Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and The Vampire Diaries. They belong to J.K. Rowling and L.J. Smith. I am writing this just for fun and no money is being made.

AN: I don't have a beta, so I would like to apologize for my mistakes in advance. Please do not copy this story.

Mikaelson Mansion

Later that Evening

"So, when you bought Damon back, you made Death angry because you went against nature and he wasn't supposed to come back. Now, he is planning revenge and the dead witches told the Bennett witch all this. Did I get it right?" Elijah summarized after a long silence.

Athena nodded quietly, because what else was there to say? That was all it was, in front of everyone. After Bonnie had left, her mind had whirled with hundreds of possibilities – what Death could do or how could he plan his revenge? Maybe by killing her, which didn't seem farfetched, but then there was another thing? Why didn't he kill her when she met him before? And the only thing that came to her was a simple fact that if someone wanted revenge, what would they do? It wasn't some muggle or another human being. It was Death and just like that it all fell into place. The 'consequences' he had been talking about might end up with her death, but Athena knew that it wouldn't be so simple. So, the only plausible explanation was that he would go after the ones she loved.

Was it because of the hollows? She knew she had all three but hadn't used them since the war. They might've helped in bringing Damon back because in the world she lived, there was always a way around death.

As she thought some more, she realised that even though the boy she met yesterday seemed like a muggle, but the coincidence was too much to ignore. Could it be possible that the boy was Tom Riddle? He told them himself that he was an orphan and was here at the exact same time the witches decided to warn Bonnie. Could it be connected somehow?

Death wanted revenge, so, it wasn't farfetched that he would bring Tom back. And the idea of Voldemort being back as Tom Riddle sent a shiver down her spine and she panicked. God knows how long it took Damon to calm her down.

He didn't know, in fact, no one did about the skeletal man who had threatened her, which she now knew was Death itself. She wasn't afraid to die, but she was afraid to lose more people to death.

She wasn't sure how, but somehow Damon had convinced her to tell it to her family. She didn't want anyone of them involved or more like she didn't want them to suffer because of her, but Damon wasn't wrong. His reasoning had been simple – her family was older than anyone in existence and might know someone who could help. But Athena knew that she should let her family know because they would be aware of the danger she bought into their lives. They deserved that much.

Which was why she was sitting in the Mikaelson's living room, fidgeting as she waited for their reaction. Damon was standing by the window with his arms crossed staring at everyone. He had categorically refused to let her talk to Klaus alone. Why Damon was present here, between the Mikaelson's was still to be explained to the two remaining members of her family, who were ready to kill him just for fun. Elijah was staring at her, possibly thinking something; Kol was pacing; Rebekah looked just like she had felt when Bonnie had told her; her dad – he had an unfathomable expression on his face and Athena was sure the way his eyes were burning, he was ready to rip someone apart.

Suddenly Klaus smiled, but there was something so cold about it, that Athena involuntarily shivered.

"Well… the balance can easily be regained." He said humourlessly. "And even if we can't, I'll deal with it."

Knowing Klaus better than anyone else, Elijah stiffened. There was no need for words as he knew how his brother worked and he said warningly, "Niklaus…"

Klaus ignored his brother, focused on his daughter. She was his child – just a child who should've been raised as a princess, instead, she had to fight for every single thing in her small life. And now this? He wasn't going to let anything happen to her, even if he had to sacrifice everyone including himself to do so. She might never forgive him, but at least she would be alive.

"I can kill hundreds to save you. This is just one useless vampire." Klaus told Athena earnestly and it took a couple of seconds to process his words.

Because between one second and the other, before she could even blink of an eye, he was on the opposite side of the room. Damon's head slammed against the wall as Klaus's hand tightened around his throat and he gasped for breath, struggling uselessly mid-air.

Both Rebekah and Elijah yelled at him to stop; Kol cheered his brother at the thought of a little blood-shed, he didn't like the Salvatore's anyway; Athena stared horrified with her heart in throat.

She jumped forward, rushing towards the two and shouted, "What are you doing? LET HIM GO!"

"Sorry, sweetheart, but I'm just trying to equalize the balance of nature." He said indifferently as he tightened his hold on Damon's neck further.

Athena didn't remember pulling her wand out, but suddenly it was pointed at her dad, who stared at her with narrow eyes, while the others were right there, unable to understand whom to support between the two. She didn't want to use defensive magic against him, but she knew she would do it if he hurt Damon.

Green eyes met blue unflinchingly and her voice quivered as she said quietly, "You're my dad… the only family I've ever had. The only family I will ever have and I love you, but I am not going to let you hurt him."

Klaus looked hurt for a moment, but it was gone as soon as it came and he asked just as quietly, "You'll fight me, for him?"

This was the moment. He needed to know – she had to tell him despite her internal struggle and Athena swallowed hard.

"I don't want to… but I love him, and I can't let you hurt him because of me." She whispered without looking away from his eyes before pleading softly, "Please, don't hurt him."

The silence that fell around them was eerie. Everyone stopped breathing at the confession. They couldn't have imagined that she would say it outright. The originals looked stunned, perturbed and appalled, all at once. Athena saw a multitude of emotions on Klaus's face – from shock to nauseous, turning appalled before finally settling on rage.

Damon took advantage of the minor distraction and broke Klaus's wrist, earning a pained cry from the hybrid before throwing him off. Klaus was up and Athena watched horrified that his eyes turned yellow as he stared at Damon furiously. Before anyone could blink, he had Damon pinned to the wall with one hand inside his chest, holding the vampire's heart in his grip, ready to rip it out.

"STOP!" Athena shrieked, her voice echoing throughout the house. Terror seized her and she struggled harder against the arms that suddenly wrapped around her in an unbreakable grasp. She knew he was literally holding Damon's heart. She couldn't use her magic. What if he pulled it out if she fired a spell? It would kill Damon. She couldn't risk it. The thought of Damon dying felt worse than Cruciatus ever could. Her eyes filled with tears and she begged, "Please! PLEASE! I can't live without him!"

Klaus glared at her with sharp yellow eyes which pierced her; jaw clenched with the intensity of his focus and said, "He deserves it. It's his fault. He should've stayed away from my daughter!"

She looked him squared in the eyes and pleaded urgently, "None of this is his fault! Don't hurt him for something he had no control over! Kill me! I did it! Not him!"

Her words were like fuel to fire and he bellowed, "I AM NOT GOING TO LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO MY ONLY CHILD!"

She had never been scared of him, not until today, but right now, the only things she felt was fear mixed with dread. She had seen him angry, but this… this was pure, unadulterated rage. He looked like a maniac and Athena flinched away from him.

Despite the strong urge she felt to use her magic, and save herself, Athena tried again, "You're not! You're not gonna lose me!" she looked at him beseechingly and added slowly, "And even if something happens, it won't be his fault."

Klaus tightened his grip, twisting his wrist a bit; Damon groaned and his eyes rolled at the back of his head from pain.

Athena blinked away the tears, knowing that she couldn't hurt him. She might end up hating him, but she wouldn't be able to hurt her own father. She wasn't a killer. She swallowed back the bile along with the hard lump in her throat and chocked out, "If you do this, I will never forgive you. You won't ever see me again."

The words were said softly, but the determination in those green eyes made Klaus falter. The father-daughter stared at each other for a long moment, while the three originals stared at the two. His lips tightened into a fierce line and he stared at her with disbelief. Klaus looked ready to skin someone alive and Athena's stomach dropped to the floor, suddenly unable to breathe.

'He was going to kill Damon! Why would it matter if he never saw her again? It wasn't like he had known her for long.'

Athena knew – if he killed Damon, she wouldn't be able to live with herself. It would definitely make Death happy. She just hoped that this time, she wouldn't get another chance. She didn't want it.

But to her utter surprise, Klaus pulled his hand back with a yell before snapping Damon's neck in a swift motion. There was a sickening crack and he slumped on the floor. Everyone stared speechless when he blurred out of the house without another word, slamming the door shut so hard that it broke from the hinges and crashed onto the floor.

Athena didn't even realize that she had collapsed on her knees with utter relief that Damon wasn't actually dead and was sobbing with her hands covering her face until Rebekah kneeled in front of her and pulled her into a hug. Rebekah cooed nonsensical words in her ears, trying to calm her down and for the first time in her life, Athena felt what it would've been like if she had a mother. And what she could've had if she was raised by the Mikaelson's instead of the Dursley's. Rebekah held her as she calmed herself, waiting for Damon to wake.

Next Day

Salvatore Boarding House

Athena was sitting on the couch between Damon's legs, head resting on his shoulder, while his arms were wrapped around her as she stared at the flames wistfully. Neither felt the need to speak or to disrupt the momentary peace they had. Athena felt tranquil at the moment with no sound other than the crackling of fire and Damon's steady breath against her hair. Stefan was spending the day with Caroline, so there was no one to disturb them. She couldn't remember how long had they been here, but despite the fact, they were both contents to stay just like this, savouring the moment, knowing the peace wouldn't last long.

Her dad hadn't been back from wherever he had rushed off to, nor was he answering her calls. Elijah had assured her that his brother was fine and Niklaus was prone to have fits of temper from time to time and would be back when he felt like it. They hadn't said anything when she told them that she would be spending the night at the Salvatore's and she wasn't sure whether to be relieved or worried. Even Kol hadn't tried and that made her anxious. She had become really close to Kol and didn't want to lose the bond that they shared just because she was dating Damon.

She loved Damon, but she loved her family just as much, which was why she was fiddling with her phone in hope that maybe her dad or Kol would call.

"He'll get over it," Damon mumbled as if reading along with her thoughts.

Athena turned her head, only to find his eyes closed and if it hadn't been for his thumbs running over the back of hands slowly, she would've thought that he was asleep.

"How do you know?" she asked frowning.

His eyes cracked open and he stared at her like she was foolish. "We have no lost love and the fact that he didn't kill me… technically, is telling in itself that he would do anything for you."

She looked back at the screen of her phone for the millionth time and asked, "Then why won't he reply?"

Damon shrugged, closing his eyes back again and his lips quirked upwards.

"He's having a tantrum. We, vampires tend to throw it from time to time." He replied, earning a scowl from her.

Her eyes snapped open when someone coughed and she found Stefan lounging on the recliner, staring at her. It took her a moment to realize that the fire was still burning and the room was toasty warm. She was covered with an afghan which Damon might've pulled from the back of the sofa after she fell asleep on him.

"Hello, brother," Damon whispered.

Stefan stared at the two questioningly and said, "This is… new."

Damon snorted but he stayed where he was, eyes closed and head resting on a cushion comfortably. "Way to spoil the day, brother. Weren't you staying with blondie?" He asked, tightening his hold when Athena tried to wiggle free.

"Damon!" she mumbled exasperatedly.

He smiled, but let her go and she immediately shifted, putting a bit of distance between herself and Damon. In less than a week, she had learned that he tends to get a bit handsy, callous and aloof about everyone around them.

Stefan couldn't control himself and asked, "When did this happen?"

"Not long ago to be surrounded by other people," Damon replied snidely.

Even though Stefan rolled his eyes, he smiled, genuinely happy for his brother. But the smile fell after a look from Damon as they communicated silently, something which wasn't missed by Athena.

Her brows furrowed and she asked curiously, "What is it?"

"Katherine," said Damon. "She's back."

Athena looked between the two, unable to understand the gravity of the situation. 'Wasn't Katherine here a couple of months back? She knew the vampire was nothing but trouble, but why were these two somber?'

"What exactly am I missing?" she asked confused.

They shared another look, reaching a mutual agreement before Damon told her about their encounter with Katherine and that she had found someone to get rid of Klaus without getting his entire blood-line killed in the process.

Athena pursued her lips, irritated about the fact that everyone including Death was after her and the people she loved. She would have to change a couple of things in order to keep these people safe. She knew she had to do something, even if she had to take extreme measures.

She looked between the two Salvatore's, who were staring at her pensively and asked casually, "So, what have you two been up to?"

They were startled and a bit perturbed by her blasé attitude. But they knew that Athena hadn't met Katherine before and didn't understand the gravity of the situation or how cunning and devious the bitch could be.

She was waiting for one of them to continue, so Damon told her impatiently, "She knows that you're the devil's daughter and would no doubt use you against him!"

Athena scowled and opened her mouth to reprimand him that her dad wasn't as bad as everyone made him out to be, but Stefan spoke before she could. "She can't be trusted and she's planning something, but we don't know what. She could be lying for all we know. We'd be stupid to ignore her warning."

She motioned of them to continue, Stefan continued, "The only way you can be safe is either you stay here or at the Mikaelson's."

"Really? A house where literally anyone barges in? You do realize that this is basically a guest-house for vampires, don't you?" she asked with an arched brow.

Damon's lips thinned, but Stefan picked up a stack of papers from the nearby table and gave it to her. "It's a deed to our house. As soon as you sign it, it's in your name…" he said.

"…you can stay safe here. And I know daddy won't be adverse with the idea to gift you his house." Damon finished cheerily as if it was the best idea in the world.

Athena looked at the papers and frowned, shaking her head. "What if I go out?"

"I'll obviously stay with you at all times." Damon waggled his eyebrows suggestively before amending when he saw her expressions. "And other times you can stay with your family."

"What? No! This is silly!" she gasped outraged, standing from the sofa and glared at him.

"This is our best option and I think Klaus wouldn't be opposed to it," said Stefan.

Athena barely resisted the urge to pull her hair out. This was their grand plan? To lock her down and wait for death or the other to get tired and go back on their merry way? It was possibly the stupidest thing she had ever heard. Not to mention, they were literally talking about keeping her hostage.

She took a breath and asked sardonically, "Even if I agreed to this stupid plan of yours, you do realize that it still won't work, right? It won't stop anyone other than the vampires."

"The vampires won't be able to enter until you invite them in and you can cast those protective spells of yours to keep others out," Damon said, his eyes gleaming.

"Wards and enchantments?" she asked warily.

Damon continued, "Yes, and you can even hide the house and one of us can be the keeper."

She looked into his eyes and stated firmly, "Damon, I'm not going to hide. Not from anyone."

He groaned frustrated and swore under his breath, but stepped closer to her and almost shouted, "I'm not asking you to hide! I'm just asking you to take some precautions!"

"Aright. Let's just pretend for a moment that we do all this. But what do you expect me to do? Stay locked inside a house until I turn old and grey?" Her lips thinned into a hard line and she yelled angrily, "I AM NOT EXACTLY A USELESS HUMAN, DAMON! YOU THINK THAT I SHOULD HIDE FROM KATHERINE?! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT DEATH HIMSELF WANTS ME DEAD!?"

"I'M SORRY THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE GIRL I LOVE DEAD! I AM SORRY FOR TRYING TO THINK A THOUSAND WAYS TO SAVE YOU! YOU CLEARLY KNOW EVERYTHING! I AM SO SORRY FOR WASTING YOUR TIME!" He shouted back, angry at himself that he couldn't do much to save her; angry at her that she wasn't trying to understand how useless he was feeling and angry at the world for transpiring against the two of them. Why couldn't they be happy?

His words startled her and she groaned. "Don't twist my words, Damon. You know what I meant!"

When he didn't say anything and looked ready to storm out, she swallowed and said in a whisper, "For the first time, I am happy. I have everything I've ever wanted. I don't want to die, Damon, but I know that one cannot win against Death."

Damon's anger melted and he strode towards her, cupping her face in his palms as he gazed into her eyes and muttered resolutely, "You are the best thing that has happened to me in my 160 years, and I am not going to let you go without a fight… at least not until I'm breathing. I will do everything I can to make sure that you are safe. Don't fight me on this, please."

Stefan felt like an outsider between the two and rushed to the sanctuary of his room. He put the headphones on and pulled his diary out. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen Damon truly happy and he was determined to do anything to make sure that it stays the way it is. He just wasn't sure if they could fight Death and the thought of what Damon would do if something happened to Athena made him shudder.

Downstairs, Athena nodded and Damon crushed her to him. She closed her eyes, resting her head against his chest, breathing in his scent. She knew he was fighting for a lost cause, but she was going to let him have the moments until they could… until the universe decided that they've had enough. Athena also knew that she wouldn't let anyone suffer because of her… not again. Even if she had to go down the wrong path.

Next Day

Mystic Grill

When she got the call from her dad, he was angry that she wasn't home, but this was utterly ridiculous. Not only he was on board with Damon's idea, but he had practically ordered her to stay with one of them at all times. Not only that, but even a witch had agreed to help him, which she knew was utter crap! No one in their right might would interfere with the work of Death, especially a witch, which made her think what he must've done for her to agree for this suicide mission. Athena came to the conclusion that she didn't want to know. It was better this way. She had made it abundantly clear that she wasn't a baby in need of a bodyguard. She finally had enough when he told her that she was a child, too young to be with someone as old as Damon and had apparated out of their house despite his angry yells.

Stefan was with Caroline; Damon was hunting and wouldn't be back for hours, which was why she was here, having a glass of whiskey peacefully without anyone hovering over her or she might've hexed someone.

"A glass of whatever she's having."

Athena heard and turned to see Enzo sitting on the stool beside her.

"You're back." She said surprised.

Enzo gave a nod as the bartender set the glass in front of him.

"Did you met the girl you told me about? The one you turned before… everything." She finished lamely, still confused why he was here when he had specifically told her that he wouldn't be back to 'this horrid place ever again'.

"She's dead. Killed a couple of years after I was captured." He told her indifferently, finished his drink and waived the bartender for more.

Athena's eyes widened and she said minutely, "Oh. I… don't know what to say. Sorry doesn't seem enough."

"Wasn't your fault. You weren't even born." Enzo smirked humourlessly.

They were quite for some time until she couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked, "What're you going to do now?"

He shrugged and said indifferently, "Don't have anywhere else to go. It's not like anyone is waiting for me."

His tone was wistful, yearning for something or someone and Athena frowned at that. Of course, he didn't know anyone or someone would've definitely rescued him. The girl he loved was dead and he had no one, literally no one he knew apart from Damon. Her heart went out for him and she asked, "You'll be staying in Mystic Falls?"

"As I said, nothing else to do." He answered monotonously.

"Where are you staying?" she asked with a frown, knowing that people here were more aware of the vampires and took every possible precaution to stay safe. He wouldn't be able to compel anyone due to the vervain intake and she could bet that no one… not one person would be willing to help a stranger. She herself had the first had experience. She would've been dead if it hadn't been for her magic.

He shrugged again but didn't give a verbal response.

"You can stay at my house." She blurted before her mind processed the words and added hastily, "If-if you want?"

Enzo arched his brows at that. He knew Damon better than anyone else and knew that he wouldn't be happy about his girl inviting him, another vampire into her home. The second thing he thought was that she must be an idiot, but dispelled the thought as soon as it came. She tried to fight for Damon and was obviously a powerful witch. Someone who actually stopped to save him before they had burned the house. Why would she invite him to her home?

He narrowed his eyes at her and asked, "Why? I can tell that Damon wouldn't be happy."

"I don't live there anymore. It's empty and well maintained. No one apart from you would be able to enter unless I invite them in. It's warded and well protected. You can take the guest room, and let's be honest – you don't have anywhere else to go. And well… I can deal with Damon." She told him with a small smile.

Enzo stared aghast. She was actually offering a place for him to live? Despite the fact that she didn't know him. "You don't even know me." He mumbled perplexed.

"Let's just say that my instincts have never been wrong and they're telling me that you aren't evil." She patted his shoulder in a friendly gesture and said, "Think about it and you can find the keys at the Boarding House."

He opened his mouth to say something, anything really but was left gaping after the witch, who had vanished as soon as the door closed behind her.

As it turned out, dealing with Damon hadn't been easy at all. He had raged, prancing all over the house, muttering curses under his breath. She sat there exchanging looks with Stefan, who himself wasn't a fan of her idea, but hadn't said more on the topic. Now, she just had to talk to her dad, 'who might actually have a heart attack despite being an immortal', according to Stefan.

The house had nothing but furniture as she had shifted her stuff in her room at her father's house. She still didn't get what the big deal was?

Athena wished she could tell them that Enzo was the first vampire around whom her magic didn't warn her. Not in the cellar, nor here and her magic was the only thing that had kept her alive. Her magic had warned her when she first met Damon, Stefan, her dad or his siblings, but she just knew that Enzo wouldn't harm her.

No, she couldn't tell Damon this, so she stayed quiet, listening to his ramblings.

Gilbert House

Elena couldn't stop the tears flowing down her cheeks as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her life wasn't perfect, but even after Jenna's death, she had her brother, two best friends, a boyfriend who doted on her and his brother – who she had unknowingly fallen in love with.

In the last couple of months, not only had she lost both the Salvatore's, but also her best friends. She couldn't believe when Bonnie refused to discuss anything about Athena Potter and told her to leave the girl alone. It had been 3 days and Bonnie still hadn't replied to her texts or calls.

If loosing almost everyone wasn't enough to break her, this did. Elena didn't think that Caroline would do this to her, but earlier today, she had seen her having sex with Stefan. Not only that, but they were sharing blood, which she remembered from Damon's words was an intimate thing for vampires.

Elena had bolted out of there without getting noticed by the two, lost as they were and rushed to the only place, she could think of right now – her bedroom because she wanted to be alone. She had noticed that the two had grown close, but hadn't paid much attention to it. How could she? Stefan had always told her that she was the love of his life and he could never be interested in Caroline. And her best friend, the one she had always relied on, the one who told her that Stefan was her epic love – was sleeping with the guy she loved?

If one thing she knew was that Stefan would never have slept with Caroline if his feelings hadn't been strong. He wasn't like Damon. That left her with the question that how long has it been going on? Did he break up with her for Caroline?

Elena picked the vase lying on her side table and threw it in the glass of her vanity table. It shattered it in a million pieces, just like her heart.

Next Day

Salvatore Boarding House

As soon as he got out of the car, Damon eyed his brother, who was lying on the ground. From the unnatural angle of his neck, it was clear that the bitch had snapped Stefan's neck. He gritted his teeth and asked angrily, "What are you doing here?"

Katherine flipped her hair back and replied slyly, "Nothing. I was bored and wanted to meet Klaus's daughter personally. You know, I couldn't do that in front of him, so I thought why now wait here? She can't seem to stay away from you."

His eyes narrowed and he asked, "What are you planning?"

"You'll never know." She whispered before adding with a pout, "I'm locked out of the house. I'm hurt, Damon."

"You're trying to stall." He observed. "What are you waiting for?"

"Right now? I'm waiting for Athena. I want to see if she's as powerful as everyone says she is!" she told him truthfully.

Damon frowned as her words registered. "Wait? What do you mean 'everyone'?"

"A girl never tells her secrets, Damon." She smiled impishly.

"Then you don't have anything to worry about. You aren't a girl after all." He taunted with a sarcastic smile of his own.

Katherine huffed before adding mischievously. "I can deal with Klaus with or without you, Damon, and you know it. But before that I'm going to snap her neck like a twig while you watch."

Damon snarled, his eyes turning red and he rushed towards her. His hands tightened around her throat as he pushed her against the wall, but gasped when she stabbed him with a needle filled with vervain. His grip on her loosened and he fell back when she pushed him lightly.

"So predictable." Katherine rolled her eyes.

There was a loud crack and Damon's eyes widened. Katherine smirked as he eyed Damon and pulled a wooden stake out of her jacket. "Can't have you spoiling all my fun." She whispered in his ear and stabbed him in the stomach, earning a loud, painful cry from him and stood up straight to finally meet the girl.

Athena stopped as soon as she saw Elena and frowned when the girl smiled at her. Elena had never smiled at her, not even once since she came to the town. "You're… not Elena." She whispered, belatedly realizing that this was Katherine.

Katherine arched a brow, surprised that the girl knew she wasn't Elena, even though it took hours for her to straighten her hair before coming here. She moved closer and said, "And you're the infamous Athena Potter. I've heard so much about you."

Her statement startled Athena, but she replied callously, "You know how people can be. They tend to exaggerate."

Katherine cocked her head a bit, observing the girl and didn't miss the way her eyes darted towards Stefan and Damon, how they tightened before snapping back to meet hers unflinchingly. For a second, Katherine flinched as she remembered seeing the same expressions on another face, so similar to hers, but she straightened herself and smirked.

"I am guessing there must be a reason for this?" Athena asked, motioning towards Stefan's body and Damon, who had pulled the stake from his stomach and was trying to get up but to no avail.

"I just wanted to meet you… see what's so special that everyone's been fawning over you." Katherine said before taunting playfully, "…of course, other than the fact that you're basically an abomination of nature and shouldn't have existed in the first place."

"What can I say? I've always defied the odds. Being my father's daughter has its own perks." Athena stated with a casual smile. "You do know him, don't you?"

Katherine's lips thinned into a straight line and she gritted her teeth, but before she could say anything, Athena stated, "I don't understand how do people mistake you for Elena? Don't get me wrong – we aren't exactly the best of friends, but it's clear that you two aren't exactly alike."

"I already like you. And you're right – I look much better." Katherine boasted.

"I wouldn't say that." Athena shook her head and added with a coy smile, "Elena doesn't look like a slut. Don't you think?"

The fake-smile Katherine was supporting turned into a scowl and she sneered, "On second thoughts, I don't like you much."

With that, she blurred towards Athena with a growl but flew back before she could reach her and her back hit the wall of the boarding house. She tried to move, but her eyes widened when she found herself stuck. She tried to move with all her strength, but couldn't even move an inch.

Athena stared at Katherine intently, her voice was hostile as she said warningly, "You shouldn't have messed with my family, which includes both the Salvatore's."

There was something so cold in her demeanour that Katherine shivered, ready to bolt. She pulled a small ball, much smaller than a snitch, out of her pocket and threw it at Athena, who caught it mid-air much to Katherine's surprise.

By now, the wound in Damon's stomach had stopped bleeding and he moved next to Athena, eying the small black ball himself.

Athena ignored him for the time being, eying the object with mild-horror before her eyes snapped to the she-vampire and asked testily, "Where did you get this from?"

"A friend gave it to me." Katherine invaded the question, hoping that maybe Damon would be able to help her and demanded hotly, "Let go of me."

Athena ignored Damon's hand as he touched her back softly and asked, "Which friend?"

"You don't know him." Katherine smiled, but it was strained as she was still struggling to get free.

"You don't wanna test me right now. Which friend?" Athena threatened, her eyes flashing bright green, startling both Damon and Katherine.

"Athena…" Damon whispered worriedly.

"Stay away, Damon. I don't want to hurt you." Athena said coldly, eyes focused on Katherine. "I'm sorry, but don't forget that I asked nicely first."

Katherine's eyes widened, but before she could utter another word, Athena stuffed the ball into her mouth and muttered a spell under her breath, forcing her to chew it.

"Athena, what…?" Damon asked confused, eyes wide staring between the two.

"It had the ingredients which help in immobilizing a witch for a couple of hours. It can also kill a muggle and is illegal." She told Katherine with a pleasant smile, "Let's see how it works on you? And if you woke up from the paralysis, we'll talk about this friend of yours? Or you might be willing to talk to my dad?"

After she was unable to spit it out, Katherine's eyes darted to Damon wildly, but he was staring at the witch with a frown marring his features. It wasn't long before she felt her body freezing and she threw-up every once of blood she had consumed recently. She wanted to shout, beg, run, and kill the witch all at once, but her eyes rolled at the back of her head and she fell on the ground limply.

Athena waved her wand over the body, muttered another charm and levitated Katherine inside the house.

Damon placed Stefan on the sofa, checking to make sure that he was fine and followed Athena downstairs.

"Has she been invited?" He asked uneasily when the body floated easily without any barrier. He had never seen Athena like this, emotionless and he couldn't say that he liked it.

"No. It's just a dead body." She replied, lowering the body in the cellar before casting several charms around the small room. Once she was done, she turned to look at Damon and said, "We'll have to invite her in, when she wakes up."

Past Midnight

Somewhere in Mystic Falls

Her heart was hammering inside her chest as she tried to search for the grave, her wand lightning the way through the dark. She stopped when she saw the name and took a deep breath to calm herself. If anyone found out what she was doing, they would surely kill her, but this was the only way to make sure that even if something happened to her, her family would stay safe. She had found the book in Arcturus Black's personal library this morning when she took a small trip to Grimmauld without informing anyone. This is what she had been trying to find from the past few days. She just hoped that this would work as she had no other way to stop Death.

She opened the book, grimacing at the fact that every single page of the 1000 years old book was made from human skin. Different spells and curses – all extremely dark in nature were carved intricately with perfection. She found the spell she was looking for and pulled out a couple of things from her bag.

She placed the candles in a circle on the grave and placed a silver bowl in the center. Once satisfied, she crouched next to the circle and picked up the engraved knife. Another deep breath and she gritted her teeth before making a careful cut across her palm, copying the pattern from the book. The only source of light was her wand, but she had practiced the spell before, so she continued. After it was done, she let the blood drip into the bowl, closed her eyes and started chanting.

Athena opened her eyes. The candles were aflame, but she couldn't feel anything else. She looked at the book again thinking that she might've missed something, but she had done exactly what it said in the spell. Why wasn't it working?

Suddenly, the pain hit.

For about five seconds, blinding agony gripped her. It was different than Cruciatus as she felt like someone was trying to rip out her magic, clawing something inside her. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe and wasn't even aware that she was screaming, gasping for breath when just as suddenly, the pain eased. She took a shallow shuddering breath and looked up at the sky, only then noticing that she was lying in the mud beside the grave.

"Are you alright?" A voice asked, making Athena gasp in surprise.

Her eyes snapped to the spirit and she stood up hastily and muttered aghast, "You're here."

"You shouldn't be doing this." The spirit said.

Athena shook her head, unable to explain the reason behind this, still reeling from the fact that the spell indeed worked.

"I had no other option." She whispered.

"Darker than anything the world has ever seen. It's black magic. HE won't let you get away with this." The spirit warned.

Athena gulped, but stated strongly, "I don't care what happens to me. It's my fault this happened. I have to fix this."

The spirit stared at her with an unfathomable expression, and Athena continued, "You can help me. We have the same kind of magic running inside us. But even if you don't – I'm going to do everything I can to save my family. I don't have much time. I have to do this."

The spirit studied her for a long time and asked, "What about your vampire?"

She swallowed hard at the thought of Damon but pushed it aside for the time being. She needed to focus. This was her only chance. "He will be fine. He has his brother." She mumbled.

The spirit looked at her sadly, somewhat disappointed and said, "I don't think so."

"I'm going to channel the power from you and the Bennett witch. It should be enough to end this." Athena told him, ignoring his words.

The spirit huffed, but asked warningly, "It won't be easy. You're aware of the consequences, aren't you?"

"I know, but breaking rules and going against nature isn't new to me." She snorted at the irony before asking hopefully, "So, you'll help me?"

"How can I not? We are family after all. We'll go to hell together." The spirit answered with a mischievous smile.

Athena shivered, knowing that the spirit might actually be telling the truth, but it was a price she ready to pay. She needed every ounce magic and a Bennett witch was the only powerful being in existence that could help her. She did feel bad for Bonnie, but keeping her family including both the Salvatore's safe was the only thing she cared about. If she got the chance, she would beg for her forgiveness, but she was going to do this.

Now, she just had to wait for the full moon.

AN: Here it is. Hope you liked it. I won't leave anything unexplained by the end.

I want to thank all of you, who are still with me on this story. I would love to hear what you think. Positive criticism is always welcome. Have a nice day everyone. 😊

Aug 30th, 2019