No, I must do this alone, my friends do not trust strangers. I look forward to returning to you though," she smiles taking my lips in a feverishly desiring kiss.

"I'll see you Monday," I smile when our lips break apart.

We dress and she gives me another long kiss before I leave her apartment. I need to tell the others what Varen said, but it's Saturday afternoon and I decide to go by The Grill first to see if anyone is there. I see Matt working, but no one else seems to be here, at least no one I want to see.

"Hey Matt, have you seen Jeremy or Elena today? Or either of the Salvatore's?"

"No, they haven't been in today, Tyler and Clare were here for a few moments, but she got creeped out when this old dude sat down with her. I don't blame her, he was pretty creepy and I think he was hitting on her even though he was probably twice her age. Tyler took her home," Matt informs me.

"Thanks Matt," I reply and walk out. I start walking to my car when I see the man that must be Nathan Nietzsche from the description. He's walking toward me, he looks like the descriptions I've heard and he is definitely new in town. "Nathan is it?" I ask when I get to him.

"Do I know you?" He asks which confirms to me he is Nathan. I grab him and pull him between two buildings, shoving him against the wall.

"What are you doing in Mystic Falls?" I ask him and he begins to laugh.

"Why would I not come? A nexus of power lies here, there's an original vampire, vampire brothers, a young vampire in a romantic relationship with a werewolf, one uniquely intoxicating vampire, a Bennet witch, a doppelganger and the two mortals with rings to guard them against supernatural death. It's a lovely buffet to extend my life for another thousand years."

I pull him forward to shove him back to the wall and he shoves me off of him with magic. I go hurling into the other wall and slump to the ground struggling for air. Nathan laughs again and walks out of the alley. When I can breathe and get up I leave the alley and call Damon.

"We need to meet, get everyone to your house now, including Klaus and Sheriff Forbes," I tell him and hang up. I know he'll call everyone.

I get in my car and drive to the Salvatore house, Nathan hit me hard, I'm feeling kind of dizzy. I park in the driveway and stumble from the car.

"You look like shit," Damon comments, taking my arm.

"Thanks, I feel like it, he hit me pretty hard."

Damon sits me in a chair and Clare brings me some water. Damon says everyone is coming, even though Klaus took some convincing. By the time I've had the water I hear more cars coming up the driveway. Everyone comes in and I tell them about confronting Nathan and what he said to me.

"So he's here for all of us?" Jeremy questions.

"Uniquely intoxicating vampire, was that me? It had to be, I'm not in a relationship with a werewolf and there's no other vampires in town that we know of. He called me delectable in the grill earlier," Clare says shuddering a little and Damon puts his arm around her.

"Well, you are uniquely intoxicating," Damon smiles. I don't think it made her feel any better.

"I don't think he's here for all of us, not at once anyway, but he is right there is a quintessence of supernatural in the area, and an energy nexus it's why they've always been drawn here. He probably has spells or potions that could use elements from all of us, and your rings, or perhaps to control you the way he is Tyler's mom. He could draw enough life from most of us to extend his life as he said. He could also have many more uses for us, none of them good, all of them harmful to us. For a supernatural being looking for power Mystic Falls is the perfect place. I should know," Klaus remarks. This doesn't make anyone feel better.

"So, what do we do about Nathan?" Liz asks.

"Varen left this afternoon, she reached out to some friends and believes she has a way to kill him. She said she'd return by Monday. Nathan didn't talk about the siren, he may not know she's here."

"We have no idea what Nathan is planning or when he'll strike against one of us. He already has the mayor under a spell," Klaus remarks.

"Everyone stay in groups, no one alone. Not even Tyler, I'll stay with you tonight," Stefan says. It's the full moon and Tyler will turn tonight.

"So, will I," I speak up.

"You need to go to the hospital," Damon comments.

"You should at least see a doctor, you hit that wall pretty hard," Clare says.

"We'll take him to the doctor and bring him back in time for Stefan and Ric to watch Tyler tonight," Elena tells them.

"Bonnie can sleep at our house tonight," Caroline remarks. I'm sure she wants to be with Tyler tonight, but she'll be safer away from him.

"Jeremy and Elena stay here tonight," Damon commands.

"My mom will be alone tonight," Tyler comments.

"Nathan hasn't done anything but spell her yet, I doubt he will. You can't be with her, not tonight Tyler," Stefan tells him and he nods.

"Klaus, you should stay here tonight as well or help watch Tyler," Clare says.

"I'll stay here," Klaus smiles.

"Come on Ric, let's get you to the doctor," Elena insists, pulling at my arm. "We'll call when we're on our way back," she tells Stefan and we leave.

I sit in the back while Elena drives to the hospital and I hope that Varen does have something that can kill Nathan.

That's it for now, more chapters coming soon including the climax with Nathan and Clare's eighteenth birthday. Keep and eye on the DeGrassi Saviors website for the story that will be updated next.