"Stripped"

Chapter 28: Honesty and Secrets

Bella sat on her couch with a glass of wine and waited. Today had been draining and she knew she was lucky. She had been on the edge of death…..again and escaped it, but it wouldn't always be that way. One day she wouldn't escape it and then what? She was human she wasn't meant to live forever, but she was also a witch and magic was part of her life. She couldn't give it up; it would be like ripping out a part of her soul, but she recognized it was time to slow it down. She was burning herself out quick. There was so much running through her mind.

Klaus, the hunters, the Cullen's, her new magic, today being her Grams' anniversary, but her mind kept returning to one thing….Damon. She wanted to believe what Elena had said. Bella knew that for a while she and Damon could make it work, but not forever. She knew one day she would look in the mirror and see herself older and Damon standing beside her unchanged. It had been one of the first visions she had after meeting Damon. At the time she thought it was meant as he would always be part of her life and she was content in that, but now it didn't seem right or fair to either of them.

This cure she had thought about Damon taking it, but she always knew he wouldn't. Damon was who he was and part of that was being a vampire. Bella was who she was and part of that was magic. The two worlds could never be one…it was against every law of nature. So why do this? Why go down this path? What was there to gain except heartbreak? Damon and she had, had enough of that.

"This is never good." Damon said interrupting Bella's inner ramblings.

"What?" Bella asked relaxing her tense body.

"That look on your face." Damon said as he sat in the chair by the window. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," Bella replied and took a sip of wine.

"About us?" Damon asked.

Bella tensed.

"Nail meet hammer," Damon said sitting back in the chair. "Go on I want to hear it. You've never held back before don't start now."

"We both know where this is going." Bella started.

"No you think you know where this is going." Damon interrupted, "But continue."

"You know I won't change." Bella said staring at him intently. "I don't want to live forever."

"I'm fully aware of that." Damon replied. "You aren't telling me anything new."

"This has to end." Bella said bluntly.

"Why?" Damon asked.

"Because it won't go anywhere. A few years…a few decades maybe if we are lucky, but after that…." Bella trailed and sighed, "We've already talked about the cure and I know you don't want it and I don't want you to take it."

"Why not?" Damon asked.

"Because being human isn't you." Bella said laughing. "I mean really a 9 to 5 job, a mortgage, two car payments. Can you see that for yourself?"

Damon laughed and shook his head.

Bella put down her glass, "I like who you are Damon I wouldn't be around you if I didn't, but we can't have a normal life."

"What is normal?" Damon asked, "You're a witch I'm a vampire we are supposed to be natural born enemies."

"I'm going to grow old." Bella said, "I'm going to change and you aren't."

Damon's body became rigid, "Why are you thinking about tomorrow?"

"Because I'm human Damon….I don't have eternity." Bella replied.

"You could." Damon said.

"But I don't want it." Bella said honestly. "I lose part of who I am if I choose that path."

"The path you're heading down now you won't even have another year." Damon said angrily.

"I know." Bella said.

"That's what has brought this up." Damon said the muscle in his jaw twitching. "You almost died and you started thinking."

"A dangerous thing I know." Bella said softly.

"Bella," Damon started, "I don't care about the future. I care about now. I care about us and where we are now."

"Do you know something," Bella said, "After I first met you I saw something a vision." She stood up and walked over to him.

She placed her hand on his cheek and let the vision play out in his mind. Damon closed his eyes and leaned into her touch;

.*.*.*.*.*.*.

(Vision)

A gray and wrinkly Bella stood in the mirror. Damon soon appeared beside her and he smiled giving her a tiny box.

"Happy birthday," Damon said and kissed her cheek.

(End Vision)

.*.*.*.*.*.

Damon was pulled back to reality and shook his head.

"I thought that it meant you and I had a friendship that would last for a life time and it can be, but anything else….." Bella trailed.

"Won't last." Damon said softly and looked up at her, "Bella I….."

"I care about you too Damon," Bella said and kneeled down in front of him. "I always have and I always will, but this." She said waving her hand between the two of them, "IT won't last and in the end we will be more hurt. That vision has changed and now I don't even see you." Bella kissed Damon's cheek, "I want you in my life Damon, but it can't be how we might want it to be."

Damon didn't respond. Instead he silently stood up and walked out of the house. Leaving Bella there on the floor as she let the tears fall.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Klaus smiled as he watched Damon leave the house. Not only was Bella's strength waning, but now finally Damon was out of the way. Klaus strolled up to the door and knocked. Bella opened the door. No tears were visible, but her puffy eyes gave away she had been crying.

"Hello little witch," Klaus said smiling. "Long day?"

"I thought we had an agreement." Bella said narrowing her eyes.

"Well the funeral is over and it is past midnight so technically I didn't break agreement as I agreed not to bother you yesterday." Klaus said.

"What do you want?" Bella asked.

"To speak to you about dinner," Klaus said, "Say this evening? As I said earlier you may bring whoever you like."

"Fine," Bella said exhaustion sweeping over her. "What time?"

"7 on the dot if you can." Klaus said smiling. "Oh and Bella I am so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," Bella said and shut the door.

Klaus returned to his house and saw Kol pouring a drink.

"Well?" KOl asked.

"She and Damon have broken up and it turns out she has been over using her magic." Klaus said smiling.

"Well points for us." Kol said and handed Klaus a drink. "So what's the plan?"

"We need to step lightly especially about the Damon issue. I don't want her to be defensive I want to bring those walls down." Klaus said sitting down.

"That's going to be hard to do." Kol said joining him, "Do you think she'll actually buy it?"

"We shall see," Klaus said, "Isabella is far from dumb, but having so much going on at once she'll lose focus which will give us the opportunity we need."

"Patience has never been one of our virtues," Kol pointed out.

"This time it will have to be." Klaus said seriously. "She is the key and she is powerful."

"So either own her or….." Kol trailed.

"Kill her." Klaus said steadily, "It would be a shame if it came to that."

.*.*.*.*.*.*.

Bella crashed as soon as her head hit the pillow and in the morning she woken up by a pillow hitting her.

"What the hell?" She said yawning. "Caroline."

"You are in so much trouble Bella Swan." Caroline said glaring at her. "Seriously are you wanting to die?"

"Damon told you," Bella groaned and snuggled further into her pillows.

"More like he came to the boarding house started destroying shit and barked it at us." Caroline said. "What the hell did you do?"

"She ended it with him," Elena said appearing in the door way. "Really Bella?"

"Don't," Bella said, "I'm going back to sleep."

"Oh no you aren't." Caroline said and pulled Bella out of bed and she landed with a thud on the floor

"Caroline," Bella protested.

"Elijah is here and he wants to see you." Elena said.

Bella grabbed her robe and stood up;

"Pay back is a bitch Caroline." Bella warned as she put the robe on.

"Oh I'm so scared," Caroline said and they followed Bella, "We are seriously going to have a conversation about all of this."

"I agree," Elijah said as Bella entered. "You are very lucky Miss Swan."

"I wouldn't call it luck," Bella said sitting down.

"You have escaped death what is it three times now?" Elijah said as he sat across from her, "I would say you are very lucky."

"No I just have really good friends who are there to save my ass." Bella replied.

Caroline rolled her eyes.

"What's going on?" Bella asked.

"The hunter he wishes to speak with you." Elijah said. "He said he will only talk to you."

"Not happening she needs to get some rest." Caroline said.

"Fine," Bella said ignoring her. "Let me get dressed."

"There is also the matter of dinner with my brother." Elijah said.

Caroline and Elena turned their heads to Bella.

"Since Damon is no longer escorting you to dinner…" Elijah said.

"Who said I wasn't going to dinner?" Damon asked walking into the kitchen, "I don't remember saying that."

Bella's chest constricted. She really wanted to wrap her arms around him as she did most mornings, but she refrained.

"You don't have to." Bella started.

"You want to go in alone," Damon said and glared, "Seems to be your way of doing things now."

"I was going to say I would have Elijah or Rebekah come." Bella replied trying to keep control.

Damon was trying to bait her intentionally and she knew he wanted to get her riled up before tonight.

"Oh yes let's let two originals whose brother we want to turn human go in as your protection." Damon scoffed. "They wouldn't betray you at all."

"As I said before Damon I agree with Isabella's idea of the cure as does Rebekah." Elijah said calmly.

"And you've never changed your mind ever." Damon replied. "No I'll be going with her." He turned to look at Bella, "Unless she doesn't want me to because she would like some alone time with Klaus."

Bella took a deep breath and literally bit her tongue to keep quiet. Damon was hitting every nerve she had and she knew he wasn't going to stop, but that last innuendo pushed her over the edge. He wanted to play dirty then fine she would play dirty.

"Wouldn't exactly be unpleasant." Bella said glaring at Damon, "I mean Klaus, Kol, and I did have a very nice dinner before Christmas and I must say they have very good taste in clothes."

The glass Damon was holding broke as his face changed.

"Okay that's it." Elena said stepping in, "Both of you stop it."

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Bella said and got up, "I'll be ready in ten Elijah."

"Try longer," Damon hissed and started off after her. "We have some things to talk about."

Elena blurred in front of him, "Damon stop it."

"Move Elena this is between the little witch and me." Damon growled.

"You started this Damon," Elena said trying to keep his attention.

"I started this," Damon said shocked, "Really because I'm pretty sure she broke up with me. I left last night giving her space thinking today she would come to her senses obviously not so we need to talk and get a few things straight."

"Damon you baited her." Elena said and pushed him back, "You got the rise out of her you wanted do you really think right now you should go up there and fight with her? She's worn down Damon and you know when you get to arguing with her, her powers are hard to control." Damon stiffened and Elena continued, "We all know her powers are growing so do you really want to rile her up?"

Damon was quiet for a moment and then sighed;

"Fine," he said through clenched teeth, "But I'm going with her to see the hunter and to the dinner."

"Okay," Elena said, "But you've got to keep it in check."

"Alright," Damon said, "But if she pushes me like that again…"

"She won't because you won't be pushing her." Elena said, "Now just stay down here."

Elena quickly blurred up the stairs just as Bella was putting on her shoes.

"Do it," Elena said, "Make it so no one can hear us."

Bella spoke a few words then nodded;

"What the hell happened to what we talked about last night?" Elena asked. "I thought we were on the same page that you weren't going to break up with him."

Bella didn't reply.

"I mean seriously Bella this is the first time in a long time I've seen you happy and we all know you and Damon have had something for a while," Elena continued.

Elena looked over to Bella who avoided her gaze;

"You wouldn't do this unless you saw something," Elena said narrowing her eyes, "What did you see?"

Bella stayed silent.

"Bella," Elena said.

"We have other things to do," Bella said standing up.

"What did you see Bella?" Elena asked going over to her, "Tell me."

Bella didn't respond instead she grabbed her jacket and headed for the bedroom door.

"Bella!" Elena yelled as she reached the door. "What the fuck did you see?"

Bella looked back and smiled sadly, "There are some things better left to the unknown." She said and opened the door.

Elena felt her bones chill, but didn't understand as Bella disappeared down the stairs.

.*.*.*.*.*.

They drove in silence to the old Forbes plantation outside of town and then trekked through the woods a bit.

"Your friend Bonnie spelled it quite nicely," Elijah said as he held open the barn door for Bella and Damon. "My brothers will not be able to enter here."

Bella looked at the hunter he was secured and more bloody then she remembered.

"He fought me a bit," Elijah explained.

"Can he talk?" Bella asked.

"Go to hell witch," the man said.

"Can't," Bella said and sat down in a chair across from him, "The devil still has that pesky restraining order against me."

The man chuckled a bit, "Gotta say never heard that one before."

"Well now you have a new witty retort in your possession," Bella said, "That is if you get out of here alive."

"You can't kill me," the man replied.

"I know I can't, I know they can't." Bella said waving to the vampires, "But you pissed off a few humans they can kill you."

"Like Jeremy," the man said.

"Guys can you leave us?" Bella asked.

"Don't think that's a good idea," Elijah stated.

"I can hold my own and besides he is very secure." Bella said crossing her arms.

"Come on," Elena said and pulled the two men out.

"Ten minutes," Damon warned and went with Elena.

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

"Connor right?" Bella asked and Connor tensed, "I know you're working with Shane. Do you realize he's playing you?"

"He wouldn't." Connor said.

"He's using you to get what he wants which is Silas released." Bella said. "Yeah I know about Silas, I know about your little group the Five, I know about the cure."

Connor stayed silent.

Bella leaned forward, "We aren't your enemies."

"They're vampires," Connor hissed.

"They're my family….well except Elijah," Bella said.

"Why help them?" Connor asked, "They've killed."

"You know when I touched you I saw your past. You were in the military you killed." Bella said.

"It was war." Connor replied.

"None of us are innocent Connor, but people can change." Bella replied.

"They aren't people." Connor spat.

"Some of them are more human then you and me and we can't really claim to be human either. Sure our lives are more fragile compared to theirs, but you're stronger, faster, and protected by that nasty little hunter's curse. Me I have supernatural powers which humans don't have." Bella said, "Some could say we are just as much monsters as they can be. My power could destroy this entire town."

"But you don't." Connor pointed out.

"But some do," Bella said, "And some hunters turn psychotic don't they."

Connor was quiet.

"I saw your death at the hands of Elena, I saw Jeremy taking up your cause….I saw him lose his mind with rage and become nothing more than a hollow killing machine." Bella said, "You got lucky you found a witch that helped you keep your wits about you."

"You see a lot of things." Connor said.

"More then I care to see," Bella replied grimly.

"I heard you want the cure," Connor said. "For your friend Elena?"

"If she wants it." Bella said, "But I'm more on the whole stopping a certain hybrid."

"The guy in the suit….his brother right?" Connor asked.

Bella nodded, "Once he's human he can't hurt anyone anymore."

"But then Silas comes," Connor said. "He's bad news."

"I'm worse," Bella said and leaned forward, "Here's the deal Connor I know you hate this life. You want to be free…..I can give you that."

"What's the cost?" Connor asked.

"No trying to kill my friends." Bella said.

"Silas can't be released," Connor said, "His power is a dark one."

"Expression," Bella said, "I know."

"Then you know what kind of hell that can cause." Connor said, "Even if I wanted to take your deal I can't. He gets loose it will be hell on earth."

"I can kill him," Bella said.

"How?" Connor asked.

Bella pulled the necklace out of her shirt and Connor's eyes widened.

"Where did you get that?" he asked.

"It's been in my family for….ever I suppose." Bella said, "You know it."

"I know the legend around it. It contains all the power of one of the most powerful lines of witches. Ones that date back to before Silas even….legend said that each witchs' power went into that necklace once they passed on." Connor said staring at it intently. "There's also a legend that one day a powerful witch in the line would be able to possess all the power, that witch alone could use expression without consequences because she could wield it properly." Connor looked at Bella finally, "You're powerful I knew that the moment we met, you're that witch aren't you?"

"Apparently," Bella said.

"Do you know?" Connor asked, "Do you know…."

"Yes," Bella said angrily, "I know….I've seen it."

"You would risk that….for them?" Connor asked.

"I would risk everything for my family Connor…..I would give up my life for them." Bella said calmly.

Connor looked to the door.

"They think we are talking about Klaus," Bella said, "They don't know what we are really saying."

"You really are powerful." Connor said.

"I can free you from this life Connor, but I need your help. I have to know about Shane. I know he forced Reverend Young to do those things to me." Bella said angrily.

"I didn't know about that." Connor replied quietly.

"I know," Bella said, "You still fight the urge though…..to fight against the nature of the hunter. You were planning on using April Young to have my friends reveal themselves."

Connor was quiet and then his eyes widened, "You stopped me."

Bella nodded, "Took a lot of my energy and I haven't exactly been taking care of myself, but yes I did."

"You can really free me?" Connor asked.

"Yes," Bella said. "The ball is in your court Connor. Continue down this hollow life or be free of it."

Connor was quiet for a while and then looked at Bella.

"Freedom," Connor said.

"Good choice," Bella said and used to release him from his chains, "Now when we go up there no killing my friends and no talking about the darker side of what we face."

.*.*.*.*.*.*.

"What are you thinking?" Elijah asked Elena as Damon scouted the area.

"Nothing," Elena said quickly.

"You are not a good liar Elena Gilbert," Elijah said.

"Sorry," Elena snapped, "I guess I don't live up to my ancestors."

"On the contrary I find your inability to lie refreshing." Elijah stated. "You don't trust me."

"Someone alert the press Elijah finally figured out I don't trust him." Elena said sarcastically.

"Yet you trust my sister," Elijah continued undeterred.

"Bella trusts Rebekah," Elena replied.

"And you trust Bella." Elijah added.

"With my life." Elena said.

"In these times that can be a dangerous thing." Elijah stated, "I see she and Damon are at odds."

"They tend to be," Elena said.

"I heard a little from Kol about her ex Edward isn't it?" Elijah asked and Elena remained silent, "I met the lad not very impressive a bit overbearing. Did you know he tried to force Bella to go with him when I arrived?"

"He did," Elena said.

"Yes quite the demanding sort. I take it he is a control freak as you call them now a days." Elijah said, "Perhaps she doesn't fear losing Damon perhaps she fears losing herself once again. Perhaps she has secrets ones Damon is unaware of." Elijah stood up, "Perhaps you her friend should speak with her."

"Why are you telling me this?" Elena asked.

"I have been around quite a while Elena I see things and I can see Isabella is hiding something." Elijah said, "I wronged you on several occasions more then I needed to so consider this my penance. They are coming out."

Bella emerged with Connor and Elena tensed.

"It's alright," Bella said and looked at Connor, "He's on our side."

"You seem to inspire people Miss Swan," Elijah said.

"I still don't like any of them," Connor said.

"That wasn't part of our deal," Bella said, "But if you hurt them…"

"I got ya," Connor said, "So what do you want me to do?"

"My friend Bonnie," Bella started.

"The witch," Connor clarified.

"Yes," Bella said, "Shane has been manipulating her I need to know how and I need to know why."

"I can get you that," Connor said.

"I also need to know everything I can about Silas." Bella continued. "The cure as well."

"Shane has all that and I have a friend who has some info as well. I can call him." Connor said.

"Can he play nice?" Damon asked sarcastically.

"Can you?" Connor countered.

Damon just smirked.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Bella said, "We all have a common goal here and as long as we work together instead of against each other we can get to it."

"He'll be on board," Connor said.

"Well since everything is settled I need to get ready for dinner," Bella said.

"Would you like me to come?" Elijah asked.

"She'll be fine with me," Damon said.

"Elijah it might be better if your brothers don't know you're on our side just yet," Elena said.

"She's right," Bella added and then glared at Damon, "I can have Rebekah go with me."

Damon laughed, "I said I was going and I am." He stepped closer to Bella, "Try and stop me."

"Bella," Elena said.

Bella glared, but through clenched teeth she relented, "Fine," she said, "Just behave yourself I don't need to be cleaning up your messes tonight."

Damon quit laughing and glared right back at her.

"The only one who seems to be getting into messes are you," Damon growled, "After all you've nearly died more times in the last few months then Elena did in the last few years."

"Bella," Elena said stepping in between the two, "How about I help you get ready?"

"NO," Bella said, "I want some peace and quiet before dinner."

She started to head for the car, but Elena caught up with her;

"What's going on?" Elena asked.

"Nothing," Bella replied distantly.

Elena grabbed Bella's arm and turned her so they were eye to eye;

"I know you Bella….you can't lie to me." Elena said, "Something is wrong. Is it what you've been seeing?"

Bella couldn't stop herself from answering, "It's not what I see Elena….it's what I don't see."

Bella quickly got into her car and left Elena standing there stunned.

.*.*.*.*.*.*.

"Damn witch," Damon said blurring to Elena, "Tell her I'll be there to pick her up."

Elena didn't respond.

"What's wrong?" Damon asked.

Elena didn't answer him instead she blurred away.

"God what is it with these women," Damon grumbled, "All of them insane and looking for a reason to die."

"The hunter has left." Elijah said joining Damon.

"Good for him," Damon grumbled.

"You are worried about Isabella," Elijah said. "You should be."

"Why is that?" Damon asked.

"You feel the change around us….something dark is coming. We only get a taste, but we know it's powerful," Elijah said, "Isabella feels it wholly….it's consuming her…evil like that has a way of sucking the life out of someone."

"She's seen something," Damon said.

"Well then perhaps being a total ass to her is not the way to go about finding out what it is." Elijah said and turned beginning to walk away. "Better hurry Isabella seems to be a very punctual person I wouldn't be late if I were you. She might try to go on without you."

A/N: Hello everyone I am so sorry for the long wait. I took a few classes this summer so that I would have a lighter load this fall semester since I officially graduate in December. Unfortunately while I thought my last semester would be much easier the courses I am taking (although taking fewer classes then normal) are higher up courses so that means less papers, but when a paper or test is due it takes a lot of research and studying.

Here is Chapter 28 of Stripped I hope you liked it. Now I edited this one myself. My wonderful beta has been extremely busy and instead of bugging her to edit (she really is busy) I went ahead and did it so don't hate me.

Although she didn't edit shout out to my friend and beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel. She listens to my crazy ramblings.

Review you guys! I am working when I can on the next chapter. I have a couple things due this week, but fortunately I already have a fourth of the chapter written so hopefully if life permits then I will have it out here soon!