Chapter Three

"I was nine," Sara sipped her coffee "when I died."

"What are you?" I asked again stubbornly.

"I'm trying to tell you! Please stop interrupting," I leaned back into the couch, Stefan's arm over my shoulder. "When I was nine, I died of cancer. I became what humans think of as angles, the whole afterlife thing is complicated because of what different people believe, but I was a protector. ThenI messed up, big time, and I was shunned from that life. Humans seem to refer to it as fallen, but technically I was banished. To make a long story short, I eventually did something good that the council believed made up for my mistakes. I was given a new ranking - guardian."

"You don't look nine," Damon noted.

"No, I'm supposed to look fourteen. I got to pick how old I would appear, after I died."

"So you're an angel then?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows.

"Well, yeah." She shrugged, "I was assigned to you, Elena. It's my job to protect you."

"Wait, if you died when you were nine, how could you have been -"

"Its fake," Sara interrupted me "all your memories of me, I planted them in your head. It sounds creepy, I know. The vervaine you wear doesn't affect me, and I've only made you believe you know me."

"I'm so confused," Damon confessed.

"I'm not explaining any of this well," Sara cleared her throat and looked at each of us before continuing, "let me try again. There are different… levels of 'angels.' First are what we call Wait Staff, as a joke but technically they are Adjuva, which is a Latin word for help. When someone dies, and hasn't figured out what they believe happens after, the Adjuva work with them to figure out where they should go. This could be many different things ranging from being reborn to becoming an angel. Then, there are Protectors. Simply they sort of fly around and help people who need it. You know when people believe a miracle has happened? Usually a protector has something to do with that. Then, there are Guardians, which is what I am. We are assigned to someone or a group of people and we are in charge of ensuring their safety. Safety from anything, a bully, vampire, ex boyfriend, werewolf, anything. Lastly, there are fates. This one is easy to figure out. Fates work towards making life good for everyone, helping people who need it in any way possible, but they have a difficult job because they need to make life tough at the same time. Life is about learning lessons, so fates can't just make it a simple party. Do you have any questions?"

"Do you have wings?" A figure stepped through the doorway.

"How long have you been there?" Stefan jumped up facing Caroline.

"Don't," I stood up and placed my hand on Stefan's chest, pushing him back.

"She would need to find out eventually," Sara whispered looking at her hands, "I trust her."

"So do you?" Caroline pushed her question.

"Yes. Any other questions?"

"What happens to vampires?" Damon jumped back into his chair, a blood bag in his hand, "Like when they…die."

"I was really hoping to avoid this question."

"Is it bad?" I asked.

"I think that knowing can make people worry, it's dangerous. Let's just say you really don't want to die right now."

"Right now?" Caroline whispered her face looking pale.

"It's a debate, the council can't seem to decide what should happen to vampires, werewolves or any other creatures when they die."

"I thought you said that it's based off of what you believe." Stefan said.

"It is," Sara started "but it's really complicated. You don't need to know all of this. You have enough to worry about."

The next morning was gleaming. Everything about it seemed perfect, I awoke in Stefan's arms, the sun shining on us. The breeze coming through the window felt just right.

Stefan kissed my head lightly, "hey."

I groaned softly and turned over, smiling up to him. "Jeremy's coming!" He spoke suddenly, and swiftly slid out the window.

"Elena?"

"Yeah?" Jeremy opened the door just enough to put his head inside, "You're not out of bed yet? We have to leave in twenty minutes!"

"What? Where are we going?"

"Oh, I don't know," he muttered sarcastically "lets see, it's a Monday, six thirty in the morning… maybe, school?"

"Crap!"

"Are you okay? You've been acting different every since you and Sara got back last night. Did something happen?"

"No, it was just kind of a long day. I'll be down for breakfast in a few minutes, okay?"

"Okay."

I got ready as fast as I could and bolted out of my room, running straight into Sara.

"Oh, sorry."

"It's okay," she started "listen, Elena. I know that all of this is kind of strange, but I'm just following orders. I can tell you everything you want to know, and answer all of your questions, and I promise I will. But it all comes down to one thing, and that one thing is trust. Do you trust me?"

I hesitated. Somehow, even though I barely knew her, I did feel like I could trust her. The way I trust Caroline or Stefan. A reassuring feeling of knowing that nothing and no one will touch me.

"I trust you."

Sara POV

Pep rallies suck.

This pep rally in particular was terrible. Damon and I had the place staked out, each of us patrolling the outskirts of the gymnasium. We were preparing for the worst possible thing - Katherine.

"So," her voice pierced through my skin like needles "do they know what you are then."

"You need to leave, Katherine."

"I'd rather not," she snarled stepping towards me.

I breathed deeply "you don't want to fight me."

"You don't want to walk around like you're invincible!" She screamed. "I came to ask you to deliver a message to the Salvatore brothers."

"And what message would that be?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"Elena's going down." Each word was like stepping on burning pieces of glass. Cutting me, and burning from the inside out.

"Do you think she's gonna show?"

"Don't do that!" I yelled, "you scared me."

"Sorry," Damon laughed.

"She's unpredictable. I fear the second I start believing she won't show, she will, and at that point my guard will be down. I'm preparing myself for the worst, and hoping it doesn't get that far."

"Crazy slut, why can't she just show up and get it over with?"

"She wants you to get mad. She knows that she can make you react," I grumbled.

"Awww, isn't that cute?"