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I once again leave the grill and start walking towards my truck when a cold hand grips my arm and slams me into the wall pushing all the air out my lungs so I couldn't scream. White fangs filled my vision while a snarl was all I heard…

Using all my strength I push the stake hiding up the sleeve of my jacket into the chest of the snarling and dark-eyed Damon Salvatore. The shocked look in his eyes as they return to his usual startling blue made me smirk. Making sure the stake was now resting where his heart is, I keep as much pressure as I could on it. I wouldn't stake him just yet. First, I want to know why he's attacking me.

"Careful now Damon, this one is sharp. Just whittled it this morning". I tease as he takes a small step back, his face and fangs now out of my personal bubble. Anyone walking by would think it was just two friends talking … of course two friends talking with one having their hands on the others chest. But friends just the same.

Those blue eyes of his rapidly move over my face down to where I was needling the stake: "you know?" What a stupid question.

"Yes, I know. If I was a better woman - or lesser depending on your perspective – I'd shove this so far through your heart it'd end up in the wall," emphasising my point as I push the stake harder into his chest. The small grimace was a little bit of vindication for me. "But I won't. I know the girls care for you, for some bizarre reason. Even knowing what you did to Care…" my grip tightened remembering when Uncle Bill told me what happened between Caroline and Damon. Breathing steadily through my nose I reign in my anger and focus again on the vampire in front of me. "I will not kill you".

Withdrawing the stake slightly, I keep it in my hand as the vampire looks warily at me. His head tilted to the one side, almost bird like as he weighed up his options. Unbeknownst to him, I was sliding a pepper-spray full of vervain down my other sleeve.

"Why?" Steadying my hands, I smile at the vampire.

"Because I am not a monster Damon", I answer as he takes another step back. "But I will ask, why did you attack me?" The trademark smirk appeared on his face, leaning back against the other wall in the alley.

"I wanted to see what you would do," tilting my own head at his answer I shrug.

"And?"

"You didn't disappoint Miss Forbes". His reply made me laugh and I lean down to pick up my handbag that had fallen off during the short little altercation with the vampire. "Does Caroline know?" he asks while I open my bag and place the stake inside it, keeping the spray in my hand.

"Know what? Know that she is a vampire? No, she doesn't, not yet anyway". I stop myself before I say anything more. I'll forever be grateful that she wasn't brought up the same as I was. That she was kept away from what goes bump in the dark. As the oldest cousin, Uncle Bill decided that one of us had to know and 'continue' the work our ancestors did in case anything happened to someone in the council – which it did.

Looking at the vampire in front of me I still believed I made the right decision in only learning the lessons to survive but not actively search out for vampires and kill them. I'd rather just live and let live. Not that Uncle Bill was not too happy with that. But Care was thrust into the world of Vampires and Werewolves without a clue, I begged Uncle Bill for us to talk to her about things years ago, but he refused. She was his little girl and he wanted to protect her. But in protecting her, we left her more vulnerable which unfortunately got her killed.

"How can I trust that you'll not just turn around and kill me?" His eyes narrowed at me as I chuckled at his question.

Throwing my handbag over my shoulder I shake my head at him: "the same as I have to trust that you will not kill me." I start to walk away from Damon until he appears in front of me. Looking up at him, I stand my ground.

"A truce then?" He reaches out his hand towards me, smiling genuinely at him I shake it.

"A truce sounds good Mister Salvatore", agreeing he slinks off into the night as I walk towards my truck. Shoving the key in the lock I manage to open the door, slide in, and then lock said door before my hands start shaking and my heartbeat quickens. I push back in my seat and breath as steadily as I could. Closing my eyes, I count to ten. Then another ten. And another ten for good luck. As much as I tried to keep a calm and relaxed attitude towards Damon, I was keeping the coming panic attack at base like I was taught.

"The more scared you are the more possibility you will mess up and that's how you end up DEAD QUINN!" Uncle Bill's voice echoed in my head. Years and years of teaching. Years of missing out on my childhood and teenage years. Didn't matter, the fear still came. A dose of fear I figured was healthy when dealing with vampires. You get complacent, they'll soon turn the tables on you.

Opening my eyes, I start the truck. No point in letting bad memories overtake my brain. Not when I've got to focus. Starting on the quick journey back to Aunt Liz's house, I hum along to the radio. I know I've got to speak to Caroline about the whole Vampire subject, knowing she is one and explaining that I was trained as a hunter. How she was going to react to it had me nervous. She was basically my baby sister, and I didn't want her getting upset.

Pulling up to the Forbes residence I smile at the old house. So many good memories here of growing up with Caroline and Aunt Liz and on occasion Uncle Bill. Not just those three, but Elena, Bonnie, Matt, Tyler, and little Jeremy all running around, baby-sitting them and growing up around them I feel that twist of guilt in my stomach start. I shouldn't have just left them all as soon as I graduated. Small towns just weren't my thing. But it was more me running away from my 'responsibilities'. I never wanted to be a hunter. I never will be a hunter. Now Uncle Bill was gone, I had to protect Care as much as I could.

Pushing the front door open I catch sight of the bubbly blonde arguing with someone on the phone about Senior prank night. Not that I think I would need to protect her much. Leaning against the door frame I watch her planning and setting ideas in motion. That girl is gonna rule the world one day. I swear.