A/N: Thank you again for all the AWESOME reviews, it seriously keeps me excited about writing it. I notice the link I left didn't show, I'm still getting used to ffnet but I've put the link for Uri in my profile instead. Sorry this is a day late, I'd written the chapter and didn't like it so I scrapped it and started again, this version is much better.

The spacing was really killing me so I've added the ruler to separate the scenes, sorry if you've got like 3 notifications ffnet hates me :/

"Please, don't do this," Elena cried, struggling to free herself from the two men as the blonde girl, Alex walked ahead deeper into the woods.

"You strike me as a damsel in distress, is that what you are?" Alex asked.

"Please," Elena pleaded through gritted teeth, crossing her hand over the hand gripping her hair. "Let me go,"

Joey, the taller of the two men dragging Elena licked his lips when his focus fell on her neck, letting go of her hair his hand slipped down to her lower back and even when his friend attempted clearing his throat to snap him back to what they were meant to be doing, he was already entranced by her.

"Yo, Joey,"

"Shut up,"

Elena's eyes widened as his eyes threatened to change and thrust her elbow into his face out of fear of being bitten and instinctively kicked the other one in his shin before making a run for it. Elena knew she was no match for a bunch of vampires but she had to try anyway, with the confidence that Stefan would be looking for her, she prayed he was close enough to her screaming his name.

"Oh no, you don't," The voice brushed past, leaving her hair blowing wildly off her shoulders.

Elena spun around, all alone in the dark and being hunted but she couldn't see or hear where they were, only feel. "Stefan!" She called, arms hovering in front of her as she struggled to make out all the shapes around her, until the girl jumped out in attack mode.

"I take it back, you're not a damsel but you're certainly in distress,"

Elena frowned, wondering why the girl hadn't just attacked her; she felt the fear creeping back as the two men came to stand behind the blonde. Her heart was beating so hard she had no doubt the blood thirsty vampires could hear it, and it suddenly struck her that they hadn't attacked because they were the type of predators who played with their food first.

"C'mon guys, let's just let her go. We're not even supposed to be hunting, Alex,"

Joey chuckled, ignoring Darren's plea as his eyes fixed on Elena. "I wasn't gonna eat you, I was just fooling around,"

Alex kept lurching forward and in circles just to see Elena jump back in fear, a smirk overtook her face and she lurched forward again only this time there was no speed in her step. Alex tried again; exasperated by her failed attempts to run as fast as she did when they snatched the girl. "What's happening?"

Darren walked over to Alex as though being casual and was suddenly and very slickly standing in Elena's path so that she was behind him. "You know this is what happens when we exert ourselves after feeding; all the power drains away,"

"For you two maybe," Joey teased, flicking his tongue over his fangs as he glared at Elena.

Elena watched the three closely and realized as she thought back to when she saw them outside the house, only one stood forward baring all his teeth while the other two just kept their hoods over their faces. If they weren't vampires like Joey then what were they? Human?

"Oh lookey, our little friend here is tryna figure us out," Alex said, an insolent smile slowly making its way on to her face.

"Let's just let her go, Joey you can do that mind thing, if Uri finds out were taking for ourselves he'll kill us all," Darren pleaded, pushing his hoody off. The orders were to scare people, and kill if they had to until Uri got what he wanted but they weren't to take food for themselves unless they wanted to test Uri's wrath.

"Damn it, I knew we were forgetting something, Alex," Joey said, palming his face. "Darren's pacifier,"

The two started laughing, though both knew it was against the rules to feed on people without Uri offering them, after all they were still human and he was smart enough to feed them just enough to fool everyone into being scared. Unlike Alex and Darren was Joey, he was a vampire, hadn't been very long but it was long enough for him to cocky and start convincing himself that the rules didn't apply. Alex on the other hand just like the thrill of the chase and had quickly became Joey's minion, feeding on humans did nothing for humans, they wouldn't gain anything, and if they were caught doing so they'd be starved from vampire blood.

Elena looked between them, breath catching in her throat as Joey appeared in front of her and gripped her hair again, pulling her head back so that her throat was in plain sight.

"Guys, please," Darren pleaded, transfixed as his blood ran cold. He hadn't been a Night Crawler long and he'd thought it was what he wanted but he was beginning to wonder if he was just another angst-ridden teen who ignorantly took his 'hate the world' attitude too far.

"NO!" she screamed, kicking and throwing her arms out as Joey curled an arm around her waist and began pulling her into him.

****

Stefan's breath quickened in panic as his eyes scanned both ends of the empty street, he spun his head behind him as he heard the snap of a branch, the sound so crisp and clear if he weren't on the pavement he'd swear he stepped back and broke it himself. Tilting his head slightly, Stefan focused his hearing and heard Elena's scream. It didn't take a minute for Stefan to get to where she was and rush in there like a bull in a ring, he ran straight for the shorter butch guy with no hood, ramming him into a tree and leaving him unconscious. He bent down and picked up a thick piece of wood before turning to face the other two on either side of Elena, the guy smiling smugly as he ran his fingers down her face.

"Stefan," Elena choked out.

"Are you okay?" He asked, eyes studying intently for any visible wounds, while she looked panicked he was relieved to see Elena free of marks and was simultaneously careful not to let the blonde haired girl out of his sight. "Let her go, and I won't kill you," Stefan warned when Elena nodded.

"So kind of you," Joey retorted, wrapping his calloused fingers around Elena's neck and squeezing until her mouth fell open gasping for air.

Stefan saw the glint of his fangs as he threw his head back to attack and charged forward, knocking Elena out of the vampire's grasp but Joey was ready and ducked the swing that came at him, lifting Stefan over his head.

Stefan rolled onto his feet and grabbed at the thick wood masquerading as stake, the anger forced the fangs through his gums and he saw Joey step back as they did. "Leave!" He yelled, as blood pumped to his eyes and filled the veins beneath them.

Darren woke up and saw Stefan's fangs, his lips went white along with his skin, he was terrified, slowly backing up, Darren felt the tree behind him and stood up running as fast as he could into the darkness.

Joey shook his head; he'd caught Darren from the corner of his eye running. "Another vampire here in Mystic Falls, what are the odds?"

"Stefan," Elena called, as she got caught in a struggle with Alex who was clearly stronger because Elena couldn't get free.

Stefan glanced over and started towards them as Alex threw Elena to the floor but Joey had other ideas and hit Stefan at the back of the head. He stumbled forward, gripping the wood tight as he thrust it backward hearing the squelch as it went through flesh. Turning around, he pulled it out and rammed it into the vampires heart, Stefan didn't wait for him to fall to the ground dying, he pulled the wood free and sped across to Elena, throwing Alex off and plunging the wood into her stomach, twisting it as she gasped for air.

"NO!" Elena screamed but it was too late, blood spilled out of Alex's mouth as she fell into sitting position horror stricken.

Stefan's eyes widened as he realized there was no bloodshot eyes, no fangs and no shrivelling up. "She's human," He whispered.

Bonnie had made a mental note to smile and nod as aunt Jenner talked, handing her the plates she'd washed so that Bonnie could dry them, the young witch had insisted she pull her weight while staying there and wouldn't hear any arguments.

"I'm going up," Jeremy called out.

"Jeremy,"

Jeremy leaned over the banister, expressionless. "What?"

"Did you take out the trash like I asked?" Jenner asked, winking at Bonnie as she smiled.

"I would've if Elena didn't tackle me for it,"

Jenner chuckled, shaking her head as she heard Jeremy's footsteps grow distant. "Yeah right, he probably gave her the last of his rainy day money,"

Jenner went on about a lot of things; Bonnie figured it was mainly because they'd all been trying so hard to keep her mind on other things. If only they knew how scared she was of losing herself in the guilt of pushing her Grams to do another spell, even after she said they weren't strong enough to do it. The fear that she'd never be the same, never feel the same about anything rippled through her body and made her shiver as though a window had been left open. She smiled as Jenner turned to her and nodded lightly as though listening tentatively before returning to her own more daunting thoughts.

She was starting to miss who she was just days before finding out she was an actual witch, the burden of knowing what she was without the support and warmth usually offered by her grams brought a tear to her eye and before Bonnie knew it, she was ignoring Jenner's calls to her as she ran out of the kitchen about to disappear upstairs when an unfamiliar feeling stopped her.

"Bonnie…"

"I'm okay, I just need a minute,"

Jenner smiled, solemnly. "Okay,"

Walking towards the door, she felt an overwhelming sadness and anger that wasn't her own invade her body and had to stand still for a moment to breath it back out. Wiping away the stray tear, Bonnie pulled the door open and found Damon on the other side, fist mid air and ready to strike the door. "Damon?"

"That's what they call me," He said sarcastically, raising a brow at her worn state. "You and Elena have a pillow fight? Damn, I should've come earlier,"

Bonnie pushed the door, grunting as Damon pushed it back open. "What do you want?"

"That was rude," Damon stepped closer so that they were mere inches away from each other.

"Go away, Damon,"

Damon stuck out his bottom lip, giving her wounded puppy look. "Don't be mean to me, I couldn't handle it, I know we can get past this little…incident,"

"Little?" Bonnie hissed. "No Damon, we can't get past it, you're evil,"

"Oh well," Damon said deadpan. "I tried, now move,"

"No," Bonnie whispered through clenched teeth, standing her ground.

"Oh hey, Damon, come in," Jenner said, peering her head from the kitchen.

Bonnie rolled her eyes as he pushed his way into the house with a taunting grin, freezing as she felt all his anger and confusion fill her up like a balloon that was ready to go boom. Looking up at Damon, Bonnie's mouth fell open as the feeling faded away, so much pain radiated through her as their skin touched, his pain? Damon was evil and unfeeling, how could it him she felt?

It couldn't. There was no way.

Damon turned back with a questioning look on his face. "What just happened?" He smirked, pointing a finger at her. "Bonnie, you were having naughty thoughts about me weren't you?"

Bonnie took a breath, finally looking up at him as he came close and found herself caught in the stunningly eerie blue of his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Damon sniffed, turning his back on her to look around the house. "Stefan told me to meet him here,"

"Stefan's not here,"

"Thanks for clearing that up, Genius," Damon turned back to Bonnie, tickled to see her in pyjamas. "Cute,"

Bonnie pulled her robe together, and looked up the stairs. "Elena!" She called.

"I'll just make myself at home," He smiled as she glared into him before running up stairs to call after her BFF. Damon sighed, leaning back into the sofa about to put his feet up when Bonnie came running back downstairs, he stood to attention.

"Elena, she's not up there, she's not anywhere," Bonnie cried. "Jeremy said she took out the bin, I heard the door, I thought she was back in," Bonnie whispered, careful not to attract Jenner's attention.

Coincidently, Jenner walked into the living room, blushing as Damon smiled knowingly at her and cleared her throat when she remembered Bonnie in the room with them. "I'm gonna get some reading done before bed, please remind Elena that it's a school night." Smiling back at Damon knowingly, she looked him up and down. "The Salvatore's can't stay late on a school night,"

Bonnie smiled, nodding lightly. "Night," she and Damon said in unison.

"Night,"

Damon waited for Jenner to disappear upstairs before he headed for the door. "Stay here,"

"No, I'm coming with you,"

"Bonnie," Damon's voice exuded authority as he turned to face the witch, staring her down with his icy blue eyes.

Unconsciously taking a deep breath as his eyes locked hers. "No, Damon,"

Damon pulled the door open greeted by Elena and Stefan. "Let me guess, what two corny star crossed lovers would be doing...hmm," He tapped his index finger against his lips in thought. "Watching the stars come up together," Damon sighed, frustrated and annoyed with himself for feeling a twinge of worry for his brother and his brother's girlfriend.

Elena pushed her hair behind her ear as she walked past he and Bonnie into the kitchen to run the tap, instead of stepping in, Stefan sat out on the porch and the look on his face wiped the grin off Damon's. He took his cue for once and stepped outside with him, pulling the door a little before leaning against the wall.

"I didn't know, if I'd known," Stefan muttered.

"If you'd known what? That fish swimming at the bottom of your shoes wasn't cool, I'm pretty sure I told you that,"

"Damon, I killed a girl,"

"I was worried about you," Bonnie said, placing her hand on Elena's shoulder. "You're shaking, Elena what happened?"

"Nothing,"

"How could you do that?" Bonnie asked, walking into the living room. Something had clearly happened to her best friend and she was holding back, after everything that had already happened including losing her Grams, Bonnie needed to feel included, wanted, needed.

"Do what?" Elena asked, following behind Bonnie.

"How could you just lie to me like that? You're my best friend, I'd tell you anything, and I tell you everything,"

"I know, Bonnie," Elena stepped in front of her. "I don't want to burden you, with all that's going on, it's not fair,"

"No, what's not fair Elena, is you keeping things from me," Bonnie slumped on the sofa. "I'm not breakable; I don't come in a box with a sticker on my forehead that says fragile,"

Elena slumped beside Bonnie, laying her head against her shoulder. "I know, but I worry about you too. I was trying to protect you,"

Bonnie sighed. "Let's make each other a promise, to protect each other by telling the truth, no matter what,"

"I promise," Elena said, rubbing her sore throat.

"Why were you so shaky, and Stefan so sullen, did you two fight?"

"No," Elena sat up, sighing wearily.

"Well then what happened?"

"I was attacked, but I'm fine," Elena added, hurriedly as Bonnie sat up mouth agape. "I promise I'm fine, Stefan found me,"

"Thank God, Elena I'm so sorry,"

"For what, this wasn't your fault,"

"I've been so selfish and wrapped up in my own problems; I didn't even know you were gone, what kind of friend does that make me?"

"A friend that just lost her grams, a friend that has always had my back no matter what," Elena leaned forward, smiling when Bonnie leaned in pressing her forehead against Elena's. "My best friend,"

Bonnie leaned back, eyes fixed on Elena's. "Now tell me what happened?"

Elena swallowed, she and Bonnie had just made a promise to tell each other the truth but telling her about what Stefan had done, by accident didn't count, did it? It really wasn't his fault, he just trying to protect her, anyone would've done the same but what weighed on her was how Stefan felt as he hadn't said anything walking her back home.

"I'll tell you when I know myself,"

Damon kneeled down beside Alex's body and placed his hand over her face to close her stilled eyes, and then he stood and walked over to the guy, Joey. "Well this one is definitely a vampire,"

"I saw his teeth and I assumed...the look in her eyes," Stefan's blinks were slow and thoughtful, he was replaying the look on the young girls face as he took her life from her, now Elena had seen him behave like a monster.

"Stop that, don't torture yourself over this. You were protecting Elena," Damon said, simply.

"Damon I killed an innocent girl,"

"I think innocent is a stretch, don't you?" Damon asked, stretching out an arm to motion to their surroundings.

"She was just a girl; she could've been compelled to attack Elena,"

"I don't think so," Damon turned the vampire over pulling the neck of his hoody further down to reveal the mark on the back of his neck.

"What?"

"Check this out,"

Stefan kneeled beside his brother and looked closer at the marking, it was a vampire skull with a bloody dagger going through it. "Night Crawlers,"

"I bet you find the same thing at the back of Buffy's neck. You're with the Night Crawlers," Damon pushed the vampire back down. "You're far from innocent,"

"Night Crawlers travel in threes,"

"Only one is a vampire; anyone would assume they all were, one fugly face is enough,"

The brothers swung around as they heard coughing behind them to find Alex spitting out the blood that had accumulated in her mouth. "You missed,"

The next day went on as normal, or at least as normal as they could manage, considering Bonnie's grams was dead and Elena had been attacked last night, the latter was getting to be a regular thing. While Matt and Caroline hung around trying to cheer Bonnie up, and she gave them a break a few times, actually laughing at Caroline's collection of short story mishaps. Tyler just nodded in their direction not sure how to approach since the funeral, but he had been checking in with Matt as casually as he could manage of course.

Elena hadn't done much listening during her lessons after lunch as she was itching to talk to Stefan about what had happened because she knew she would never hurt someone on purpose and needed to him to know she knew that, looking back Elena realize what her silence might have implied. That's why she was thankful when she saw him standing by the school bus with his hands tucked away in his pockets waiting for her, Stefan's face told her nothing, there was no hint of a smile or heavy frown.

"Elena, I need to catch up with my school work. I was thinking of going to the library, I need to be somewhere quiet for a while," Bonnie spoke up, breaking into Elena's thoughts.

Turning her attention to her friend, Elena looked a little indecisive looking between Bonnie and Stefan. "Oh, okay. Do you want me to come?"

Bonnie smiled, pointing behind Elena. "Isn't that Stefan over there?"

"I could reschedule, he'd understand,"

"I know he would, and that's why I'm telling you to go. I'll be fine," Bonnie nudged Elena. "Go, I'll see you back at yours,"

Elena pulled Bonnie into a hug, rubbing her back briefly before pulling away. "I'll see you at home,"

"Okay," Bonnie waved at Stefan and turned away with her books.

"Oh wait," Elena called. "Do you want me to come pick you up? With what's been going on in Mystic falls lately, it's not safe to be alone at night,"

"I'll get a ride with Tiki, she's going over there to meet up with some guy,"

"Right, okay," Elena mumbled, looking a little perplexed.

"He's already got a girl,"

"Ah, gotcha," Elena paused. "Wait, I thought you couldn't stand Tiki,"

"I can when I need a ride," Bonnie bit her lip, smiling cheekily.

Elena giggled; pleased to see the most genuine smile she'd seen since before Grams passed. "Okay, uh, see you later,"

The ride with Stefan to the boarding house was quiet, while he looked deep in thought she was just rummaging through her head for something reassuring or supportive to say. Nothing came to mind, even when they climbed out and walked into the house she pulled him back towards her.

"What's going on?" Elena held his hand. "We need to talk Stefan, about last night,"

"I know," He nodded in response. "And we will, but first I have to show you something,"

Elena's forehead wrinkled. "What is it?"

"Come," Stefan held her hand and lead her into the house, past the living room and down some stairs which lead them to some kind of dark unused basement.

"What are we doing down here, Stefan?" She looked around, feeling uncomfortable and cold by the darkness of where they were. "What is this?" She asked as she saw the heavy door with thick bars on the window. "A prison cell underneath a boarding house..."

"Meet Alex," Stefan said, moving aside for her to look in.

Elena watched him intently before looking into the room that blew cold, gasping as she saw the girl from last night; Elena stepped back in haste tripping over Stefan. "Oh my God,"

Elena had seen Alex died with her own eyes, Stefan stabbed her and she stopped breathing, her eyes were wide open and her blood was everywhere and now she was sitting against the wall, skin grey and clammy.

But she was alive.

Stefan helped Elena upstairs and into the lounge, sitting her down before he fetched some water. "Sip it,"

"Thank you," Elena sipped on the cool drink, taking a few deep breaths until her heart slowed down. "How?"

"You feed on a vampire, die, and feed on a human..."

"Like Vicki," Elena leaned forward as he nodded. "What's going on?"

"It's a long story; the last time we came across this was back in 1865,"

"1865?"

"While most humans thought vampires were damnation, there were also humans who became...obsessed, they wanted what vampires had, immortality and they were willing to do anything to get it,"

"What happened?"

"Vampires saw an opportunity, humans, mainly rich folk offering everything they had to be immortal. At first, vampires used them as toys, then one night a vampire overcome by rage to learn his slave had been turned by someone else, turned her whole family. It created chaos, normal people couldn't be told apart from half ways,"

"Half ways?"

"That's what they were called back then, humans were feeding on vampire blood, serving them so that one day they would be turned. As time went they became Night Crawlers, sneaking into towns and taking what they wanted, people disappeared into the night and were never seen again,"

"Using compulsion?"

"No, you have to understand. This is something that people wanted; they chose to die so they could return like this," Stefan swallowed.

"What kind of person wants that?" Elena paused, looking up at Stefan who hadn't taken his eyes off her, it was though he was waiting, expecting her to judge. "I wasn't..."

"I know," Stefan thought twice about telling Elena that in actual fact, Night Crawlers only took people who wanted to go with the odd death in a whatever town to feed, but he knew that wouldn't and couldn't make any of it better, it wouldn't make her feel safe, not after last night. It was still wrong to offer anyone eternal life and for that reason he and Damon were going to put a stop to it, finally.

"A few, bodies were found, well more than a few. Damon and I were under the impression they were local, but only one was from Mystic falls. Did you know a Laila Benjamin?" Stefan questioned.

Elena brought her hand to her mouth, shaking her head slightly. "No, I don't know that name," she was starting to realize that it was better the devil you knew; Damon didn't seem as scary anymore. "How are we gonna stop them?"

"The main vampire, his name's , no-one knows his first name, I've never seen him but he is very old, which means he's powerful,"

"How old are we talking?"

"400 years old, one of the Crawlers got away, he saw me turn so I can't gain their trust but Damon can. He's gonna become a Night Crawler, he's got to pretend to want they want, but to do that he has to be convincing…and to be convincing he has to become human again, he has to remember what it felt like to be human,"

"And then what? With a vampire as old as you say he is, we can't expect Damon to kill the main vampire by his self,"

"He can't,"

Elena froze. "Well, then how..."

"The only one who'd be strong enough, in many ways stronger than vampires..."

Elena's mouth fell open, she suddenly realized what all this was coming down to and she was not going to like it.

Bonnie left the library waving Tiki goodbye as she climbed into her car and drove away, it was still light out so she decided she would walk. Holding her books close, Bonnie whipped her head around when she felt something pass behind her and sighed when she saw nothing. "Get a grip, Bonnie,"

She turned around and slammed into a firm chest, slowly looking up, Bonnie found she couldn't move.

"Yeah, get a grip,"

"Damon,"

"Hello, Bonnie," Damon said with an insolent smile.

~Fin~

Hope you enjoyed!