Hey, I've finally been able to put in my next chapter. Sorry it took so long. I've been very busy.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter 17

Let the Games Begin

Dear diary,

I know it's been awhile; actually it's been three years. I apologize, my life's been so busy and hectic I hadn't had time to write to you. A lot has happened over the years. I have a daughter. Surprise! Her father is Damon of all people. I know, I know, but he's changed. He's so sweet now. He's a great father; he's so good with Miranda (that's my daughter's name). Sometimes, though I can feel his walls going up again. He makes sarcastic comments to cover a moment that he shows emotion. But, we're moving forward slowly. I've been gone from Fell's Church for as long as I've not written. Not much has changed here. Things aren't all demonic anymore, so that's good. I came back home because something's after me and my daughter. They killed someone close to me. I came back to find out that bad boy Damon is a hero; a firefighter. I saw a picture of him and his colleagues. He's so hot in his bunker gear. Anyway, back on topic. Stefan is doing well. He seems to really like Miranda. Meredith, Bonnie and Matt love her like a niece. Miranda loves them too, she's already calling them aunt and uncle. Aunt Judith's husband, Robert has been abducted. Damon wants to help but his leg is still bothering him. It's been a month and a half since I've been back and things are finally starting to look up for us. Well other then the missing husband and bad guys are trying to kill us thing. Sage and two of his vampire 'acquaintances' have come to help us. We'll be making our first move tomorrow night. I'm nervous yet excited to get this all over with. I really hope I'll be able to get my happily ever after, after all this. I know it sounds like a cheesy fairytale, but after everything I've been through I certainly hope I deserve it.

Elena closed her diary and sat up in the bed. Damon lay sleeping next to her. Miranda was cuddled in his arms. Her soft snores matched the rhythm of her father's. Elena put her diary in the desk drawer. She waited until she saw the first ray of light enter the dark room. Elena shook Damon awake.

"Stop, I'm awake." He grumbled at her. He stretched in the bed, hitting Miranda in the side. He looked at Miranda half-asleep with a confused look on his face.

Why is there a midget in my bed? He wondered. He blinked a few times and saw Elena on his other side. He blinked once more and then everything from the last month came rushing back.

Oh. He thought. He started to chuckle and then full out laughed when he thought more about it. Miranda turned around to face Damon and joined in on the laughter. She didn't know what she was laughing at, but she liked it when people did. A loud bang made the house shake. Elena jumped out of the bed and ran down the stairs.

"That is why you aren't ready for battle." Sage said standing over Stefan. Sage's two friends laughed at Stefan.

"What's going on?" She asked wide eyed. Sage got off Stefan and helped him up. He laughed, it was a rich sound.

"We're training this one for battle." He said pointing at Stefan.

"He hasn't had as near as much experience as we've had." The other men nodded and laughed. The tall blonde had his arms crossed over his chest. He wore battle clothes fit for the medieval ages. His blue eyes were like nothing she had ever seen. They turned purple depending on the way he looked at the light. The second one had dirty blonde hair and deep brown eyes. He had muscled arms and his hands hung loosely in his jeans pockets. He was the quietest of the three but whenever he had something to say it was very useful. Stefan shook his head and gave Elena half a smile.

"I need to practice to fight, love. " He told her. The door bell rang. Elena sighed and gave the men a stern look. She walked to the door and opened it.

"Meredith." She said, giving her friend a hug.

"Hello Elena. Bonnie and Matt will be here after lunch. I have something important to tell you." She said. Elena invited her into the boarding house.

"Tarsal, John." She said in greeting to the other two vampires. She blushed when John (the dirty blonde haired one) nodded in acknowledgement.

"I want everyone to be here when I say what I need to say." At that moment Damon and Miranda came down the stairs.

"Good, I need you here too." She said to Damon. His cast had come off the week before so he could walk on his own again. The doctors had been baffled by his quick recovery. Once everyone was gathered in the kitchen she looked nervously around at everyone. John stared at her intensely. She sat down in a chair and then sat back up. She was nervous, and that bothered Elena because Meredith was never nervous.

"My parents moved us to Fell's Church because they thought we could get away from what we were." She laughed dryly.

"My family... I'm sorry Elena that I never told you." She said eyes downcast.

"I thought things would finally get back to normal. I don't think it'll ever be normal with the lives we live." She said babbling.

"Meredith, it's alright. Whatever you have to say everything will be alright." Elena said comforting her friend. She looked at Stefan, Sage, John and Tarsal as if she was looking for forgiveness. She looked at Damon quickly but then locked eyes with Elena.

"I'm..." She opened and closed her mouth.

"You are a hunter-slayer. I can sense it and I'm sure my brothers sense it too." He said gesturing to Tarsal and Sage. They nodded.

"What's that?" Stefan asked.

"Dear little brother all these years of being a vampire and you are clueless." Damon said mockingly; he sounded like the way he did three years before. If he didn't have Miranda in his arms, Elena would've thought they were back to three years before. Stefan glares at him and Damon smiles triumphantly.

"What are you?" Stefan asks ignoring his brother.

"I come from a long line of people who hunt and kill primarily vampires, though we do kill other supernaturals when they become threats to the humans."

"So you're not human?" Elena asks confused.

"Yes, I'm human. But I have a couple of skills that other humans don't."

"So all those self defence classes and horseback riding lessons were to prepare you... to kill vampires?" Meredith nodded.

"Your grand-father died because of a vampire. I can't imagine how hard it is for you to be around us." Stefan said. Meredith shook her head.

"You've proved yourself to me countless times."

"Why didn't you use your kick ass skills when Klaus was around?" Damon asked with narrowed eyes.

"I didn't know what I was back then." She explained.

"You will be useful during this challenge." Tarsal said. Sage and John nodded in agreement.

"That's why I've decided to tell you about me."

"No way." Elena cut in. "You'll get hurt or worst killed."

"Would you rather it be Miranda? We have more chances of succeeding with me on your side."

"I agree." Damon nodded.

"I'm sorry love but I have to agree." Stefan said. Damon glared at his brother for the slip.

"So that's the way it is." Elena said shaking her head in disappointment. She grabbed Miranda from Damon's arms and walked up the stairs to Damon's room and locked the door. How could her friend keep a secret like that? What if she died for her? Miranda stared at her mother with innocent eyes. She didn't know what she would do if her baby died.

"Momma?" Miranda said, placing a hand on her cheek. She brought her head close to her face and stared at her.

"Everything is going to be alright, baby."

"Okay." She said placing her head on her shoulder and wrapping her arms around her neck. Elena got up from the floor and walked back down the stairs.

"...do you know they're going to be there?" Meredith.

"Judith set up a rendezvous at midnight in the woods. They'll be there." Sage.

"Yeah, but won't they know it's a trap?" Meredith.

"No. By the time they realize what we've done, it'll be too late." Damon.

Elena walked back into the kitchen. All eyes were on her.

"I'm in. Now, what we can do to delay them from knowing it's a trap is by having Meredith be the bait. It'll work better if you wore my aunt's clothes. You'll look and smell like her." She said turning to look at Meredith. Meredith smiled at her and nodded.

"How many of them are there?" Meredith asked.

"We don't know. We can only hope that they don't outnumber us... by much." Damon said.

Sage came into the room with a huge cardboard, there were drawings on it.

"These are our positions. Elena and Miranda are going to stay here under Damon and Matt's protection." Damon looked offended.

"I'm going to the woods with you. I'm almost as strong as all of you." Sage shook his head.

"You're still vulnerable. An enemy would be able to pin point your weakness immediately. I already observed that you favour one leg over the other." Damon tried again, but was cut off.

"You will be more useful here. If anything happens you will defend your loved ones. You'll only slow us down in the woods." Damon sighed loudly letting everyone know he didn't like this.

By the afternoon they had their attack all planned out. Bonnie and Matt arrived at three and were filled in on the plans. They agreed without hesitancy. They didn't know about Meredith or her part in the plan. It was better if they didn't worry about their friend. At sun down they would head to Judith's to get the clothes. Bonnie and Matt thought Meredith would stay there during the fight. Once outside Elena said goodbye to Meredith.

"Be careful. I want you back in one piece." She hugged Meredith.

"I will." She said. Elena caught a glimpse of something sparkling in the back of her friend's car. "What is that?" She exclaimed. It was huge and dangerous looking. Meredith laughed.

"It's a stave. It can kill any kind of supernatural... or human." She added glancing at Damon who was striding over to them.

"It was nice knowing you." Damon said saluting her. Elena rolled her eyes and slapped Damon on the chest.

"Ow! I mean be safe." He said, playfully glaring at Elena. Meredith walked into her car. Stefan sat in the passenger seat.

"Be careful." Elena half choked on the words.

"I will." He said softly. Damon looked down at his brother; he didn't know what to say.

"Just don't die." He said annoyed and strode off into the house.

"Bye." Miranda said waving in Elena's arms. John, Tarsal and Sage transformed into different kinds of birds and followed Meredith's car. Stefan looked behind at Elena with sad eyes. He had a feeling something bad would happen. He only hoped it was to him and not her. Elena walked back into the boarding house and watched the sunset. The house was black inside and Miranda was now sleeping in her arms. She went up the stairs and laid Miranda in bed. She shut the door behind her and felt a hand go around her neck, something cold was then placed on to it. A blade. She screeched for Damon's help.

"Shh princess. I'm already here. Don't worry your pretty little head about your friend's either. They'll be sleeping for awhile. They'll have quite the head ache when they wake up."

"Damon?" She squeaked.

"Yes kitten?"

"Why are you doing this?" She asked hoarsely, every word pressed her throat against the blade making fresh blood run down. He licked her throat and shivered.

"So you can be my Princess of Darkness forever. One lifetime is simply not enough." He said. Elena felt betrayed and hurt. Her heart hammered in her chest.

"Damon please don't do whatever it is you're planning." She cried, hot tears running down her cheeks.

"We've been happy. What about Miranda?" She cried out.

"Nobody else matters but us, kitten." Her heart sank with those last words. He didn't care about their daughter. He had just been waiting for the right moment to turn them both into vampires. She swore to herself that she would never love him again.

"I'd rather die than live without my daughter." Damon laughed and ran his other hand down her leg. She shivered invonluntarily.

"I can tell you desire me, princess. We can have other children. One child does not matter." He kissed her neck and whispered things into her ear. The blade was still pressed to her throat.

"I thought you changed, but I was wrong." Elena said. She felt Damon chuckle against her neck.

"You can't resist me darling." He said.

"No I can't." She slowly turned around and kissed him. She ran her hands down his arms. She snatched the blade from his hand and stabbed him in the chest.

She heard him fall to the ground but didn't look at his dead body. She ran to get her daughter and then went into her car. She drove for hours, crying. She didn't know where she was going. The only thing she knew was to get as far away from Fell's Church as possible. Once the sun was up she would call Stefan and let him know what had happened.

Please review and tell me what you think. What do you think will happen next?