* A/N: Let me know what you think. This chapter has been edited by my Beta Casey*

The rumbling of the car engine and the slow breathing of Elena was the only sound in the small confines of the car I was now trapped in. I had never been one to handle silence well, not when so much was being left unsaid. I tended to blabber insistently until what needed to be said was finally out in the open. So, instead of starting that battle, I forced myself to keep my eyes on the passing countryside, every field the mirror image of the one before. Elena laid in the back, still unconscious, her hair falling over the side of the seat. When Damon finally spoke, I almost cried with relief, even if what he said had only to do with my sister.

"So you're saying she woke up long enough to say four words, and then passed out again?" I asked.

Damon turned his head and looked at me. "I. Look. Like. Her," he enunciated, lifting one finger for each word.

I placed my head in my hands with a sigh. "Well, that explains why she was out there. She must have found Stefan's picture of Katherine and completely freaked,"

I massaged my forehead and winced as I adjusted my legs. Damon looked down and pulled one of my knees towards him with an angry frown. He used one hand to pull my jeans up over my knee, revealing the small gashes.

"When did you do this?"

I bit my lip and took in a sharp breath. There were several small slashes across my knee where the glass had dug into my skin.

"When I pulled Elena from the car," I said, pulling up my other pant leg and looking at the similar injury. "It's not that bad."

He pulled away and gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Yeah, well, I need you in tip-top shape. You're gonna be the one who wrestles with Elena. Bringing her was your idea," he said, rolling his eyes.

I smiled brightly as he bit into his wrist and offered it to me. I scrunched up my nose and sighed, leaning in and drinking down a few gulps. I moved away with a grimace and groaned. "How fair is it that I've been forced to drink so much blood here lately, and yet, I still don't get any of the extra benefits?" I whined, wiping my face with the heel of my hand.

Damon smirked, his expression darkening. "Which of the extra benefits do you want the most, El? The insatiable thirst or the eternal life filled with death and betrayal?"

I rubbed my newly healed knees, rolled my eyes, and sighed. "Oh please, yes, you have to deal with the bad side effects, but it's not all doom and gloom. I'd gladly take it."

Damon shook his head, angrily. I avoided looking at him by unbuckling my seatbelt and turning around to face Elena.

"So, what should I say to her?"

I set my chin on the seat and bit my lip in thought.

"Hey Elena, sorry you look identical to your boyfriend's ex, but I must say, that isn't exactly the worst part. She was also a raging bitch who slept with his brother and sired them both. Wanna know more?" I chirped.

I slammed my head against the seat with an annoyed groan.

"This is going to go super well," I added, mumbling.

Damon chuckled beside me. I reached out to slap him but was stopped when he pulled me back into my seat, slipping my belt over my shoulder. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he smiled with a wink.

"Safety first,"

I heard the click of my belt and crossed my arms.

"So what do you recommend? It's not just Stefan's story to tell, Damon. Should we just allow him to tell it, or would you like to? Because I would love to avoid this conversation."

Damon tapped the steering wheel with one finger, and I sat quietly. I knew this wouldn't be easy for either of them. I watched his expression, looking for any change, but there was none. His eyes remained clear and impassive, his face never crinkled nor changed from its smooth pale visage. He looked at ease as if this was a typical road trip, just some fun with his ex and her sister.

Or to be more exact, his reincarnated ex and the doppelganger of his ex—who happened to become his reincarnated ex's new sister.

My nose twitched, and I laid my head back with a sigh, my eyes closed. My life was what nightmares were made of. I would need a morphine drip just to handle all the migraines this simple road trip would create.

"I think you should just let Stefan handle this one, El. Give her just the information she needs and let him go from there,"

I opened one eye and lifted my brow. "He does handle these situations best."

I brushed my bangs from my face and sighed heavily. Damon nodded and flipped on the radio, letting the sweet sound of music take away the need for more discussion. I let out a deep breath and leaned my head against the glass of my door, the cold breaking the tension that covered my forehead.

I squinted my eyes tightly as the light of the sun tried to seep through my eyelids. Running the back of my hand over my face, I felt something vibrate in my back pocket. I reached underneath me and pulled out my phone, blinking a few times as my eyes adjusted to the day. When I could finally see, I found Stefan's picture flashing across my screen, along with a large number of missed calls. I laid the phone in my lap and sighed in annoyance.

"How long has my ass been vibrating, Day?" I asked, my voice raspy from sleep.

I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair then lifted it into a ponytail, before looking at the vampire beside me. I growled lowly when I found him as perfect as he had been the night before, not a single hair out of place.

Damn perfect vampires.

He shook his head and brushed his thumb across my cheek, pulling away to show me the way its pad glistened in the light, wet with my drool. I choked out a gasp and quickly wiped my face in agonized embarrassment. Damon laughed, wiping his thumb on his jeans.

"Oh El, you drooled in my time too," he said with a snicker.

I smacked his shoulder and grabbed my bag, pulling out some gum. I tried to ignore the blush that still covered my cheeks and was thankful when Stefan interrupted, my phone buzzing to life again in my lap. Damon's eyes narrowed as he glanced down at my phone, eyes burning with fury.

"He has called you more then he has Elena. I wonder why that is?" he said tightly.

My brows furrowed and I reached over, patting his jacket down until I found the lump I was looking for.

"Where did you find her phone, Damon?"

He pushed my hand away and fixed his jacket. My phone let off a cheery ding, and I followed Damon's gaze as it lowered to my lap. He reached for my phone, and I smacked his hand away quickly.

"Oi! My phone, thank you. I will read my own texts."

He sat back, and I huffed when I noticed his tightening jaw.

"Damon, he is worried sick. Give the man a break. He has every right to text and call me all he wants," I said.

Shaking my head, I unlocked my phone and skimmed the text as my heart hammered in my chest.

Elandra, please call me. Please. I need to know you guys are safe. You can't do this to me. I promise I will tell her everything. I'm sorry. I love you both. Please call me.

I swallowed hard and stared at the message until my screen went dark.

"We need to call him," I said.

Before I could blink, Damon took my phone and unlocked it. His eyes darted back and forth as they scanned the message. I could hear a faint crack as he squeezed my phone. I pried it from his fingers and breathed a sigh of relief when I found it still worked. Damon's chest moved slowly, his jaw tight. I unbuckled my seat and moved next to him.

"Damon, calm down. There is no need for you to freak out."

I ran my fingers through his hair gently. I could hear him grind his teeth together as he tried to keep himself under control.

"So, I take it you've told him you love him," he whispered.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and ran my tongue over my dry lips. "Yes, I have — as a brother," I said slowly, "which is exactly what he is to me,"

It felt like I was walking through a minefield. Damon turned his head away, and I scooted back over, moving away from the mercurial vampire.

"A brother, huh," he sneered, a mirthless chuckle lilting from him.

I bit down on the gum I was chewing, using it to remain composed. "Yes, Damon. That's all he has ever been. You know that." I said with a small, weak smile.

I wasn't sure what was going on. Was this jealousy or just latent possessiveness? I had heard that since Katherine, both Salvatores were always edgy about the woman they fancied. They had a tendency to become wrathful if they thought one of them had any feelings for the other's lover. Even if Stefan hadn't seen me as a sister, he would have always known I was off-limits. So why then was Damon acting so jealous?

A small rustling saved us both from furthering the conversation. I glanced at Damon and he nodded, pulling the car to the side of the road. Elena was pushing herself into a seated position, the right corner of her forehead caked in dried blood, although she was fully healed. She ran her hand over her head, eyes still squeezed tightly shut. I watched in sympathy as she swayed from side to side, wincing slightly as she moaned, her voice cracking. Very slowly, she opened her eyes, and her pupils dilated when they focused in on me.

"Elara?" she said, voice breaking off.

I started to nod, and her brown eyes filled with tears. I lifted my legs into the seat and forced myself over the middle console, ignoring the hand that covered my lower back protectively. I wrapped my arms around my sister and felt warm tears seep into my shirt as she cried. I ran my hand over her ruffled brown hair and directed small soothing sounds into her ear.

"I look just like her, Ellie," she mumbled.

I brushed her hair over one shoulder and nodded slowly. "I know. I should have told you, but I didn't think it was my place. Please know that if I had thought he was dating you for that reason alone, I would have," I murmured into her ear.

I could feel her stiffen and braced myself for her wrath. She sat back and looked into my eyes, her own full of confusion and anger. "What do you mean?" she asked slowly.

I sucked on my bottom lip and took her hand. "Elena, I've met Katherine. Many times," I said, wincing when she glared at me.

She yanked her hand away and looked around the car, suddenly aware of her surroundings. She pushed herself against the seat when she noticed Damon smiling at her from the front. I tilted my head in annoyance and smacked his headrest, my teeth partially bared.

"Where are we, and why are we with him?" she said, spitting out the last part with venom.

I sighed and scooted closer to her, scrunching up my face in apprehension. "Um, well, that's the thing, Elena. When we found you, we were planning a little road trip, and I had a feeling you and Stefan had a little spat… so…" I trailed off, turning my head away and brushing the hair from my eyes.

Elena blinked quickly as she minutely lowered her chin towards her chest, her eyes starting to bulge as she began to understand. Her shoulders shook, and she began to chuckle, shaking her head.

"No… No. There's no way you would take me on a road trip with Damon," she said, reaching for the door and jumping out.

I crawled across the seat and quickly followed her. She walked behind the car and started down the road, her hands fisted beside her as she mumbled angrily to herself. She stopped suddenly and bent over groaning, her hand on her knee. She ran her fingers over her head and winced slightly. Damon sped beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. He smiled down at her, his patented half-smirk fixed on his face.

"You're ok. No broken bones. I checked." He winked.

Elena sneered and pushed his hand away from her.

"Listen, Lena, we are all the way in Georgia. Take the opportunity to clear your head. I have already talked to Jenna, no one thinks we are dead. Live a little. You will only get to do it once," I winked.

With a roll of her eyes, Elena ran her hands through her hair, sighing. "I have a life, Ellie. We have a life, we can't just run away. Why would you even go along with this?" she said.

Damon groaned loudly and sped back to his car, irritatedly slamming the door closed, and leaning against it. "I told you this was a bad idea, Elandra," he grumbled.

Something snapped in Elena. Her brown eyes large as she spun around, quickly walking up to Damon, poking her finger into his chest.

"That is not her name. Maybe you need to remember who you're talking to. She isn't the same girl from your time." She moved her finger to me but kept her eyes on Damon's. "Her name is Elara, not Elandra. She is my sister, not your fiance, and you should try to remember that," she spat.

"Why are we here, Elara?"

They both looked at me, and silence filled the air, only permeated by the sound of the wildlife surrounding us as they waited for my answer. My eyes darted from my sister to Damon, and I covered my face with my hands.

"Because he needed my help, and he is my friend,"

I moved my hands through my hair and down to my neck. Elena watched me, her face stern.

"Regardless of how you feel about him, he is important to me and always will be. So, if he needs me, I will be there," I said, letting out a rush of breath. "I have a thing about family. You should know that."

Damon stood silently by the car, his hands in his pockets. Elena approached me, her head lowered to her feet.

"How can you feel that way about someone like him, Ellie?" she whispered.

I shook my head at her and sniffed in annoyance. "No one is perfect, especially when they have lived for so long. Everyone can be dark, even you, so I would hold back the judgment." I whispered,

I ran my thumb across her chin, then wrapped my arms around her and sighed deeply.

"Just for me, please be open-minded. Besides, I could have Damon make you enjoy this trip," I joked.

Elena pulled away and touched her neck, eyes wide. I laughed,

"It's ok. I won't let him control you,"

She narrowed her eyes and continued to rub her neck self consciously. A loud ringing came from Damon's pocket, and Elena and I both turned to look at him. He stood against the hood of the car, arms crossed. I smirked as Elena rounded on him.

"That's my phone?" she huffed irritably.

Damon reached into his pocket and pulled out her phone, looking down at the screen. I stood next to him and watched his expression. His blue eyes hardened like glass for only a second before he looked up at Elena with a sly smile. "Mmm, it's your boyfriend."

Elena turned away, shaking her head, her hand still on her neck. I reached out and took her free hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before releasing it just as Damon looked back down at the phone with a sneer.

"I'll take it." He lifted the phone to his ear and gave me a quick wink. "Elena's phone!" he chirped enthusiastically.

I stepped closer to Damon, and he leaned down, lifting the phone slightly so that I could hear Stefan speak.

"Where are they? Why do you have Elena's phone, and why is Elandra not answering me? Are they ok?" he barked angrily.

Damon looked down at me, and I raised a brow.

"Slow down, brother. They are both right here. And yes, they are fine," he said calmly.

I shook my head and sighed. Elena kept her eyes on her feet, almost guiltily, as she transferred her weight from one foot to the other. I kicked her foot, and she looked at me with a shrug. I straightened my back and flipped my hair over my shoulder with confidence. She laughed silently and leaned against the car with a sigh. I nodded, satisfied, and looked back at Damon, who was lowering the phone towards Elena.

"He wants to talk to you,"

I crossed my arms and nudged my head towards the phone, urging her forward. After all, I was on Stefan's side. He really did love her.

Elena eyed the phone for a moment but looked away quickly, her mind made up. "Uh-uh," she said, shaking her head.

Damon pulled the phone back with a self-satisfied grin, and I looked away, heart sinking on Stefan's behalf. "Yeah. I don't really think she wants to talk to you right now," Damon said, shaking his head.

I could hear the anger in Stefan's voice as he spoke on the other end of the phone, and almost felt afraid for what would be waiting for Damon once we got home. Then I remembered I would be there to help defuse the situation, and Elena wouldn't stay mad at Stefan forever. Love was a mighty thing. No one knew that better than I did.

"Damon, I swear to God, If you touch either one of them…" Stefan spat.

I felt a warmth spread through me at his protective behavior. Caroline was one of the only other people who showed such a protective response over me, and I loved it. I was the same way, willing to kill for those I loved.

Damon smirked and nodded his head slowly. "You have a good day. Mmm-hmm. Bye now,"

I stepped away from him and pulled out my phone. I slipped into my messages and found the last one Stefan had sent me. I typed out a quick response and sent it just as Damon took the phone from my grasp.

"Naughty. Who are you texting?"

I yanked my phone from his grasp and shook my head. "Stefan. Someone needs to assure him you don't have us tied up in your trunk." I sighed, placing the phone back in my pocket. "Even if that is a ridiculous assumption. Like you could ever get the jump on me,"

"What did you say to him?" Elena asked, opening the car door and slipping inside.

I followed her and hopped into the front seat. "Basically, I told him we were both here because we wanted to be and that we would be home soon. End of story," I said, shrugging.

Damon slid into the driver's seat and slapped the wheel with a grin. "Well, now that we have taken care of my poor brother's feelings, let's get moving. We're almost there."

Elena sighed deeply and sat back in her seat. "Can't we just go home?"

I looked back at her and frowned. "No, we're going to a little place right outside of Atlanta,"

Elena groaned.

"Come on, It'll be fun!" I beckoned, throwing my hands in the air "Remember, what fun?"

Damon looked at her in the rearview and rolled his eyes. "No. I don't think she does. Come on, Elena. You don't wanna go back right now, do you? What's the rush? Take a time-out. Five minutes. All your problems will still be there when we get back."

I clapped my hands and nodded, smiling brightly. This was one of the reasons I had always loved Damon. He could be so spontaneous and fun. I leaned my head on his shoulder and grinned, watching for Elena's response in the mirror.

She looked out the window briefly before slapping her knee with a sigh. "Ugh. Are we gonna be safe with him?"

I looked up at Damon and shook my head. "Probably not, but I'm a badass witch, so you'll be safe with me," I smirked.

Elena scoffed and laughed lightly. "Ok. No mind tricks, and it's a deal,"

Damon looked back at her reflection and smirked. "Deal," he agreed.

I gave them both a toothy grin and turned around in my seat, keeping my head on Damon's shoulder.

"Atlanta, here we come!"

Damon pulled into the parking lot of a small bar, parking directly in front of the entrance. The sign above the front door read Bree's Bar in bold blue letters. Damon slipped from the car at the same time I did, and I fixed my leather jacket as I waited for Elena to exit the back seat.

"You brought us to a bar?" she indignantly asked, her hair blowing wildly around her face.

Walking around the front of the car, she tucked her hands in her pockets. "We're not old enough. They're not going to let us in," she said, tilting her head in my direction.

I popped a piece of gum in my mouth with a chuckle. "You're not old enough. I'm about a thousand years old, dear sister," I said, tucking the wrapper in my pocket.

Elena stomped her foot lightly and grumbled. "Well, right now, your about 17, dear sister."

I stepped closer to her and brushed my bright red hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. I smirked and blew a giant bubble in her face, popping it loudly before twirling on my heel and taking her hand. "Come on,"

Damon shook his head and started forward. "They'll let you guys in. Trust me," he said over his shoulder.

I could hear scoffing behind me and laughed. "As if," Elena whispered.

I followed behind Damon, pleasantly surprised to find the bar was actually nice. It wasn't fancy, but it wasn't dingy or run down. Bree was taking care of it. Considering the time of day, there were very few people inside, just a few men playing pool. Elena lagged behind as I let go of her hand. I pulled my hair over one shoulder and stood in front of Elena as Damon approached the bar. The woman behind it was running a white rag over the dirty counters, her black curly hair bouncing as she moved.

"That's Bree," Damon whispered, "She owns the bar."

When Damon clapped his hands together, Bree turned her head towards us and smiled at Damon, shaking her head.

"No. No, it can't be. Damon?"

She hopped over the counter, spinning around to jump onto the other side. She landed gently on the ground, sauntering in front of Damon, her hips swaying.

"My honey pie," she said saucily.

Leaning in, she placed her hands on either side of his face and kissed him. Pulling him closer, she deepened the kiss, humming in satisfaction. She ran her hands down his body, squeezing his ass with a firm grip. My eyes widened, and I had to pinch myself just to maintain my focus and keep my jaw wired shut. This was definitely something Damon had forgotten to mention.

I looked away and found Elena watching me closely, her face full of concern. I managed a grimace that was supposed to be a smile and looked down at the floor. When Bree finally pulled away, I looked up, exhaling in relief. She took Damon's hand and led him to the bar. He sat down on a stool, and I pushed Elena in the one next to him, sitting down beside her. I didn't really feel like being near him if they planned on going at it again. Bree took out four shot glasses and lined them up in front of us, taking out a bottle of Tequila and lifting it into the air.

"Listen up, everybody! Here's to the man that broke my heart, crushed my soul, destroyed my life, and ruined any and all chances of happiness!" she shouted, placing a shot in front of each of us and picking up her own. "Drink up," she said, downing her shot.

I lifted the glass to my lips and poured the nasty liquid down my throat, wincing at the deep, warm burn. I slammed the glass down and stuck my tongue out in protest. "Ugh, I hate Tequila!" I shouted with a laugh.

Bree chuckled and refilled my glass. "So, how did he rope you in?" she asked.

I looked up at her and leaned my head back with a sigh. "Oh, now that is a long story," I said, downing my newly refilled shot.

"Well, my advice is just to enjoy the ride," she said with a long sigh that spoke of previous enjoyment.

My stomach rolled, and I flipped my glass upside down, waving my fingers over the top. She smiled knowingly and moved over to Elena, filling her glass.

Damon stood and walked next to me, leaning on his elbow. "Having fun, El?" he asked, looking at my upended glass.

I glanced at my fingers and forced a smile. "Loads," I said, grimacing and flipping my glass back over, tapping it on the bar.

"There we go, girl," Bree said, filling it.

Elena observed me and narrowed her eyes when Bree filled the glass again.

"So, how do you two know each other?" Elena asked.

Bree leaned against the bar and smiled at Damon. "College," she said.

Elena's eyes widened, and she looked at Damon in astonishment. "You went to college?" she asked.

Damon leaned his head on his hand and rolled his eyes, smiling. "I've been on a college campus, yes," he said.

I laughed and covered my face with my hands. "I can definitely picture you stalking the sorority girls," I snorted.

Damon winked at me and curled a piece of my hair around his finger as he listened to Bree speak.

"About twenty years ago, when I was a sweet, young freshman, I met a beautiful man and fell in love. And then he told me his little secret, made me love him more. Because you see, I had a little secret of my own that I was dying to tell someone," she said.

Damon leaned in next to us and whispered smugly. "She's a witch," he said.

I widened my eyes and looked her over with new interest. When I finally focused on her and not my feelings towards her, I could feel it, her power.

"As are you," she said, lowering herself onto her elbow in front of me.

I glanced around quickly, making sure I wouldn't be noticed, then lifted my hand and allowed my fingers to twinkle. I smiled smugly when Bree gasped, bowing her head in reverence. It had been a long time since someone had shown such respect.

I nodded in acceptance and felt Elena place her hand on my arm. I patted her gently and closed my hand, canceling the glow.

"When did you start hanging out with an Original witch, Damon?" Bree asked a tremor of fear in her voice.

I placed my hand on hers and looked into her eyes. "I'm the only Original he has met, Bree," I assured her.

I knew she feared who else may be walking through her door. Her face softened, and I could see her breathing calm. Bree looked at Elena and smiled again. "He changed my world, ya know," she said, looking at Damon.

He smirked and nudged his head at Bree. "I rocked your world," he said.

Bree lifted her shot with a smile, looking at me. "He is good in the sack, isn't he." I raised my glass and clinked it with hers.

She chuckled and looked back at Damon. "But mostly he's just a Walk-Away Joe," she said.

I drank my shot, keeping my head lowered, and sat down my empty glass.

"See, she agrees," Bree said with a laugh.

I flung my hair from my shoulders and rubbed the back of my neck, avoiding everyone's gaze.

Bree laughed brightly and turned towards Damon, now more stern. "So, what is it that you want?" she asked.

Elena's phone rang, and Damon took it from his pocket, looking down at the screen before handing it over.

"Its Jenna," Elena said softly.

I patted her on the back and smiled. "It's ok. I told her you passed out at Bonnie's and then went straight to school. I'm sure she just wants to check-in," I assured her.

Taking a deep breath, she answered the phone and started out of the bar, her hand in her hair. Damon and Bree found a table off to the side of the bar and sat down to discuss Katherine. Not knowing what else to do, I followed. I moved to take the chair beside Bree, but Damon pulled me next to him, placing my feet on his lap.

Bree watched us closely, her brown eyes were curious. "So, what's the story here?" she asked, using two fingers to point at us.

I snickered and laid my head on Damon's shoulder briefly. "Like I said, long story," I answered.

Bree threw her head back and laughed heartily. "What part of our dear Damons life story isn't long. I have all the time in the world," she said.

I smacked Damon's arm and looked up at him. "Your turn," I said.

He rolled his eyes and took a beer from the table. "El is my ex-fiance. She was the woman I was with before Katherine. She is a Reincarnate," he said simply.

I looked up at the ceiling and then back at Bree. "Well, I guess that really does sum it up," I shrugged.

Bree watched me, her eyes scanning my face, before trailing down to where Damon's handheld my knee. "After all these years, it's still only Katherine, huh. How do you know she's still alive," she asked.

Damon gripped my knee tightly and leaned towards Bree. "Well, you help me get into the tomb, and we'll find out," he said, touching her elbow.

She pulled her arm away and turned her head towards him. "I already did. Twenty years ago. Remember? Three easy steps: Comet. Crystal. Spell," she said.

I could feel Damon's grip tighten on my knee, and I placed my hand on his, his iron grasp loosened, and I could feel him calm slightly. "There's a little problem with number two. I don't have the crystal," he said.

Bree raised her hands in the air and shrugged. "That's it, Damon. There's no other way. It's Emily's spell."

I ran my fingers over Damon's hand and smirked at Bree. "In Witchcraft, there's always another way, Bree," I said, my eyes flashing angrily.

"What about a new spell with a new crystal that overrides Emily's spell?" Damon asked.

I bit my bottom lip and shook my head. That wouldn't work.

Bree placed her hand under her chin and looked at Damon, her black curls bouncing slightly as she spoke. "It doesn't work that way, baby. Emily's spell is absolute. You can't get in that tomb without her crystal," she said.

Damon's face fell, and his distant eyes glazed over. I moved my legs from his lap and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Watch us," I said, standing to my feet, and pulling Damon with me.

I led him outside and saw Elena standing by the car, her phone to her ear. "And I'm supposed to believe that?" she said.

I could hear a low mumbling on the other end before she swiftly hung up, spinning around to find us standing behind her.

"You ok?" Damon asked.

Elena looked down at his shirt and smirked. "Don't pretend to care. I know your gloating inside," she said, looking up into his eyes.

Damon smirked, but before he could come up with some snotty remark, I stepped in between them.

"Lena, I'm starved. Can we just go inside and get something to eat? All that liquor on an empty stomach was a bad idea..."

Elena's eyes widened, and she smacked Damon on the chest, her face scrunched up in disbelief and anger. "You didn't feed her? Witches still eat, ya know," she said, smacking him again.

I gave her a side hug and smiled. "Three points for bravery. Smacking a vampire, Lena — very dangerous," I laughed.

Elena pulled me forward, leading me back inside. We found a seat at the bar, and all three ordered a burger and fries. Damon handed me a beer, and we drank silently as we waited for our food. By the time it came, I was feeling sufficiently sloshed. My vision was starting to blur, and I was glad to get something in my stomach. I started on my fries, enjoying them more than I usually would. Damon watched me in amusement, his crystal blue eyes full of unfulfilled laughter.

"Let's just say that I'm descended from Katherine… does that make me part vampire?" Elena asked.

I giggled, waving a fry in the air. "Nope. Not at all," I sang.

Damon shoved a fry in my mouth and ran a finger over my cheek. "Eat my little drunk,"

I finished my fry and stuck my tongue out at him.

"Vampires can't procreate, but we love to try." he picked up a fry and tossed it in his mouth, running his fingers against one another to dust the salt from them. "No, if you were related, it would mean Katherine had a child before she was turned," he said.

I pushed the fries around on my plate and mouthed one word.

"Bingo,"

Neither one noticed me, and I was glad for it. There was no way I would reveal something Katherine had told me in complete confidence. It was the worst part of her human life, and I wouldn't repeat it.

"Did Stefan think he could use me to replace her?" Elena asked.

I raised my hand in front of Damon quickly and looked at Elena, my eyes hard. "Never," I said firmly.

Damon moved my hand and looked at Elena with fake concern. "Kinda creepy if ya ask me," he said.

Elena took the pickles from her burger and moved them to the side.

Damon scoffed and took them from her plate, placing them on my burger and his. "Come on, what? You don't like pickles? What is wrong with you?"

I rearranged the pickles on my burger and smiled over at my sister, who was watching Damon with unease. She was clearly trying to figure out how she was actually enjoying his presence while also getting some questions answered. Questions she was too embarrassed to ask her boyfriend.

Damon elbowed me, offering me the ketchup, I nodded, and he spread some on my bun. I pointed to the mustard, and he repeated the process. Scooting away a bit, I lifted my hair into a ponytail and then sat forward to eat. I felt something tickling my neck and looked over to find Damon playing with a strand of hair I had missed. I raised a brow, but he continued unperturbed.

"How can you even eat? If technically you're supposed to be…" Elena asked.

I looked up at Damon and sent him a cocky questioning look. Damon leaned in and gave her a faux nervous look. "Dead?" he whispered with a chuckle.

My shoulders shook as I laughed silently. "It's not such a bad word. As long as I keep a healthy diet of blood in my system, my body functions pretty normally," he said, tossing a fry in his mouth to demonstrate.

Elena's face lifted and she laughed prettily. "This nice act. Is any of it real?" she asked, her expression turning wary.

I took a drink of my beer before Damon took it away, swishing it, revealing it to be half empty. He motioned for Bree, who brought over another and a glass of water. He took the beer and handed me the water, smirking when I pouted. "Sorry, Elandra. I'm cutting you off, baby," he whispered.

I took the glass and sighed, drinking deeply. He watched me for a second before turning away.

"I'll have one of those," Elena said, pointing at Damon's beer.

I sat down my water and leaned in front of Damon to look at Elena.

She smiled at me and shrugged. "Time out, remember? For five minutes. Yeah, well, that five minutes is gonna need a beer," she said.

I looked at Bree and motioned at Elena. "Get the girl some alcohol," I said.

Bree handed Elena a bottle, winking at me. "There ya go," she said.

When Elena was more than a few beers in, Bree brought out the whiskey and some shot glasses. The bar was beginning to fill with people, and a small group joined us for shots. Damon made sure I opted out, so I stood to the side, just watching my sister cut loose for once.

I drank another glass of water and smiled as Bree sat out another set of glasses, filling them with whiskey. "Ready…Go!" she shouted.

Damon, Elena, and a few others all took their shots, Elena being the quickest, when she got going she was a machine with a hell of a tolerance. She slammed her glass down and clapped her hands, dancing in a circle in celebration.

"That's three," Damon said, wiping his chin.

Elena leaned down next to him and laughed. "Aww, do you need a bib?" she asked, a fake pout on her lips.

Damon pushed away from the bar and snickered. "We can't all unhinge our jaws like a snake, like the Gilbert girls, to consume alcohol," he said, finding me off to the side with a smile.

I sent him a wink, and he turned back to Elena, who was waving her hand in the air, describing her tolerance. The atmosphere changed as someone entered the bar, and my instincts went into overdrive. I looked around me and saw a man I had never seen before walk passed Damon and Elena towards the other side of the bar. After Bree served Elena and the others another set of shots, she followed him. I kept my eyes away from her but watched from my peripheral. She said something to him before motioning to us, her face hard. I closed my eyes and ground my teeth together, anger coursing through me. Of course, she had to betray us. Now Damon would kill her, and it would be yet another betrayal to drag him down. She better at least have a damn good reason.

I started towards Damon when my phone rang, I looked down and saw it was Jenna calling. I sighed deeply and took one last look at Damon before grabbing my jacket and starting outside. I opened the door and winced at the biting cold. I slid the phone in my pocket, planning on calling Jenna back as soon as I got my jacket on. As I slid one arm in someone came behind me at lightning speed, grabbing me from behind and wrapping their hand around my neck, covering my mouth with unnatural strength. They began dragging me away, and I struggled, tugging at their hands. I momentarily forgot that I was a witch, and no vampire could hold me against my will.

Before I could remember that I wasn't helpless, I felt a pinprick in my neck and winced in pain. It took me only a moment to realize it had been centuries since I had felt this pain — the pain of Witch Hazel. Such an innocent plant, one so many humans use as a remedy, was my poison.

I screamed through the pain, but the sound was blocked by my attacker's hand. Slowly my body began to shut down, and I could no longer move. I felt the agonizing pain that ripped through my body like wildfire at a magnified level. It felt like a million scalding hot knives cutting every inch of my body. Through the pain, I could sense the man moving my body away towards the back of the bar. My eyes were open, and I could see the night sky above us as he lowered my body to the ground near a ladder beside an electrical building. The man leaned over me, blocking my vision of the building, his eyes red.

"Bree said not to use too much, so you should be able to move soon," he said.

The pain was still shooting through me, and his words did little to relieve it. The only thing it did was make me want to kill Bree myself. He stepped away, and when I could no longer see him, I tried to think through the pain, to make out the sounds around me. After what felt like hours, I could hear quick footsteps. I knew the poison was wearing off, so I forced myself to turn my head. It took every bit of strength I had, but very slowly, I turned to find Damon running towards me.

"Damon, No!" I choked out.

Damon stopped, his face falling as he saw me sprawled out on the ground. I knew what I must look like. I had seen myself after I had been poisoned with Witch Hazel, it wasn't pretty. My skin shadows with red veins darkening to black — like sickly vines wrapping around my body. The poison heats my blood to boiling as it destroys me from the inside out.

"Elandra!" he shouted.

The man who had attacked me flew towards him at supernatural speed with a wooden plank, knocking him to the ground, and beating him repeatedly as hard as he could. Once Damon was on the ground, he sped away, coming back with a can, and covering Damon with gasoline. Breathing deeply, I turned over just as Elena came running from the alley, shouting.

"No!"

Using my elbows, I pushed myself up and crawled over to the edge of the concrete, where the vampire was still beating Damon.

"Elena, stay away," I said weakly.

Elena covered her mouth in horror as she looked at me, tears covering her face. "Ellie…" she said.

I lifted my finger to my lips and shook my head as slowly as I could, still feeling weak. My skin felt like it was on fire, and I could barely breathe, but I couldn't stay still. My sister and Damon both were in danger.

The man turned towards me, revealing his red eyes and vampiric teeth.

"Why are you moving? Bree said you could die if I moved you too much," he spat.

I laughed with a wince and sat up on my knees.

"Who are you?" Damon asked in confusion.

The man shook his head and adjusted his jacket with a sneer. "That's perfect! You have no idea," he said.

Elena stepped towards them, and the man growled menacingly.

I raised my hand and shook my head at her. "Elena, don't."

The man turned his head back to me and looked me over, the color returning to his eyes.

"What did he do to you?" I asked.

The vampire scoffed pain covering his face. "He killed my girlfriend," he softly said.

He turned back to Damon, covering him in more gas. I shakily stood, my whole body aching in a way that foretold nothing but death.

"What did she do to you, huh? What did she do to you?!" he shouted, shaking the can over Damon until every last drop covered him.

I took several deep breaths and took a step forward.

"Nothing," Damon panted.

"I don't understand," Elena said.

I shook my head and tried to remain upright, as I swayed back and forth. The man looked over his shoulder at Elena, his eyes were glassy. "My girlfriend went to visit Stefan, and Damon killed her. Got it?" he spat.

He hit Damon again, and I winced as he shouted in pain. As much as he deserved this, I couldn't stand watching it.

"Lexi, was your girlfriend?" I asked.

The man looked at me again, watching the way I swayed. He nodded gently, and I smiled. "She told us about you, but she said you were human."

He turned around to face me, eyes clouded with tears. "I was."

I walked towards him and raised my hands in surrender. "Did Lexi turn you?" I asked.

Tears fell from the man's red eyes, and I could feel my own heartbreak for him. "If you want to be with someone forever, you have to live forever," he said, voice breaking.

I nodded in agreement. "Yes, you do. I am sorry you lost you're forever. What Damon did was unforgivable. I loved Lexi too," I touched my chest and tried to ignore the stab of pain that shot through me. "But regardless of how horrible he can be, I'm begging you not to kill him," I said.

The man turned away from me and back to Damon, who still laid on the ground, moaning in pain. He kicked him in the head in anger. I cried out and placed a hand on my knee.

"Lexi loved you. She said, "When it's real, you can't walk away," Elena said, her hands in her hair.

The man turned to me and shook his head. "Well, that's a choice you're going to have to make," he said.

I fell to my knees and gasped in pain, my eyes never leaving Damon. "Don't. Don't, please don't hurt him," I begged.

I hadn't felt this weak in ages. I had always had my powers to lean on, now though, I was as human as Elena, and I hated it. The man reached into his pocket and took out a book of matches. I gasped in fear and agony. Lighting the match, he lifted it into the air above Damon.

I raised my hand in one last burst of effort. "Lexi was a good person, and she loved you. Which means you are good too. Don't do this, be better than him. For Lexi," I begged, touching the ground, my vision blurring.

The man took a few angry breaths, his nostrils flaring, and he glanced down at Damon with pure hatred.

Shaking the match, the man bent down and picked Damon up by the scruff of his shirt, eyes blood red. Damon's face was pale and drawn with pain, and what I could tell was regret, whether that be for what he had done, because of what it now costs him, or what pain it had inflicted on the poor man in front of him, I wasn't sure. His head lolled against his chest, and the man looked at him, shaking with rage. I could see the pain and torture in his eyes, he wanted nothing more than to kill Damon, but his love for Lexi was fighting against that impulse. The red in his eyes darkened, and his chin quivered slightly as he lifted Damon higher into the air, tossing him into the building a few feet away. Damon landed hard, his arms spread out, causing him to bounce off the building and land on the ground flat on his chest. I stayed on my knees, palms on the cold concrete in front of me.

Elena looked at the man her face ashen. "Thank you," she breathed.

The man stopped and looked at her, eyes hard. "I didn't do it for you."

As he passed by me, he lowered his head and cast sympathetic eyes down on me.

"He will only lead you to death," he said.

I glanced up at him and smiled. "It's not him I'm worried about, but thank you. Lexi would have been proud of you,"

The corner of his mouth turned up, and he closed his eyes briefly before speeding away. When he disappeared, Elena ran to me, helping me to my feet. We both made our way to Damon and helped him stand. When he was finally able to do so on his own, my strength gave out, and I fell. Elena sank with me as she tried to cover my weight. Damon pulled me from her arms, eyes scanning me quickly.

"What did he do to you, El? I don't know how to help you, baby."

I smiled weakly and reached up to stroke his cheek. "He poisoned me with something, something I didn't think anyone really knew about. Guess I was wrong, huh," I laughed, coughing deeply when my chest started to fill with blood.

Damon lowered me to the ground, and I could hear Elena crying somewhere beside me.

"What do I do? Just tell me what to do," he said.

I chuckled and lifted his wrist, shaking it gently. "Come on, you're more than just a pretty face," I wheezed.

Damon quickly bit into his wrist laid it on my dry lips. I drank deeply and felt my blood start to cool instantly as the effects of the poison left my body. I knew the change was occurring on the outside as well when Elena's tear-choked sobs turned into relieved gasps of air. I could feel her running her fingers through my hair, and I smiled when Damon pulled his wrist from my mouth, running a finger over my lips to rid them of any evidence of his blood.

"There's my, Elandra," he whispered as he helped me to my feet.

I smiled up at him and sent him a wink. "You stink," I said.

Lowering his nose to his shirt, he groaned in disgust. "This shirt is ruined," he moaned.

I shrugged as Elena came up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"I've always preferred you in blue anyways," I said with a smile.

My eyes hardened as I felt Elena cry against me. I looked at Damon, his face a perfect replication of my own.

"Lena, let's get you back to the car. Damon and I need to talk to Bree one more time before we leave," Elena looked up at me in fear, and I smiled down at her. "It's ok, sis. There's nothing to worry about."

I led Elena back to the car, reassuring her time and time again that I was ok and then met Damon at the entrance of the bar.

"You sure you want to come in with me?" he asked, eyes moving to my face.

I flicked some imaginary dust from my jacket and sneered. "Please, as if this will be my first time," I said with a smirk.

Damon smiled and took my hand, taking me inside. Bree was alone at the bar, taking a shot, her back to us.

"We were just leaving. We wanted to say goodbye," Damon said.

Still facing the other direction, Bree answered, her voice flat. "Good to see you again, Damon."

I crossed my arms and tapped my foot. "What about me. You showed me such respect before, Bree. I am one of the first of my kind, am I not?"

Damon approached her slowly, his face hard. "And no kiss?" he asked.

Bree turned around, fear covering her face, shoulders stiff. "I'm full of vervain. I put it in everything I drink," she said.

Smiling evilly, I stepped closer. "Vervain doesn't bother me, Bree," I said.

Tears started to pool in her eyes as she looked at Damon.

"And you're telling us this why?" Damon asked.

Bree's shoulders started to shake as she began to cry. "Lexi was my friend. How could you?" she asked as she turned around.

Damon sped in front of her, and she gasped in fear. I came up behind Damon and placed a hand on his shoulder, trailing it down his arm, and looked at Bree with pity.

"She was mine as well. I loved her, and honestly, I'll probably never truly forgive him for what he did. But he is still my Damon and always will be." I stepped closer to her as her breathing began to speed up. "And you tried to get him killed. No one hurts what's mine. Not to mention, you poisoned me. That's a betrayal I just can't allow," I said, my voice raw.

I stepped behind Damon as he moved closer to her. She gulped in fear.

"Did you think you could send someone to kill me and poison someone I care about without consequence?" he asked her, his eyes darkening.

"The tomb can be opened," she quickly spouted.

Damon tilted his head menacingly. "Your lying," he sighed in annoyance, turning his head.

Bree backed away her hands, outstretched behind her. "Emily's Grimoire, her spellbook. If you know how she closed the tomb, the reversal spell will be in the book. You can open that tomb," she said, eyes wide.

Damon spun on his heels and looked at me.

I nodded, my expression guarded. "It should work," I said.

Turning back to Bree, he stepped closer again. "Where is this book?" he asked.

Bree's shoulders shook, and she pushed her hands out towards Damon's chest. "I… I," she said.

Damon sneered, lowering his head in disappointment. "You have no idea," he said.

Bree shook her head and waved her hands in front of her. "No. I'm telling you the truth," she promised.

Damon stood intimately close, his hand on her face, caressing her cheek. He ran his thumb down onto her chin. "And I believe you. My dear, sweet Bree. That's why I'm almost sorry," he whispered.

I stepped closer and tilted my head, watching the fear fill her eyes as Damon plunged his fist into her chest. I felt sorry for the poor woman, but my pity for her could only go so far after what she had done. She gasped, mouth falling open, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes bulged as she looked into Damon's eyes, their ocean depths the last thing she would ever see. My lips turned down, it could have been worse. Damon pulled his wrist from her chest, heart in hand, and her eyes began to flutter closed. My cold eyes followed her body as it fell to the floor, almost gracefully. Damon looked down at her heart before it fell from his hand, sliding across his fingertips. When it landed on the ground with a small thud, he grabbed the towel from the counter — using it to clean the blood from his hands. Grabbing his jacket, he slung it over his shoulders, pulling his arms through.

"You ok?" he asked.

I smiled brightly and fixed the color of his jacket, "Yep. You ready to go home and find a Grimoire?"

He looked into my eyes deeply, most likely checking for shock or hatred. When he saw nothing to concern him, he twirled a piece of my hair and took my hand in his, leading me outside.

In the car, Elena leaned forward, her chin on the edge of my seat. "Are you sure your ok?" she asked.

I laughed, my voice still a bit rough. "Yes! Please don't ask again, Lena," I smiled.

Pulling my hair towards her, I could feel her braiding it with a sigh.

"Well, I have to award you at least ten points for avoiding death like a champ," she said.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "We can't keep awarding points for non-prank related things. It's against the rules."

Elena grumbled loudly, yanking my hair gently. "We make the rules, and I say with how messed up our life has gotten, awarding points for its craziness is a-okay," she said.

When she finished braiding my hair, I turned around and nodded. "Fine. It's a deal. We can award points for life's craziness," I said.

Damon pulled my braid and looked at me in confusion. "What the hell are you two going on about? I remember Stefan and I were awarded points recently," he said.

Elena shot me an amused look, and I pointed at her, letting her fill him in while I texted Stefan, telling him we were on our way home. Damon eyed me warily, but I ignored him.

After several hours we finally arrived back at the Boarding House. I slipped out of the car and stretched — my whole body cracking with the strain. Elena stood next to me, her eyes on the house — watching it uneasily.

"Go. He won't bite, unless you ask," I snarkily said.

Elena pushed me away, a disgusted expression on her face. "Hey, don't knock it till you try it, sister," I said, raising my hands in the air with a smirk.

She stuck her tongue out and headed inside.

Damon rounded the car and stood behind me. "Think she'll forgive him?" he asked.

I placed my hands on my hips and turned around. "She loves him. So yeah," I wrapped my hands around his neck and smiled wickedly. "Wanna give me a ride?"

With a smirk, he wrapped his arms around my waist and sped me away from Elena and Stefan.

We stopped in the woods behind my house, and I brushed the hair from my face. "That is fun but so nauseating," I laughed, holding my stomach.

Damon looked down at me with interest, his blue eyes piercing. "Thanks for saving my life today, Elandra,"

I brushed my fingers through his raven hair and shrugged. "While I'm around, I'll always save you, Damon."

His eyes closed and he took in a deep breath. "I thought I was going to lose you today, El. I can't go through that again. You have to live," he said.

Opening his eyes, he took my face in his hands. "Once we open the tomb, we will figure out what to do about this curse. Maybe Emily's Grimoire will have something in it that will help?"

I stepped away from him and smiled weakly. "Maybe." I looked at the house and then back to him. "I better get inside,"

He watched me go before speeding away into the night.

I ran inside and found Jenna sitting on the couch. "Hey, Ellie. You ok?" she asked.

I touched my head and frowned. "No. One of my headaches," I lied, bounding upstairs.

I tossed open the door and sat down on my bed, placing my head in my hands. I didn't understand why every mention of the tomb was like a punch in the stomach, but it was. Before I could overthink it, I heard the front door burst open, and Elena's angry voice floated up the stairs. I lifted my head just as she exploded into the room.

"Did you know?" she shouted.

I sat back and widened my eyes. "Know what? Your gonna have to be more specific," I said plainly.

Elena slammed my door closed, locking it behind her, and I stood quickly.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Did you know about Stefan saving me that night, and what he found out about us later on?" she asked.

My brows furrowed in genuine confusion. I had always wondered how Elena had survived the crash, and I had my ideas about us, but no one had ever told me anything.

"No. I don't know what you're talking about, Elena. Your gonna have to fill me in," I said.

Elena's eyes filled with tears, and she threw herself into my arms. "We are adopted, Elara. We're not really Gilberts," she whispered.

I held her as she cried — my own mind full of questions. If Miranda and Grayson were not our real parents, then who were they?