Review responses:

Only reviewer: We're about to find out! And it'll be the same reason she never killed Damon or Stefan. ;)

And now for the second part of the Return episode. Another fun one here, first time I give a Damon and Stefan perspective. Needed to flesh the chapter out a bit, but I do feel it gives an insight as to where the stand in this story, plus it gives me more time to play with Katherine. And the Scarlett stuff is setting up some important ideas for later.

And thanks to everyone who's favourited and followed the story, and thanks again for all those that have continued over from the first story. Don't forget to leave a review with your thoughts if you have time. Hope the second chapter keeps up the momentum and I'll see you later! Enjoy!

Chapter 2: The Return

Walking towards the Lockwood mansion, Scarlett couldn't help but groan. She'd never been fond of the Lockwoods. True the only one she'd ever spent time with was Tyler but he was an ass and his dad seemed like one too and Mrs Lockwood just seemed stuck up. So the last thing she wanted to do was head over to the Lockwoods to 'grieve' about the death of the Mayor. The one that she'd seen die down in the burned down Gilbert place. She'd rather be out looking for Sarah who still hadn't been found. Scarlett had spent the night with the Gilberts while Stefan and Damon had been out searching. When she woke up the next morning and still hadn't heard anything from them, she called Stefan. There had been no sigh of her anywhere. All they'd found was a raided weapons chest at the house, suggesting Sarah had gone after Katherine.

When Stefan had then told her he and Damon where going to pause the search to go the the mayors wake, Scarlett had been ready to go and continue it on her own. And without Damon around to see her, she could turn into a wolf and sniff her out far faster than the two vampires. Unfortunately, Jenna had grabbed her before she could leave and dragged her to the stupid gathering. On the bases that if they were going, then so was she. She would have put up more of a fight if she hadn't seen Jeremy giving her the puppy dog look, practically begging her to come. She really was going to have to rebuild her immunity to his looks.

"Looks like the whole town has turned out," Jenna said as the four made their way towards the grand house. Scarlett fought the urge to mumble a rude comment. She liked Jenna, she was cool. And while she hated the authoritative thing, she understood it was something Jenna had to do. But she still didn't like it. She preferred friend Jenna to parent Jenna.

"Yeah. Well, he is…he was the mayor," Elena sighed, changing her tenses when she remembered he was now dead.

"Why don't they save it for the funeral?" Jeremy asked as they approached the stairs to the mansion.

"That's what people do," Jenna explained as they ascended the stairs. "The Lockwoods were here for us when we went through this."

"They were there for some of us," Scarlett muttered bitterly. As she remembered it, hardly anyone showed up to her own mother's wake. Then again her father had been in jail and her uncle was never going to spend a penny on a wake and the bare minimum on a funeral. Even so, it would have been nice of someone to at least say something to her. People had just avoided her for weeks, giving her pathetic looks. So why the hell should she be here for the Lockwoods, the greatest assholes of them all?

"You alright?" Jeremy asked, his arm hugging Scarlett's waist as her shoulders tensed and she folded her arms.

"I just don't like being here is all," she answered with a shrug, not looking any of the Gilberts in the eye.

"Well it'll be quick. We'll drop off the food and pay our respects and go," Jenna said, lifting the tray of home made food as to make her point. Seeing Jenna attempt to smile, Scarlett offered her an attempt in return before looking down. She just wanted to get back to looking for Sarah. The sooner they found her the better, every second they didn't was another were she could be in danger.

"In and out, sounds like a plan," Jeremy agreed as he led Scarlett inside, shuddering as she passed over the threshold.

"You guys go ahead, I'll be right there, okay?" Elena said. Scarlett looked back and saw she was mostly talking to Jenna who didn't look too happy as she stared at her niece. Then Scarlett spotted Damon off to the side, leaning on the railing with a drink in hand. Part of Scarlett wanted to go and ask about Sarah, but he'd just give her attitude and tell her what Stefan had already given her. Better to let Elena deal with him while she went in, showed face, and then left. The sooner she got out into the woods to shift, the better. Feeling Jeremy tugging at her to keep moving, Scarlett let him guide her through the Lockwood mansion with Jenna behind them. She just needed this to be quick.

Stefan kept close as he followed Katherine through the Lockwood gardens, now circling around the large pond behind the mansion. He was doing his best to play along with her game. It was the best way to get an insight into what she was up too. Why she was coming after Elena and toying with them all. He just had to keep his cool like he'd been doing and he'd be fine. It wasn't easy, remembering everything this woman had done to him and his siblings. And thinking about his sister wasn't helping. He'd bee up all night searching for her and had gotten nothing. All that had turned up was a partially emptied weapons chest from the basement and a note from Katherine that was in Sarah's room. He was dying to ask her about that, but that would give her a good look at his hand, and he needed to play things close to the chest for now. At least until he had a better grasp on the vampire he'd once loved.

"The Lockwoods have a lot more land than they used to. The possessions from all the tomb vampires built them quite a fortune," Katherine said as she glanced across the pond, Stefan falling into line with his sire as he clasped his hands behind his back.

"Yeah, why did you want them dead? You're the one who turned most of them." It had been a question tickling his mind for a while now. She'd used John and Isobel to get rid of the tomb vampires, they knew that, but the reason why was still a mystery to him. He had his theories, number one being because almost each and every one had wanted her dead. Not terribly surprising consider she left them all locked in a tomb for almost one-hundred-and-fifty years.

"There's nothing more annoying than a vengeful vampire, Stefan. Just ask John Gilbert," Katherine said with a grin as she strode forward a few steps, turning around to face Stefan with a curious look. Eyeing Stefan up and down like she used too, admiring his body. It mad Stefan uncomfortable. He never had enjoyed other people looking him over, women undressing him with their minds. But with Katherine it was even worse.

"You haven't changed at all, have you?" Stefan asked, hands moving into his pockets as he stared back at the vampire who grinned away at him. Obviously loving the attention and soaking it up like a sponge.

"But you have. You're stronger. Meaner. It's sexy," Katherine said with a quirked eyebrow.

"Don't flirt with me, Katherine. I'm not Damon," Stefan said with a shake of the head, refusing to play this part of her game. He wasn't going to go down that rabbit hole again. He'd done so once back in 1864. Now he was in love with Elena, he wasn't about to hurt her by even thinking about Katherine in that way, never mind flirting with her. "I haven't spent one-hundred-and-forty-five years obsessed with you."

"Based on your choice of women, I'd say otherwise," Katherine said with a delighted grin as she stepped around Stefan who dropped his head. He'd seen that card coming from a mile away. It was the obvious play, a desperate one to rattle him up. It wasn't going to work. He just needed a second to gather himself was all. "Although I'll admit it does bother me that you've falling in love with someone else," Katherine admitted. Stefan turned, almost mistaking her voice for genuine sadness that matched the look on her face. But Stefan knew that face and knew the many masks that Katherine could wear. If Stefan was to name anyone that had compete control over their facial muscles, it would be Katherine.

"I was never in love with you, Katherine. You compelled me. So none of my feelings were real," Stefan stated pointedly as Katherine stepped back over towards him, grinning away as she spoke her next words.

"Believe what you want, Stefan, but I know the truth and deep down, so do you," she smiled at him, stepping up into his personal space with a gleeful smile as she looked up into his forest green eyes, almost like she was trying to compel him all over again. Well it wasn't going to work now. He was a vampire too and she had no more power over him than he had over her. Though if he was being honest he hated how her smile got to him, the one she kept using. A twisted smile unlike anything he ever saw on Elena.

"The truth?" Stefan asked as Katherine ran her fingers across his chest. He maintained his looks, refusing to let the physical contact throw him, especially with Katherine's cat like eyes watching him for any sign that he was enjoying it. "Well the truth is, you're the same, lying, selfish, manipulative bitch, that you've always been," Stefan said, his voice growing anger as he advanced on her, and all while Katherine's face dropped from glee to mild anger mixed with irritation. "The truth, is that Sarah was always right about you, and I wish I'd listened to her sooner." He knew his mistake the second Katherine's lips rose into a smirk, but even knowing that he feel into her trap. His anger flared and before he could stop himself the words were flying from his mouth. "Now, tell me where she is. Or I'll rip your heart out!"

"Sorry, Stefan," Katherine said as took a step back, grinning as Stefan remained still, watching everything from her eyes, to her face to her body language, trying to find something that would lead him to his sister. He couldn't have this all be for nothing. "But I owe Sarah some one on one time. I mean, it's hardly fair, me spending all my time with you, now is it?" Katherine said, bitting her lower lip as she stepped back up to Stefan, running her finger slowly across his collar bone, trying to arouse him. He refused to bite, he fought the urge inside him. He wouldn't give her anything.

"If you do anything to her…" Stefan warned, leaning towards Katherine with a deadly glare, making sure she got his point clearly.

"You'll what?" Katherine chuckled as she stepped back once more, practically laughing in Stefan's face with her smile. "You can't kill me Stefan. I've got Sarah. You kill me and you'll never find her. But don't worry," Katherine said, tilting her head as Stefan's glare intensified. "I'll give her back once I'm done with her. After all, you and Damon have had over a century to appreciate her. It's not my fault you both ignored her." She knew how to hit his nerves, there was no denying that. He hated how she could play him like a violin. And before he could think it through, he charged at the vampire with his supernatural speed only to have his legs swept out from under him. He caught a glimpse of Katherine's smug blurry face before he hit the ground, only to then groan aloud when she stabbed him with an iron spike. Pain shot through his chest, only to then double when Katherine twisted the spike. He felt the blood seep out, covering his chest and cloths as he groaned in pain.

"Don't worry. I'll tell Sarah you were asking for her," Katherine said as she pulled the spike from Stefan, throwing it aside before vanishing as Stefan rolled onto his side, hands wrapping over the slowly healing wound.

When Elena finally arrived, having been looking for him, the wound had mostly healed. He was still covered in blood and while it was unnecessary, Elena had insisted she clean him. Stefan had argued a little but when he saw she wasn't going to back off he sat down on the available bench and let her clean the blood beneath his shirt. He understood she was just trying to be helpful, considering there wasn't much she could do against Katherine or any vampire at the moment. And he knew full well she wasn't happy about him putting himself in danger for her, but he just couldn't help himself. He loved her and that was what compelled him to do anything for her, even sacrifice his own life if he had too.

"You gonna be okay?" Elena asked as she looked up from her cleaning of the blood.

"Yeah, it will heal," Stefan murmured back, avoiding eye contact. It was still strange. Going from looking at Katherine to looking at Elena. He could see the difference in their cloths and hair styles, but when he was just looking at her face, he was ashamed to say he couldn't quite tell the difference. He should be able to, they had to be different in someway. They were just completely different, personality wise. There had to be a way to tell them apart. He just needed to find it before Katherine tried to pull another Elena impersonation.

"That's not what I meant," Elena said as Stefan finally looked up into his girlfriend's eyes. Hearing what she was really asking. He had the first time, he just didn't want to show her how weak he felt. He wouldn't say he was overly masculine. He just didn't want her to worry because he felt like an idiot. Things were already bad enough for his girlfriend, no needed to give her more to handle.

"I was trying to figure her out. I was playing along, thinking she might slip up and lead me to Sarah…I let her get to me," Stefan admitted as he looked down shamefully, feeling Elena's sympathetic smile on him. He knew she understood. She was worried about Sarah too. They were friends after all. But he was her brother. He wasn't meant to let anything like this happen. He should have known better, but he'd been so focused on Elena he hadn't even thought about how his sister would react to Katherine coming back into town. And by the time he had, it was too late.

"I tried tracking her, but she's gone," Damon announced as he walked over to the two. He'd arrived along with Elena and had immediately gone off to try and find Katherine, clearly having failed. Stefan would have rather sent Scarlett to do that. But she hadn't shown up with them and he couldn't expose her secret to Damon just to possibly find Katherine. She'd probably planned for that anyway. She clearly knew about Sarah's ward from the moment she walked into the Gilbert house, knowing she was supernatural. How else would she have been able to react to Scarlett like that. Taking her out without even batting an eye. She might even know for certain what she is. He and his sister were working off the premise she was a werewolf, but Katherine could probably provide an accurate answer to that question. Assuming they trusted her enough to tell the truth, which they didn't.

"You better watch out, Elena. Looks like Katherine's out to steal your guy," Damon said with a teasingly look that only alarmed Elena as she turned back to Stefan. He quickly started to shake his head, letting her know that was not the case. It couldn't be, there had to be another angel to this. He could not believe the soul reason Katherine was back, was because of him and his siblings. If it was, she would have shown face a long time ago. Something else had brought her back to Mystic Falls.

"That's not what's happening," Stefan said to Elena.

"Isn't it?" Damon cut in. "I mean it's only fair since I went after your girl." Stefan clenched his jaw. He hated how his brother kept bringing it up, teasing him about it relentlessly. He hated how it made him feel, jealous. He tried to push the emotion down, but every time Damon brought the subject back up, he found his anger grew each time. Sarah had been doing a good job of running interference. In another time she'd probably have joined in on the torturing. But she wasn't about to let their family crumble because of another love triangle. Stefan just wished she was here now, to help keep Damon in line. If he spoke up it would look like he was jealous and he didn't want Elena thinking he was because he trusted her. He just didn't trust Damon as much as he'd like too.

"I'm gonna go and check on Jenna and Jeremy. I'll see if I can find Scarlett too, fill her in," Elena said as she stood to leave. Stefan nodded his thanks, watching as Elena made her way from the bench and back towards the house. He could see Damon watching her leave too. It irritated him, but judging by how long he was watching, he was probably just waiting for her to get out of ear shot, like him. The second she was, both brothers looked to one another.

"So what's it gonna be huh? Fight to the death?" Damon asked as he raised his fists in a boxing fashion, jumping from one foot to the other as he grinned at his brother. Stefan just scoffed, looking away as he tried to push his jealousy down where it belonged. He had to be sensible, even if Damon was going to be immature. Sarah wasn't around to shut him up so he was just going to have to let him get it all out. No matter how much it irritated him. "Go ahead, make your threats, stake your claim," Damon teased, slapping his brother's chest as he continued to bounce around.

"I'm not going to fight you," Stefan said firmly as he looked back to Damon.

"Why?" Damon cried in outrage, sounding pretty annoyed too. "I'd fight me."

"Katherine has our sister. You realise that right?" Stefan asked with an angry look up to his nonchalant brother. He knew Damon cared but when he was cracking jokes every second and trying to get him mad every other second, it was hard to remember. "So now is her best chance to play us against each other. Because she knows that Sarah's not here to keep us focused."

"Brother, don't you worry, our bond is unbreakable. Just like our super-duper vampire family…you know, when Sarah's around," Damon said, flashing a sarcastic uncertain look before his face smoothed out once more.

"That's my point, Damon," Stefan said angrily as he stood up, heatedly staring at his brother as he tried to get himself under control and get his point across without shouting. "This is all part of Katherine's plan. Divide and conquer. She's got Sarah, the most venerable when it comes to her mere presence, and now we're stood here, arguing. Our sister is in her own personal hell right now. We don't have time to fight about this. And as much as I want to kill you, I won't, for her. Because she needs both of us." Frustration finally won out and Stefan sighed, turning and walking off a few paces as he ran his hands through his hair. He just needed to cool down, get his head together and work out how to stop Katherine so he could get his sister back.

"I kissed Elena," Damon said again, like that fact alone should be enough to force Stefan into fighting him. Well it wasn't. He had bigger things to deal with than his older brother. Like his little sister.

"Because you feel something for her, because you actually care and because you are finally starting to open back up," Stefan yelled as he turned back to his brother, walking over to him as he did. "I'm not gonna let Katherine come in here and destroy that part of you that is finally willing to feel something." He paused, taking a breath before continuing in a lower voice. "She is going to try and break you. Just like she's gonna do to me and Sarah. But we can't letter her, not yet. We need to get our sister back. Our sister, who despite everything, still loves us both. And I know you care about her too, just like me. We owe her, after everything we've both put her through these last few months. We owe here at least that."

"So no. I'm not gonna fight you." That was all he had to say. He made his point, highlighted to his brother why they had to work together. For their sister. And even though he might never openingly admit it, Stefan knew he loved her just as much as he did. He wouldn't risk her well-being just to tease him. Seeing that his brother was now in deep thought, Stefan decided to give him some space and walked past him towards the Lockwood house. He'd come around soon enough. He believed in his brother that much at least.

Scarlett couldn't believe it when Stefan told her to leave finding Sarah to him and Damon. She'd made her feeling on the matter very verbal, to which Stefan then had to drag her into the bathroom so people would stop staring. He then explained how it was better for her to not get involved, because if she did then Damon might notice her supernatural abilities. Abilities no one fully understood, and that would make Damon fear her. And Damon didn't like being scared so he'd more than likely kill her. This was all stuff Scarlett already knew, but getting put on the side lines while her friend was in the clutches of Katherine was far worse than Damon finding out. She was losing her mind.

Stefan didn't seem to care though, despite telling her he did. He reminded her that Sarah wouldn't want her dead and that she should stay with Jeremy again and watch the Gilberts while he and Damon went back out to find Sarah tonight. The argument went back and forth like that for a good few minutes until finally Scarlett gave in a huff and stormed out the bathroom. Luckily The Gilbert's had been waiting for her, she could see them across the Lockwood lawn. The stupidly over sized lawn that made the walk to the car stupidly long because the Lockwoods were stupid. She was actually surprised to be leaving madder than when she arrived.

She was halfway across the lawn when she stopped, looking up from her feet as she felt something. Something she hadn't felt before, and yet, strangely enough, felt familiar at the same time. Before her was an older man, good looking with a nice tan line and a charming smile. He'd stopped too, looking down at Scarlett as she looked up with a glaring frown, making sure to reflect her sour mood.

"You alright there?" the man asked with a chuckle.

"It's a wake," Scarlett said matter-of-factly. "Of course I'm not alright." He didn't need to know that her mood had nothing to do with the death of the mayor. Who the hell was he to ask anyway.

"Fair point," the man replied with another chuckle. "I'm Mason," he said, smiling as he held out his hand.

"And I should care because?" Scarlett asked bluntly, still frowning at the odd man who refused to drop his smile.

"Well, not to brag or anything, but I am the former mayor's brother," Mason said with a mild shrug, still smiling as Scarlett relaxed a little.

"Oh…sorry," she said, feeling slightly rude now.

"It's not your fault." Not entirely true, Scarlett thought as she offered the older man a sympathetic smile.

"I'm Scarlett," she said softly, losing the edge to her voice as she went quiet. Mason smiled and reached forward to shake her hand. Then it hit her again, harder this time. The sensation of completely new but familiar. Like she knew this man more than she actually did. There was something about him that was for sure. His scent alone felt so…warm…and safe.

"Nice necklace you got there, Scarlett," Mason said as he nodded to the black crystal that rested around Scarlett's neck. She glance down, making sure it was still there. One of the few possessions her mother had handed down that her uncle hadn't managed to sell. It was precious to her, not just because it helped to control the wolf inside her and gave her extra strength. It was her mother's and it made her feel close to her, even though she was long gone.

"Thanks, it belonged to my mother," Scarlett explained as she took the necklace in between her thumb and index finger, beginning to roll it back and forth. A habit she'd picked up since first putting it on, it relaxed her, and reassured her it was still around her neck. Mason nodded in understanding as Scarlett looked back up to him. "Anyway. I was just going."

"Right, sorry. I'll, catch you later," Mason said with a friendly grin as he stepped around Scarlett, allowing her to leave.

"Maybe," Scarlett said with a soft smile and a nod to Mason before she made her way over to join Jeremy and the others.

"Very brave of you to come here," Damon grumbled, standing in the living room of his home. He'd just stopped by to change his cloths and grab a drink before heading out to join Stefan in the search for their sister. Of course there was little point now, seeing as the woman who'd kidnapped her was lying on his couch.

"I wanted to say goodbye," Katherine said simply, almost sadly as Damon turned to face her.

"Leaving so soon?" Damon replied coldly. After all this woman had put him through, she deserved a little cold. That and he'd already been having a really crappy day. The last twenty-four hours had not been something he was terribly found off. It felt like he'd been getting one slap across the face all day, and even now he couldn't help but feel another one coming.

"I know where I'm not wanted," Katherine replied with a shrug, an odd neutrality about her. Not what Damon had been expecting, or wanted for that matter. He wanted to hurt her, like she'd hurt him when he went down into that tomb to find she wasn't even there and had never bothered to find him.

"Don't pout. It's not attractive on a woman your age." Now she frowned, his words finally getting to her. It was a start.

"Ouch." Damon didn't bother with a response. He'd gotten in all he wanted to for now. Downing the drink in his hand, he threw down the glass on the mini bar by the couch and then made his way into the hallway. He made it three steps before Katherine vamp speeded in front of him.

"What no kiss goodbye?" Katherine asked plainly.

"Why don't I kill you instead?" Damon replied with a glare. Katherine didn't budge, shrugging as she waited for Damon to make the next move. He knew he shouldn't. He should go out and find his sister like he knew he should. But he couldn't resist, couldn't waste the opportunity to get answers that had pledged his mind ever since he found the empty tomb. "What are you doing here?"

"Nostalgia, curiosity, et cetera," Katherine said, narrowing her eyes as she watched Damon. Just like how he was watching her, both suspicious and curious.

"I'm better at the enigmatic one-liner, Katherine. What are you up to?" Damon repeated.

"Trust me Damon, when I'm up to something, you'll know it," Katherine said, edging closer towards him and entering his personal space. "Come on. Kiss me. Or kill me. Which will it be, Damon?" Katherine asked, their lips now practically touching. He could feel the urge inside him. The urge to lean forwards that little extra bit and take Katherine's lips for himself. "We both know that you're only capable of one." He wouldn't. Not while she had his sister. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair on her, not after everything Katherine had done to them all.

He turned to walk off but Katherine was there waiting for him and swiftly shoved him to the ground. He landed, arms at his side and she straddled him a second later, hands running over his chest as she leaned down onto him. The urges came back, stronger than before now, especially as Katherine leaned closer and closer. One of her arms stretched above his head while the other continued to tickle his collar bone, running around and around his chest. "My sweet, innocent, Damon," Katherine murmured flirtatiously as she went down on him, lips so close now he couldn't stand it.

In one fluid move he grabbed her throat with ease, rolling over and pushing her beneath him as he now straddled her, hand tightly gripping Katherine's throat. And while her breath was temporarily caught, the second she regained it she began to smile. He couldn't do it any more. She had him. She always had him, even now. He felt ashamed but his love for Katherine was more than for his sister. He leant down and finally after so long took Katherine's lips, now knowing it was her.

"Now that's more like it," Katherine murmured as Damon realised her. The triumphant smile back on her lips. He hated himself for smiling back, but he couldn't stop. This was his dream girl after all, the woman he'd been waiting for for almost a century and a half. Before he knew it he and Katherine were back on their feet and she had him shoved against the wall. That seductive grin of hers showing again, the one he'd dreamt about and would have gladly died all over again to see just once. She leaned in, passionately kissing him before then pulling away to rip open his shirt. Rubbing her hands across his chest, he felt his urges grow. He wanted her. He needed her. His body wouldn't take no for an answer.

After another heated kiss, Damon took control back, ripping open Katherine's tank top to reveal her thin laced bra beneath. Then shoving aside the books on the countertop next to them, he pushed Katherine against it, towering over before leaning down to take her once more, their lips clashing in a powerful whirlwind of raw heat. She leaned out of his reach, forcing him to kiss her neck instead. Kissing it all over while Katherine let out laboured breaths.

"Damon…Damon…" He tried to ignore the voice in his head. To push on and keep making love to his one true love. But the more he tried to ignore it the louder the voice got. The voice of his sister. His sister who was trapped somewhere by the very woman he was kissing. He had to stop this. His sister needed him but he wanted this so badly. No. He had to try. For Sarah.

"Okay, wait, brief pause," Damon said, his lips hanging over Katherine's neck, tempted to drop back down and continue the kissing. An irritated grunt sounded before Katherine pushed him off, sending him stagger back a few paces before he steadied himself, straightening up as Katherine did the same. "I have a question. Answer it and it's back to firework and rockets red glare. Answer it right and I'll forget the last one-hundred-and-fort-five years that I've spent missing you. I'll forget how much I loved you, I'll forget everything and we can start over. This could be our defining moment because we have the time. That's the beauty of eternity," Damon said, putting his heart out there because he just couldn't hold it in anymore. He stepped back towards Katherine who was staring back at him, seemingly lost in his words. He took her face, cupping it and stroking her hair as he leaned in, plea consuming his face. "I just need the truth, just once."

"Stop," Katherine said, holding up her hand to his face. Then as she began to speak again, her hand dropped. "I already know the question, and its answer." She paused, staring back at him and his pleading face. He just needed her to say it. If she really did care then she knew what he needed to know. "The truth is…I've never loved you." Damon could feel his heart breaking as she said those words and yet he couldn't look away. "It was always Stefan and Sarah." He could see she was enjoying this. Her face had the look of sudden realisation, like she was just saying it out loud for the first time. But he could see it in her eyes. Those eyes had always told him everything he needed to know. She loved breaking him. She loved breaking them all, he'd just never seen it before. Now he did.

"I've got bad news for you Katherine," Damon said slowly, staring back at his love with crushed eyes, his hands still holding her face. Her gentle, smooth, beautiful face. Then his pleading look dropped to a hateful scowl. His hand moved down to grab Katherine's throat and he shoved her back against the wall, her head hitting it with a thud. "That wasn't the question I was going to ask," he snarled, vengeance filling his eyes. "What I was going to ask was… Where the hell is my sister!" Damon growled as he pulled Katherine towards him only to shove her against the wall again.

Katherine began to laugh, coughing as her laughter got stuck in her throat. Sensing she had something to say, Damon loosened his grip on her throat, still keeping hold but letting go just enough so she could speak. "Oh, Damon," Katherine chuckled, eyebrows raising as she grinned at him. "I'll admit. I'm disappointed. Never would have thought you'd pick your own sister over me. You and Stefan really have grown up." Before Damon could react, Katherine's knee came up into his chest, winding him. His hands dropped from her throat and with a simple shove she sent him flying across the room over the first couch before he crashed through the coffee table. He tried to get up but then felt Katherine's heel digging into his chest, pushing him back down into the remains of the coffee table. "Shame neither of you learnt to appreciate her until now. Now it's my turn to play with her again."

"If you hurt her-" Damon groaned from the ground.

"-You'll what?" Katherine sighed, tilting her head. "Kiss me again?" She began to laugh, removing her heel from Damon and allowing him to breath properly again as he lay there in defeat. "I plan on doing a lot worse to that sister of yours," Katherine said over her shoulder as she made her way out the door and off into the night.

Sat on the end of Jeremy's bed, Scarlett stared down at her hands, resting in between her legs. Jeremy was next to her, arm around her shoulder, watching her. Waiting for her continue with what she'd been telling him. She'd started to tell him about Mason, telling him about the familiar scent he had but then had stopped, as if trying to remember it exactly as it had been. Thinking of how she could describe it to him when it had been unlike anything she'd ever smelt before. Such a strange and different smell, but one that told her she could trust Mason, even though she had no idea who he really was. He was a Lockwood. Maybe he was like the Mayor, a supernatural, but not a vampire.

"What you thinking?" Jeremy asked quietly, not wishing to startle his girlfriend.

"Just that…" Scarlett lost her words, turning to look Jeremy in the eye. Before she would have trusted him with anything and everything. But one whiff of that scent and now everything she'd ever known was being called into question. She couldn't understand. "I felt like I could trust him almost instantly."

"Is that a bad thing?" Jeremy asked.

"You know I don't trust easily," Scarlett pointed out, annoyed that he might have forgotten.

"I know," Jeremy said, nodding his head. "But maybe this is just you growing. Maybe it's a new power thing. You can sense when to trust people?" Jeremy suggested.

"But I'm not getting it from you now?" Scarlett pointed out in disappointment. That wasn't because she didn't trust Jeremy. She knew she could and ever since he found Elena's diary they'd been completely open with each other. So it couldn't be that, plus she'd only gotten the smell off of Mason. It was unique to him. This whole thing was driving her crazy. "I just want to understand this!" Scarlett groaned in frustration as she stood up, beginning to pace around the room.

"Hey," Jeremy said getting up and intercepting Scarlett's path. Holding onto her shoulders as to stop her for moving, and so that he could guide her into his eyes. "Maybe it's something else then. Like he's another supernatural or something. Like the Mayor was. You said he was effected by the Gilbert device."

"But I didn't get the same type of scent off of him," Scarlett pointed out with a depressed frown. She couldn't see them working this out tonight. She'd been running through similar ideas ever since she first spoke to Mason.

"Well then…I guess you and I will just have to try and find out as much as we can about him," Jeremy said with a comforting smile which calmed Scarlett down. At least he still had that effect on her. No matter how she was feeling she could count on Jeremy to ground her and pull her back. It was during those moments she knew she really cared about him. And before she knew it she had her arms around his neck, pulling him down to meet her lips. "What was that for?" Jeremy asked as they parted.

"For being you," Scarlett said happily. And for a good minute, that was how she felt, just standing there with him, looking into his gentle brown eyes, knowing no matter what he'd always love her. Then came the noises from the next room. They both looked over, hearing an argument, distinctively Elena's voice. Jeremy looked to Scarlett who had the same look of concern that he did. Once he saw that, he was through the adjoining bathroom and in Elena's room, Scarlett right behind him.

"Elena, what's going on in here?" Jeremy asked stepping into the room with Scarlett peering over his shoulder to see what was going on. She saw Damon, glaring back at them both, not looking very happy. Not that he ever looked happy but this was worse. Much worse, possibly the maddest she'd ever seen him. And right now she felt like that anger seemed to be taking aim at her.

"Nothing, Jeremy. It's okay, just go back to bed," Elena said, standing her ground though looking visibly worried. Scarlett wasn't sure how Jeremy felt about that but she couldn't leave while she was in this state. Especially seeing as it was most likely caused by Damon and his drunken ass. She could smell the drink on him before even entering the room.

"No, it's not okay, Elena," Damon said darkly, now fully turning to face both Scarlett and Jeremy. She could feel her senses spiking, the wolf inside feeling the threat he was sending her way. She had to keep it down, stop her eyes from flashing her claws from forming. He couldn't find out, not in this state. He should be out looking for Sarah anyway, what was he doing here in Elena's room, and after having a lot of booze apparently.

Scarlett saw Damon make his move but made no attempt to stop him. If anything she had to actively stop her instincts from kicking in to counter him. He was on her at supernatural speed and if she'd reacted to that then he'd have caught her red handed. So she let him grab her by the throat forcing her against the wall as he glared up at her, holding her high above him. Even now she was fighting the urge to let the wolf out. She couldn't, not with the spot light on her. "What are you?" Damon demanded in a low voice. His eyes boring the question into Scarlett's mind. If only she had a real answer to give him.

"Damon," Scarlett croaked before he cut off her words with a tightened grip. She wasn't going to fight back, it wasn't what Sarah would want. But the survival instinct was beginning to over power her and she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold it in.

"Damon!" Elena cried as real time resumed before their eyes.

"What the hell are you doing!" Jeremy cried as he ran at Damon, trying to push him away from Scarlett and failing.

"Why did the Gilbert device effect you too? How did you heal from that fire?" Damon demanded, but even if she wanted to, Scarlett couldn't answer. His drunkenness was making him sloppy and he was squeezing too tightly to allow her to speak. She tried to get that across to him, making vein noises of distress but he just slammed her against the wall again, demanding an answer. "Tell me!"

"Damon, stop it!" Elena shouted from across the room.

"Let her go you jack ass!" Jeremy shouted before punching Damon across the face. His grip loosened and Scarlett slid down the wall landing on the floor with a thud, hands rushing to her throat as to cover up the marks that were already healing. She couldn't afford to give him more than he already had, not right now, not when he was this drunk and violent. She could see Elena calling Stefan on her phone, hopefully he would be close by and be able to get here before Damon really lost it.

"Wrong move kid," Damon snarled as he advanced on Jeremy. The young boy stepped back but Damon was faster and grabbed him by the head. "You know what happens to heroes in the real world?"

"Damon, don't," Elena cried out, moving towards him now, but not fast enough. Scarlett felt the wolf thrashing around inside of her, seeing that Jeremy was in danger. Her hands dropped from her throat and she moved to get up, eyes beginning to glow in warning. The urge to care about her secret was fading, especially with Jeremy in danger. The instinct to protect him was overpowering everything else. But before she could even get to her feet, Damon utter his next sentence.

"They die." Then the neck snap. Jeremy's neck snap. His neck snapped. His body went limp. It fell. And it hit the floor.

The wolf inside Scarlett shut down along with her. The glow to her eyes faded and she screamed in painful horror as she pushed past Damon kneeling next to Jeremy's body. She cried out his name as Elena fell to her brother's other side, screaming also. Tears were already flying from both of them as they stared in frantic horror at his lifeless body.

Scarlett could feel Damon backing up, moving out the room as he stared back at what he'd done. She didn't care though, she didn't care about anything anymore. She'd just lost Jeremy. Her whole world was crumbling around her now, how could it not. He'd given her so much and helped her and now he was just gone. The ringing in her ears wouldn't stop. The silence of his heart as she tried to hear it beat. She shook him, begging him to wake up and stop playing around. Elena was doing the same, neither of them could believe this. He hadn't dissevered this. He'd been a good person. He hadn't deserved to die!

"The ring," Elena suddenly breathed out, catching Scarlett's attention. Her head shot towards Elena, tears running down her cheeks just like they were across her own. She was staring and then she reached over, lifting Jeremy's arm that was on Scarlett's side. Part of her wanted to shove Elena away, feeling as if she was the only one entitled to grieve. But she didn't and then she saw the ring on his hand. The ring Elena was staring at. The ring John had, the one Sarah had told her about, the one that protected non-supernaturals from supernaturals.

Scarlett let out a breath of hope as she leaned down, burying her face in his chest. Taking in what was the last of his scent. Human. It was human. And Damon was supernatural. He would come back. He would. He had too. She just had to wait. And she'd wait for as long as it took. He just had to come back to her, she needed him. Keeping her face pressed against his chest, she kept taking in his scent. Feeling it getting weaker and weaker. It would return soon. Just like Jeremy. But until then Scarlett was going to savour every sniff of it. Every second.

Stefan arrived eventually, but Damon was long gone by then. Elena told him what had happened. She didn't leave Jeremy's side and neither did Scarlett who was practically lying on him, head lying on his chest as she waited for either the beat of his heart or for his scent to fill her nostrils once more.

"He saw the ring, that's why he did it. He knew," Stefan said, standing over them all. Hands on his hips and staring off in deep thought. There was no way he believed that. He was grasping at straws and they all knew it, trying to stop them from being mad at Damon. For his sake he'd better be out looking for Sarah and he'd better find her. Cause if either she or Jeremy weren't back by the morning then he was going to be dead next. She'd sink her canines into his neck and tear him apart piece by piece.

"He didn't see the ring," Elena weeped, holding Jeremy's head on her lap as she continued to cry quietly. She'd been doing that since Stefan arrived. Scarlett hadn't quieted in her crying, weeping loudly as she lay next to her love. Begging him to wake up. If she didn't know better, she'd bet he was waiting for her to kiss him and that he was just faking. But he wouldn't do that to her, not when she was crying like this. Any second now he was going to get up and apologises for staying dead for so long, and she'd forgive him and kiss him and hug him and never let go.

"It's Katherine," Stefan sighed. "She got under his skin. She undid everything that was good about him."

"There's nothing good about him. Stefan, not anymore. He's decided what he wants. He doesn't want to feel, he wants to be hated, it's just easier that way. He got his wish. I hate him, Stefan," Elena said as she looked up to her boyfriend who knelt down next to her, nothing but sorrow in his eyes.

"I know. I know and I'm sorry," Stefan said as he held Elena in his arms.

"He's a dead man," Scarlett murmured, tears welling up in her eyes as hatred held them in. She could feel Stefan and Elena looking at her. "He killed Jeremy. And the first chance I get…I'm going to rip him apart. He wants to know what I can do. I'll give him a first hand experience." She could feel the rage spreading through her, her whole body trembling with it. She could feel the transformation itching to happen. She wanted to turn, to track Damon down and end him. She no longer cared what Sarah thought, what anyone thought. She just needed to make Damon suffer for what he'd done. She needed retribution.

Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

Heartbeat. His heartbeat. Jeremy's heartbeat. Scarlett's head shot up the second Jeremy gasped and Elena yelped in relief. Before she had the chance to do anything though, Scarlett was on Jeremy, her arms wrapping around his chest as she pressed her face against his, her chin resting on his shoulder while Elena held onto his head. "Jeremy!" Scarlett screamed in joy as she clung on for dear life. She could feel Stefan trying to move her but she wasn't budging. She would never let go again. Never. "You're okay. You're okay. I've got you and I'm never letting go and I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't stop him, but I will never let him hurt you again. I'll never let anyone hurt you again," Scarlett cried out all at once as she felt Jeremy's arms surround her, letting her know he truly was alive and not letting go either. "I love you," she whispered into his shoulder, and she felt him squeeze harder as he said the same thing back to her.