A/N: Hey I decided to post a few chapters to make up for how long you had to wait! So this one is focusing on the side plot of Jeremy and Vicki. After that, we are getting very close to the vampires being taken. Enjoy

After the discovery Damon and I had made, we spent the next few weeks attempting to uncover Katherine's plan. It was useless though. There was no evidence of anything she was plotting and she was acting entirely nonchalant about everything.

Damon reluctantly spent most of his time visiting the Fell estate to spend time with his vapid fiancé and our days together seemed shorter and shorter. I was seated in my room, worrying about everything when the door to my room opened and closed rather loudly. I looked up and saw Damon looking extremely anxious. I stood and made my way to him.

"Damon? What's wrong?"

"Charlotte is dead." He simply said and I blinked in surprise.
"How?" I asked stuttering a little.

"An animal attack apparently but with everything I know now, I'm absolutely sure it was a vampire." He looked incredibly distressed and was breathing hard. I reached out and placed my hand on his arm and he flinched slightly before his eyes settled on me.

"Was it her? Was it Katherine?" I opened my mouth to speak but I watched as his eyes widened slightly at a thought.

"Or...Or was it you?"

"Of course not! And I have no idea if it was Katherine either! What in the hell is going on in this town?" I threw my hands up in exasperation. I finally studied Damon. He looked horrible. The death of his fiancé had obviously taken a toll on him. I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his chest. Almost immediately I felt his heart slow to a comforting beat. His hand lay on my back, holding me tightly to him. We stood like this for what seemed like hours before I blinked in realization.

"Oh my...How can I have been so blind? Damon I think I know who killed Charlotte. Remember how I told you about my brother's companion whom I did not trust? Well I have a feeling she may be behind this."

Damon's hand tightened on my back and I heard him sigh deeply.

"What are we going to do?" he asked quietly, his voice rumbling in his chest. I pulled back sharply to look at him.

"WE are not going to do anything, Damon. I am going to confront her and hopefully Jeremy will be on my side about this." He looked annoyed by the fact that I was not including him in my plans but he looked agreeable enough. I leant up and kissed his lips softly and ran my hand across his cheek.

"It's not that I don't trust you or want your help. I just don't want you to get hurt and this girl is dangerous, I know. I am older and more powerful than her so should it come to a fight I will have the upper hand."

He sighed again but leant down and kissed my forehead.

"Please be safe."

I walked through the town attempting to scent her out. I had gone to the tavern but they were not there. As I walked I subtly assessed the people I passed trying to figure out if there were more players in the game. I still held the feeling that I would not understand this plot until it was far too late. I had to finally admit that I was afraid. For the first time in so many decades, I felt fear.

I was broken from my thoughts as I caught the smell of blood and perfume that I recalled her wearing. I followed the scent into the woods and I could hear it now. The loud gurgling noises of someone having their throat ripped into and drained. I quickened my pace, eventually using my vampire speed. There she was sucking hungrily on the neck of a young wealthy man. I sped over and ripped her away from him. He fell to the ground and I quickly assessed his vitals. Too late, he was already dead. Meanwhile Vicki began snarling at me viciously, baring her fangs. I brought out my own fangs and allowed the veins under my eyes to appear.

"What in the hell is wrong with you? You killed Charlotte Fell and now this young man. That is incredibly careless and selfish. You're going to expose all of us! Hasn't Jeremy taught you how to compel humans and only take a little blood?" She scoffed.

"Of course he taught me but I don't care! I am always so hungry and why should I have to control myself and hide? I am more powerful than any of those ridiculous humans!"

"You are not more powerful than me though and if this continues then that is who you will have to answer to!" I ordered, trying to make this baby vampire see sense. I understood how hard it is to control yourself in the first few years.

"Why do you care so much? Obviously you're an old vampire. You're better than them so why care if they are killed to sustain us?" she protested weakly, sounding like a child during a tantrum.

"I care because I choose to! I choose to not let myself become a monster! Regardless of what people may think, you do not have to be evil if you are a vampire. I believe that I have a soul, that all of us possess souls. We would not be able to love if not. It is easy and weak to just let your baser instincts to control you! Think about the person you used to be. How would she feel if she knew you had murdered these people?" I was breathing hard unnecessarily while I spoke and I let out an inner strength I had not been entirely aware I possessed. I was pleased to note that Vicki seemed to be listening to what I was saying as her face crumpled slightly. She struggled for a moment, opening and closing her mouth.

"I...I can't stop. I know it's wrong but every time I let myself think about it too much it's like something in me snaps and I don't feel anything except the hunger." She cried and there were tears in her eyes.

"That is your humanity switch. Vampires can choose not to feel if they don't want to. They can flip the switch off whenever they want. Believe me, I was tempted so many times after the death of my parents and losing my brother but Katherine always stopped me. She forced me to keep it on. She told me I was weak if I turned it off and so I didn't. I made myself feel the hurt and the pain and then after a while it didn't hurt as much. You love Jeremy. I know you do and you need to keep it on for him. If for nothing else, do it for him." By the end of my speech, she had dropped to the ground and was sobbing uncontrollably. I knew she had let it all in by now. And I could only imagine the pain she was feeling. I dropped down beside her and pulled her into my arms, letting her cry on my shoulder.

It was about half an hour later and I was leading Vicki through town to take her back to the tavern, hoping Jeremy was home to comfort her. At the door Vicki hugged me again and whispered 'thank you'.

"If you ever need anything, please come to me. I will help you. Don't give up." She smiled a small smile and nodded in agreement.

We walked upstairs and Jeremy looked up in surprise as they walked in.

"Vicki? Where were you? I thought you'd be here when I got h...Elena!" Jeremy's attention finally settled on me as I appeared from behind Vicki. He stood and pulled me into a quick hug. He gave me a questioning look.

"Jer I can't stay long but could I speak to you outside?" He nodded, looking confused and followed me outside. I saw Vicki sit down on the bed and sigh. I really hoped she would be alright.

When we were outside and out of sight, Jeremy turned to me with his arms crossed.

"What is it?"

"I need you to leave town." I said simply. Jeremy's eyebrows rose into his hairline.

"Why? Did Vicki say something to you? I know she can be a bit abrupt but..." I cut him off.

"No it's nothing to do with her. I think she is lovely Jer, really. I just need to be sure that you're going to be safe. There's something going on here and I don't know what it is yet." His eyes widened.

"If there's something going down then I'm going to stay and help you! You could get hurt too you know?" He argued, sounding just like he did when we were human. If the situation was not so dire I would have smiled.

"But it's not just me you have to think about, is it? Vicki is a new vampire. If something bad happens she won't be able to protect herself. You need to take her and leave. I promise that I will find you when this is all over." He looked ready to argue again.

"Please Jer? I need you to do this for me. I need to have my full attention on this and I can't worry about you too." He sighed and then nodded. I pulled him into my arms, feeling tears welling in my eyes. Who knew when I would see him again?

"We'll pack up and leave first thing tomorrow morning. I love you, okay? Be careful."

"I love you too. I'll miss you." I whispered as I pulled back. I watched him walk back inside and then I returned to the estate. I passed Katherine on the way to my room. She gave me a curious glance but then shrugged and continued on her in the direction of Stefan's room.

As I climbed into bed, I succumbed to the tears that I had been holding back all day.

A/N: Well there you go. Please review. Next chapter vampire round up!