Chapter 2 begins the story in 2010-2011. Damon has just found out the truth about 1861 and Beth returns to Mystic Falls. As you will soon see, Beth has changed a lot.

Disclaimer: Once again, I own nothing.

"Silas!" I yelled as I threw the door of the foreclosed house open. "You slimy son of a –"

Edith the ghost drifted from the shadows, "Silas isn't here." She wore her usual creepy attire; a white nightgown that dusted the floor. Her skin was blue and grey with a dark red, bloody ring around her neck where she'd been strangled almost thirty years ago.

"Ha! I'm sorry, what?" I asked, not liking that my rant had been interrupted. There were all sorts of nasty names that I was going to call Silas. The asshole deserved it; he'd gotten drunk when he was supposed to be helping me and then he'd nearly got the both of us killed. That was before he stole my car.

"He never came back; I would know. I never leave." Creepy, much?

"Could you moan, or something? Maybe rattle some chains?" I said sarcastically. Edith just glared; the windows started to shake with her building anger. "Okay, never mind. I'm gonna go now." I said quickly and practically ran out of the house.

I walked until I reached the nearest car dealership. I compelled the manager named Steve to give me the keys and forget all about the paperwork for a black 1967 Chevy Impala. I called the only witch that I was acquainted with; Teagan Harris. "Hey, it's Beth."

"Yes, I know. What do you need?" Teagan sounded frustrated.

"Can't I call just to –" I was trying to be nice, but the witch cut me off.

"No. You only ever call when you need something. What is it?"

I sighed, "Have you heard anything recent about Katherine Pierce?"

"Actually, yeah." That just made my day a whole lot better. Maybe I could finally find the bitch that killed me and return the favor, only hers would be permanent… "I talked to Lucy; she's worked with Katherine a few times. Lucy said Katherine was headed out to Mystic Falls. You know where that vamp massacre went down like a hundred and fifty years ago?"

"Yes. I know of it." How could I not? "Thank you, Teagan. I won't bother you again."

"That's funny!" She said sarcastically, "That's real funny –" I hung up on her. I slammed on my brakes, my tires making an awful screeching sound on the asphalt while I made a spectacular U-turn and headed for Mystic Falls.

It was so different from how I remembered it… Maybe that was because the majority of what was now Mystic Falls had been a forest when I was alive. It was a small town, much like it had been in 1861. As I drove by the building that had once been an apothecary, I saw that now it was a private medical practitioner's office. How fitting. I wandered around town until I found a boarding house. The vampiric rules are kind of open ended when it comes to hotels and boarding houses. It all depends on whether it was privately owned; which the Mystic B&B was, thankfully. I didn't want any unwelcome visitors.

"Hello! Welcome to Mystic Falls. Come in, come in." A cheerful looking woman in her sixties said from behind horn-rimmed glasses. I stepped over the threshold and approached the front desk. "Do you have a reservation?"

"No." I responded, raising my sunglasses to perch on top of my head.

"That's fine, dear. Is the second floor alright?" She asked, typing on her computer briefly before looking back up at me.

"Yes." I said, handing her my driver's license and Visa card. "My stay is a bit indefinite, so you can hold onto the Visa." I smiled, trying not to scare her.

"That's fine. I'm Helen Davies." She held out her hand for me to shake.

I smiled and reached across the counter to grasp her hand, "I'm Beth. Beth Gregory."

"Would you like some help with your bags, Ms. Gregory?"

"No. I can manage."

"Well, at least let me get the door for you." With another huge motherly smile, she bustled around the counter with a tasseled key and led the way.

After I'd carted all of my bags up the stairs, I turned to Mrs. Davies and said, "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course, dear." She responded, smiling again.

I looked deep into her eyes, letting a tiny bit of my true aspect appear, just enough so that I could compel her, "If anyone asks for me, or anyone like me, please let me know."

"Yes." She said monotonously before heading down the stairs.

I went to the mirror, tweaking my hair and adjusting my lapis lazuli necklace just a bit before grabbing my purse and heading out again. I drove directly to the place I knew best; the former Salvatore residence.

I was a bit disappointed that it was no longer on the grounds. A few of the gargoyles had survived the century… "Hmm…" I sighed, remembering… There was a rustle of twigs behind me and I spun around, ready to confront my potential attacker. It was someone I'd never expected to see again. Someone I'd thought was long dead. Someone I'd loved… Damon.

R&R Please.