A/N: So this is chapter 3. Hope you like it. Please forgive any mistakes. Thanks :)

Chapter 3: The storm

The morning sun had begun peaking over the horizon and with it came a new day. A day that- for some, could bring hope, love and adventure but for the current 'residents' of the Salvatore boarding house the new day brought uncertainty, dread, fear and quite possibly the end.

"Bonnie, I hope you've got something because we're backed against a wall. The heretics could be here at any second" Damon says from his usual spot at the liquor cabinet. Caroline thought if he was human he most certainly would have alcohol poisoning by now. "We don't have all the answers but we did find something" she looks to Rick to take over because even though she is a witch, he knows more about the research stuff than anyone. "We found this book all about the Phoenix stone" he begins and somehow it feels like they are back in that classroom learning about history, oblivious to the dangers that loomed.

Alaric goes into a lecture about the huntress, Rayna and how she used the stone- and the sword it comes with, to trap vampire souls in their own little version of hell. How it was created in New Orleans by the shamans. How Rayna used it against every vampire she came across and she certainly would continue her work now. "So how do we kill her or destroy it?" Stefan asks from his spot on the couch. "The stone cannot be destroyed. Our best bet is to kill Rayna" Bonnie says firmly. "And what about the heretics?" Matt questions. They've been at this for weeks now and one thing they've learned so far was heretics were not easy to kill. They couldn't just go around and start dropping them one by one. "We have to hide it" Caroline states and a part deep within her hates that she had to say it. She thought she could get her mother back with the stone but that dream was crushed when they found out the truth about it. But there was also a part of her that was grateful that her mother wasn't suffering in whatever 'hell' the stone created.

"So how do we kill the huntress?" Damon questions after a beat of silence. "Her life is tied to eight shamans that gave her the power she has. We end their life, we end hers." Bonnie says while taking a seat. "Great, what do ya say bon bon, wanna go on a killing spree" Damon asks a little gleefully. Things are actually starting to look up for them. They just had to kill the Shamans and they were one problem down. "Yeah...slight problem with that, we have no idea where they are" Alaric was the one to burst Damon's happy bubble. And here he thought things were looking up. "Great, just add to the list of problems. Can't you do a locator spell" he asks. "I tried but it's not working. They're being cloaked by strong magic" Bonnie explains. "Great so we're sitting ducks again" Stefan mutters with a sigh. Why couldn't anything go their way. It was not much to ask. "Maybe we should leave" Matt's voice drew their attention toward him. "You scared quarterback" Damon quips from across the room. "In case you've forgotten Damon, Bonnie, Rick and I aren't exactly invincible and contrary to what you believe neither are you. We can't just sit her and wait for an attack we know is coming, with no defense" Matt says sharply, raising his voice at the end. "I'm not running away Matt. This is our town. If we don't fight, who will. We're the only ones who can protect this town. You know it's the right thing to do." Bonnie was the first to speak, "we can take them" she adds, although a hit of uncertainty could be heard in her voice. "Or we die trying" Damon adds looking at Matt. "Die trying" Alaric says siping the drink he pours for himself. Caroline's eyes lock with Stefan and a silent conversation passes betwern them. It's amazing how a friendship can develop over the years. Even after all the pain and suffering they've been through- together and apart they still have a bond that will last a life time and longer. They say everything they need to in one look. It's an 'I'm sorry things didn't work out', 'you'll always be my best friend', 'thank you for pulling me back from the edge, for being there for me' all rolled into one. "We die trying" Stefan says looking at his best friend.Their relationship might not have worked out but maybe it was for the best. Their friendship was lasting and all he needed was her by his side. "We die trying" Caroline whispers back and they all look to each other. Their little family, the most important people in their lives in one room, all silently praying that this is not the end, that this is not their end.

A loud bang erupts and the front door burst open with make shift stakes flying everywhere. They all dive for cover making sure no one is hit. Damon looks out the window to see the heretics lined up outside. Leading the charge, as always was his dear sweet mother. Damon looks to Caroline and gestures toward the stone she moves from behind her hiding spot and grabs the stone that was on the table and throws it to Damon who catches it in one fluid motion.

Stefan grabs Bonnie, whose closest to him, by the hand and makes a move to the back door with the others following behind, all staying low to avoid any flying debris. Bonnie makes a move to open the back door but before she can Damon stops her. They see a figure lurking by the tree line. Upon closer inspection they see none other than Rayna Cruz waiting for them. "Are they working together?" Matt asks because it doesn't make any sense. "Rayna wouldn't work with any vampires" Stefan says. They move from the door and go up the stairs. A week after the heretics rolled in to town the deed to the house went over to Matt so they were safe from the heretics but Rayna was still a problem for them. "This is your last chance to give us what we want" they heard Lilly call out to them. Damon breaks off a chair leg and flings it out the window with his vampire strength, "come and get it" he calls out. "My pleasure" Lilly says dodging the stake and the rest of the heretics start chanting.

Flames irrupted through out the house and and they all tried to go for cover. They knew that the fire was courtesy of the heretics but they also knew that they were out matched. Bonnie stood up and chanted a counter spell, trying to get the flames to die down but it was of no use. The flames were everywhere, entrapping them, "I can't stop it" Bonnie yells. They look to each other and they know what they have to do. Caroline grabs a chair and kicks the legs. She gives a piece to Matt and one to Bonnie and the other to Alaric for their protection. She then grabs the box her mom had sent her and gave it to Bonnie to keep safe. They give one last nod to each other and Caroline grabs Bonnie while Stefan takes hold of Matt, Damon doing the same with Alaric and they all vamp speed out of the burning wreckage.

They run as fast as they can in different directions, not looking back. Caroline slows to a stop and lets go of Bonnie. "I'm going back to help them, you need to get out of here" she urges Bonnie. "What, no Care, I'm coming with you. You need my help" she argues. "No Bonnie, you and Rick can figure out how to kill Rayna and stop the heretics, you have to leave now."

"No I-" Bonnie starts but gets cut off when Caroline talks over her, "Please Bonnie, you have to survive. You have to go now, we don't have time to discuss this" Caroline motions for her to run. "You come back Caroline Forbes. Don't do anything stupid" Bonnie hugs her best friend. With a nod of her head Caroline speed off back into the front line of the war.

Stefan speeds away from the house as fast as he can. He knows his brother can handle himself and so can Caroline but he was still worried. He had no idea what he would do without them. He stops once he's in the clear and looks to Matt, "You okay?"he looks to Matt making sure he's alright. "Yeah I'm fine, we have to help the others" Matt replies but before any other exchange was made between the two, a figure walked out from behind a tree in front of them. "Valarie" Stefan breaths and betrays a hint of emotion at seeing the first woman he's ever loved. "You don't have to do this" he says while standing in front of Matt while Matt take a defensive stance. "Give me the stone Stefan. We're just trying to protect you. You're in over your head" Valarie moves closer to them. "You really believe that's all they want the stone for" Matt comments, moving from his position to stand next to Stefan and Stefan is not sure if it is him or Valarie that Matt is addressing. There is a moment is of silence and valarie looks to Stefan. Inspite of his better judgement he moves closer to her. He can still see the girl he once knew, the one he fell in love with all those decades ago and it pains him to see how much thing have changed. That they are standing on opposite sides of this war. "Leave" Valerie says as sternly as she can but they don't move,"NOW!" She yells out to them and Matt turns to leave. "Come with us" Stefan says before he even realizes what he is saying, "come with me" he urges. "I can't" she looks to him and he can see a flash of regret cross her face before she steels herself, "I'm sorry" she breaths out before she speeds away.

Damon flashes as fast as he can away from the danger. He tries to get away but can feel a hand on his shoulder dragging him down and he stumbles. He and Alaric both hit the ground hard and try to get up as quickly as they can. They look up to see two heretics, Oscar and Beau staring up at them. Damon flashes up to Oscar landing a punch with all his strength while Alaric and Beau go after each other. Punches are thrown wildly, each person getting a punch in before Damon gets the upper hand and snaps Oscar's neck. Beau pushes Alaric against a tree and ready to kill but before he gets the opportunity, Damon comes up behind them and snaps his neck. " I really hate heretics" he comments, "Come on. We gotta get outta here" Damon pulls Alaric up but they turn around to find none other than Rayna Cruz.

"Give me the stone" Rayna demands. She has a sword in her hand and lifts it, pointing it at Damon. Damon flashes forward and grabs her by the throat, pushing her against a tree. With all the strength that she has, she pushes him off her and he falls to the ground a little distance away from her and he looks shocked. She looks down at him with a smug look on her face. "I'm not your average hunter" she states plainly and just then Alaric moves forward with a stake in his hand and tries to embed it into her chest. She catches his hand before it's even close to her and uses her strength to pull him forward and and bash his head against a tree, rendering him unconscious. Before Damon can get up she moves toward him and kicks him in the stomach. He groans out in agony but Rayna still kicks him. His cuts and bruises heals just as fast as she begins making them anew. She stops and reaches down into his pocket and retrieves the stone. She fits the stone into the hilt of her sowrd and lifts it up in the air ready to plunge the blade into the vampire before. She begins to bring down her hand in one fluid motion.

Caroline vamp speeds as fast as she can, trying to use her heightened hearing to pick up on any sign of her friends. She stops next to a tree and looks around but their are no signs of life. She closes her eyes and tries to focus. No, this was life or death, she had to focus. In the distance she hears what sounds like a fight and hopes that she gets there in time to help the people she cares about. She vamp speeds in the direction of the sound but still listens. She can hear what sounds like Damon groaning out in pain and she wills herself to move faster. Damon may not be her favorite person in the world but since her mother had died he had really been there for her, helping her with her grief. She was far from forgiving him for the things he had done- to her and others, but she saw the good in him.

She got to the tree line and saw Rayna Cruz standing above a bloody and beaten Damon, ready to bring down her sword on him. A sword that they all- thanks to Bonnie and Alaric, knew about the threat it posed.

"Nooo!" She screams out and before her mind can comprehend what her body was doing, she flashes toward Damon and throws herself in front of him. Rayna's sword finding a home deep within Caroline's chest. She can feel the sword lightly graze her heart and she feels the most intense pain she had ever felt. She can't move, she can breath, she can't even think. All she can do is feel. Damon uses this distraction and flashes toward Rayna positioning his hands at her neck and and snapping. He looks down at Caroline with the most regrettable look she had ever seen.

She looks to him in worry and fear and pain and anger all in one. 'What just happened' she can't help but think to herself.

AN: So that was my small mini cliffhanger chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. I'm sorry if the fight scenes were all over the place or not very descriptive. I have trouble with fight scenes. In my head it's all cool but I have trouble putting what's up there into words. Anyway enough of my rambling. Please review. Thanks :)