I know I haven't updated in ages, but this chapter has took a while to write. I've been writing odd bits here and there, changing it and adding parts all around exams and coursework, I'm in year eleven, near the end of high school now, the part where you get crammed with A LOT of hard work :( Anyway, I'm sorry I kept you wonderful readers waiting so long and I will promise to update again as soon as I can.

Chapter nine

Alaric's POV

I was sat in the grill, sipping my drink and thinking of nothing. The bartender was drying glasses and breathing loudly, the bar was quiet but slight murmurs of chatter hummed in the background. I knew I shouldn't be here, but I couldn't take more hiding, more waiting for something. Jenna had called Elena and it sounded like she was okay, it sounded like they all were. There was no hint of fear and I was glad, since that probably meant they had a plan.

Town had been quiet for the past week, the eerie silence of evil creeping up.

"Alaric, my friend!" A voice said and a hand clapped my shoulder, speaking of dickheads, I felt my back muscles tense involuntarily and heard the deafening noise of the bar stool next to me scrape the wooden floor. A pale man, with dark hair and blue eyes squeezed in next to me, the woodsy scent of his cologne wafting my way; Klaus.

I sighed in defeat and placed my glass down on the side, turning towards him. "What do you want?" I asked. "Because, if you've came here for answers, I don't have any. I don't know where they are."

"Mmm. See, Rick," he gave the bartender a quick wave for a drink, "you presume I'm the bad guy here." He shrugged innocently. "I'm just trying to save many lives for one meaningless and useless life." He purred dangerously, but his eyes flickered with uncertainty.

"Lily's life is not useless. Or meaningless, yours, on the other hand, is." I said and stepped down from my stool and walked away, passing several people at their dinner tables with no idea what was in the room with them, and then out the door.

Abruptly, arms grasped me and hurled me into the shade, covering my mouth with a cloth that smelled strongly of chemicals; I choked and writhed until my eyes became droopy and closed.

Lily's POV

I woke early and stirred in an empty bed, I grasped at the empty sheets for any sign of body heat and felt nothing. My ears subconsciously tuned into conversation downstairs.

Elijah laughed, "Bet you weren't expecting this, were you?"

"No. I wasn't." That was . . . Katherine from the edge to her voice. "So . . . when did this little family reunion happen?"

"A little while ago. It's not that important. To you, anyway."

I heard movement, "Heh, the original one was much prettier." Rebecca scoffed earning an almost silent growl from Katherine.

I laughed and got out of the sheets, pushing my hair out of my face, pulling on a pair of jeans and a top and heading downstairs. Katherine was stood facing Elijah and his family, they all wore smug faces as they watched her shrink inwardly. Damon was sat on the sofa with a drink in his hand, smirking at Katherine's surprising encounter. He turned to me, "Hey, you finally woke up."

"Yeah," I smiled and turned to Elijah, "Elijah." I said as I placed my palm on his arm in slight warning. No violence please, not in this house.

I wouldn't dream of it. He smiled down at me politely.

Thank you.

"So. How's this going to happen?" I heard a voice say behind me; I turned.

"Alice." I smiled warmly at the sight of my sister, and pulled her towards me for a hug. "I'm glad you're here. And where's this friend of yours." I had to admit, I had my suspicions, I mean, a guy that worked for Klaus willingly, suddenly turning rogue and heading to the opposite team, who wouldn't want to check and thoroughly get to know the guy before giving them any hint of trust?

"Oh, yeah." Alice said as she wriggled her way from the hug. "Alex!" She called and a lean muscled man stepped from behind the separating wall, a nervous, crooked smile on his face. My eyes instinctively scanned him without demand; he had ruffled dark blonde hair and hazel eyes that complemented his pale complexion, he wore dark shoes and jeans, a light T-shirt and a deep grey velvet jacket. But I didn't care what he was wearing, I was more focused on his expression and what he held within his eyes and mind.

He seemed innocent enough, someone who was sensitive but strong and defensive. I would allow him to stay with us, but I would watch him.

"Hi, Alex. I'm Lily." I said, knocking myself out of my own mind before it came too obvious that I was inspecting him. I held my hand out for his and he took it and shook mine strongly.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Lily." He said, then glanced around the room where Damon and the others stood.

"There's no need to be nervous around these lot." I said and gestured to the guys behind me. "They're friendly." I said then added, "most of them." Alex smiled.

"So when are we leaving?" Alice asked.

"'We're' not leaving. We are, you're not." I said. I heard Elijah and the others take there seats ready for some sort of discussion or argument, depending on what way Alice took this.

"What? We're fighting with you." She pointed to Alex with her thumb.

"No, you're not." I replied in a final tone. "Do you really think that I would have you drove here for hours just to take you back and watch you be killed?"

"We're not as weak as you seem to think we are." She snapped.

"I know. But you don't need to prove that to me. To anyone."

"We're coming, whether you like it or not, Lily." I didn't want this argument, I didn't want any of this. And most of all; I didn't want Alice any where near this fight. And I was going to make sure that I got what I wanted.

I sighed frustratingly, "If you want to be killed-" Lily. I heard Damon's warning voice in my head, but also caught a glimpse of a person in his thoughts. I sighed once again, pretending to be defeated. "Okay, whatever."

"What? Lily . . . you never give up that easily." Alice frowned.

"Alice, you got what you want, why dwell on it?" I said and walked out of the room, my fingertips grazing softly over Damon's cheek as I went, heading into the other room joined by the swing door. The others were in there and they smiled at me as I came in, all greeting me a once.

"You okay?" Elena asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, and I'm sorry for being rude, but I need to talk to Bonnie. Bonnie, could we -?" I dipped my head in the direction of the back-door.

"Um, yeah, sure." She responded and we headed out into the backyard. "So, what's on your mind, Lil?"

"I was wondering if you could do something for me . . ."

Matt's POV

I was bored, again. I was polishing a table clean and watching the clock, waiting for my shift to end. Only a few more minutes, I reminded myself. Elena, Caroline, Jeremy and Bonnie had all went on a road trip with the Salvatore brothers and Caroline's new 'boyfriend' and some new chick called Lily that Damon was apparently doing now. I was here, alone.

Jenna had said that they were all due back in a couple days and I couldn't wait, in fact I felt like they had forgotten about me. I certainly hadn't been invited on their road trip. I knew I was being silly and childish, but I really did feel left out, like they were all keeping some big secret from me.

I hadn't ever seen this Lily girl, but from what Tyler had said, she was hot. But with Damon's track record and reputation, I doubt he could keep her long.

I snapped out of my reverie and glanced at the clock again, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Cloth in bucket, polish and cleaner away belt and towel off; in cupboard, jacket on, check out. "Bye!" I called to Rob, while he continued to clean more dishes and out the door I went.

I got in my truck and started the engine, turning on the headlights to illuminate the dark parking lot, then starting off down the road towards home. I was on the road several minutes before slamming on my brakes, almost skidding into the car wreck that now blocked the road.

"What the -?" I put the handbrake on and hurried out of my car to the wreck. A man lay still, only the top half of his body visible from the toppled car. I kneeled next to his head. "Hey man, are you okay? Can you hear me?"

The man opened his eyes slightly and licked his dry lips. "Yeah, I can hear you. I'm stuck. Can you go around the other side and unhook my feet from the seatbelt."

"Yeah, yeah. Just hold on, okay. I'll get you some help." I ran around the other edge of the car to kneel next to the opposite window.

Then, my vision faded and I blinked several times before finally blacking out.

Jenna's POV

I flicked through TV channels with the remote, slouching on the sofa, my feet on the table. Today was a quiet day, Alaric hadn't called since last night and nobody but I was home. I settled for a cooking programme and watched it on low volume, tapping my foot with frustration and boredom.

I stopped and went still, my head turning. What was that noise? A bump from the kitchen. Suddenly, those horror movies I had watched the other night caught up with me; and the stupid moment when the character followed the noises and ended up being chased or killed.

I may not be that stupid, but I was enough to get up, grasp the baseball bat that was rested under the hall table and slowly creep towards the kitchen. I had left the light on which was a bonus; I wouldn't have enough balls to go into a dark kitchen and swing a bat around at something I couldn't see. I turned the corner tensed for anything and saw nothing, only spotting a spilt glass. I sighed in relief. Thank God.

Movement. I jumped a few feet backwards, raising the bat, then shook my head. A stray cat. "Shew!" I said, urging it out the back-door with my foot, but it didn't budge. I placed the baseball bat on the side and picked the little black cat up, walking outside onto the back porch and placing it down, kneeling to give it a stroke before it scattered off. I stood and turned to go back into the house, but instead came face to face with a white cloth that suddenly covered my mouth.

I coughed and spluttered trying to force away the constraining hands that were held to my mouth and back of my head. But eventually I became woozy, swaying on my feet before falling into the strangers arms, unconscious.

It's not that long, I know. But hopefully when I have enough imagination again, instead of using it on school work I'll be able to keep up with the story. I'll update as soon as I can.

Kellie x