"Ivy! Mom! Please, please, please tell me you aren't fûcking with me right now!"

My mother shook her head. "I'm afraid not. My witch Beth was concerned about what Dani would become, so she brought a trusted vampire friend of hers and had him taste some of Dani's blood. All was fine at first, but when he tried to take more by force, something happened and he was turned into a human. We aren't exactly sure how, but Beth was convinced that it was Dani's blood that was responsible."

"And that's why you told my dad I wasn't supposed to be around vampires?" She nodded. "You really couldn't have come and found me and told me any of this yourself? Because of you, the guy I've been sleeping with might die, and all of my new friends right along with him."

Stefan stiffened but I ignored him. He would've figured it out sometime anyways, so there was no point in hiding it anymore.

"He hasn't turned back into a human yet, so as long as he doesn't drink anymore, you should be alright." She looked at Klaus. "If it does work for you, you may not turn into a human. Because your werewolf side is a part of your DNA, you may just turn into a werewolf."

"Well, I guess I shouldn't do anything to trigger myself to be cured, now should I?" He stood, still holding my hand. "Come Dani, I think we're done here."

"But...I want to stay." He didn't seem to understand, so I said "I may not love her or even like her, but I need some time with her...Can't you understand?"

He sighed. "Alright, one night. In the morning, we're returning to Mystic Falls. Stefan." Klaus took his keys out and tossed them to Stefan. "Go back now."

Stefan stood. "I'm not leaving you alone with Dani, Klaus. Especially with what we've just found out."

Klaus smirked and let my hand go and turned to face Stefan. "You'll go home now, because Dani and I have some things to discuss that are quite...personal in nature. I'm sure you wouldn't want me to witness your arguments with your precious Elena, now would you?"

Stefan's face hardened and he simply walked out the front door without a word. I heard the Jaguar

start and the sound of the engine faded into the distance, until I couldn't hear it anymore.

"Now that he's gone..." He turned back to my mother. "How do you trigger the change into a human?"

"I told you, I don't know."

"And I can tell that you're lying. And since I'm an Original, I can compel you to give me the answer If I feel like it." My mother's eyes widened and he laughed. "You didn't know that?"

"No...Listen, you can't tell anyone how to trigger the change, not even your friend there. If anyone were to know, it would put my daughter in an intense amount of danger, if not cause someone to try to kill her."

"I don't intend to harm or kill her...I cannot promise that for all of us, though."

She nodded. "After the vampire stole more of my daughters blood, we couldn't get him to stop freaking out, so I snapped his neck...When he came back like all vampires do, he was a human. He died soon after, I guess because he couldn't handle the shock of being human again, but...Yeah. It's the same as turning someone into a vampire."

"Well...I can't say I don't want to use this to my advantage in the future...Have you found out what you needed Dani?"

I stood. "One more thing...do you know why I can see ghosts?"

My mother shook her head. "I can honestly say I have no idea. I don't even know of anybody else that can see them, except maybe a witch...You should try asking whatever ghosts it is you're seeing; they might know." I nodded.

"You should really think about stopping into Mystic Falls sometime...It would be nice to be able to have you there."

My mother looked stunned. "I thought you didn't want anything to do with me?"

I shrugged. "Maybe I would if you actually were involved in my life again."

She nodded as Klaus and I turned for the door. He took my hand in his again as we left the house, and like before, I didn't remove it. With what just happened, I needed all the comfort I could get.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, does this mean you're no longer angry at me?" I tore my eyes away from the dark sky above and looked beside me at Klaus.

We were laying on the roof of my mother's house, staring up at the nighttime sky. She had gone to stay with her boyfriend for the night to give Klaus and I some privacy, and we took advantage of it.

I discovered that I was a lot more daring when I was in emotional distress, and Klaus took full advantage of that as well.

"I'm still angry with you...but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy your company too."

He laughed. "Just this morning you didn't want to be in the same room as me, and now we're laying together like this...I'm afraid you've left even me quite confused."

"I just found out my blood is a cure for vampirism, and that my mom isn't the heartless bîtch my dad made her out to be...I think I'm more confused than you are." That reminded me of what Klaus had said earlier. I sat up and asked "What did you mean when you said you'd use this to your advantage?"

He sat up and responded. "Exactly what I said. You and I are the only ones that know this secret, and I intend to use it as a tool against vampires. If Damon or Tyler or anyone should try to desiccate or kill me again, I can simply threaten to turn them human."

Now I stood. "I don't want to be a part of your vengeance against the Salvatore brothers."

"You don't have to be. At the very least, I'll want to cure Elena, so that I may create more hybrids. I'm sure you won't deny me that." I sighed. "That's a good girl. Now how about we go inside?"

"You go in...I want a few minutes alone."

"Alright love." He stood and leaped quietly to the ground and went inside, and I sat on the roof again.

I couldn't enjoy it for very long though, because a whispered "Hey" almost made me roll off. I looked over and saw Alaric and nearly freaked out.

"What are you doing here?!" He laughed."What? It's not funny!"

"It kinda is...Anyway I heard what you found out and popped over here to see for myself. I really didn't expect to see you and Klaus all...together though."

"How much did you see?" He raised an eyebrow. "Oh god...If you tell anyone, I'll compel a priest to exorcise you or something." He laughed again.

"Relax, you're fine. But I suggest you get your new boyfriend there to compel Stefan to forget about the cure before he goes back to Mystic Falls."

"Why? And I thought he already went?" Alaric shook his head.

"He's in a little motel, and plans to follow you and Klaus around until you get back to Mystic Falls. I checked in on him while you and Klaus were...busy." I could feel my face grow red. "Klaus isn't the only one that will try to take advantage of you to cure his enemies. If Elena is threatened, Stefan won't hesitate to use you to help her, whether it means kidnapping you or not."

I gasped. "But I thought he was good?!"

"Usually, he is. But when it comes to Elena..." I nodded. Stefan would, and probably had, killed people for her. "You should send him now, before you both leave in the morning."

"Alright...Can you make sure he's still at the motel?" Alaric nodded and vanished from sight. I leaped down off the roof, landing not nearly as quietly as Klaus had, and entered the house again.

Klaus was in the kitchen, preparing himself some blood to drink from my mother's personal storage.

"Klaus, I just saw..."

"Your ghost friend Alaric, right?" I froze. "I could hear you muttering to yourself."

"Well, he told me to make sure you compel Stefan to forget about my blood being a cure."

"Yes, I figured that part out for myself, and I've already called Stefan over. He should be here soon. Give me your hand." I looked at him oddly. "Stefan is on vervain, and he can only be compelled if we both have your blood."

"How do you know that will work?" I knew the answer almost right after I asked.

"I was able to compel you on vervain. Same principle, right?" I unwittingly held out my arm and felt a small pinch at my wrist.

He let the blood drip into two glasses and I retracted my healing wrist, wiping it on a dish towel from the sink. "And if it doesn't work?"

"Then I'll break his neck and we'll find out if your mother was really telling the truth." I gasped and Klaus looked up at me from the glasses. "Love, I have no doubts that Stefan will try to use your blood to cure me if he gets the chance. And if he does that, there's no telling what would happen to the rest of the vampires in my bloodline. Do you really want to be responsible for that?"

I shook my head. "I guess not...But please try not to turn him human. If you do, Damon and Elena and who knows else are going to come after me..."

"Not if it works, which it will." I sighed again; Klaus was so sure of himself, but I was so sure something was going to go horribly wrong. I heard the sound of a car engine, and at the same time he said "Sounds like Stefan's here already."

I went out and opened the front door and saw Stefan getting out of Klaus' Jaguar."Why didn't you go back to Mystic Falls?"

"I wanted to be on hand, in case something went...wrong. Did it?"

I shrugged. "When doesn't it?" I turned and we both went through to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of orange juice from the fridge that my mother probably kept for her boyfriend. "Sorry, I'm not exactly in the mood for a bloody cocktail tonight gentleman." Klaus sniggered while Stefan barely smirked.

Stefan asked "So why am I here?"

"Because you didn't head home as I told you to, because you feel the need to be a superhero all the time." Stefan raised the glass to his lips, but didn't drink. "What? Think I poisoned it?"

"No, I'm just wondering how you knew I didn't leave." He drank from the cup mixed with my blood, and I immediately grew tense.

"Dani can talk to Alaric's ghost, remember? It seems he's grown fond of her, and does what she asks. I can't imagine what it would've been like had they met while he was still alive." Klaus was stalling, I knew it. He was enjoying the fact that he was going to be able to tell Stefan what to do.

"I figured. I'm still wondering why she's able to do that though..."

"Because her blood can do a great many things...Give someone great strength, turn them human, allow them to be compelled..."

Stefan threw down his cup, but Klaus was immediately before him, moving almost too fast for me to see. Klaus' hands held either side of Stefan's face and I turned away, not wanting to see the actual act occurring.

"Stefan, you'll forget about what Dani's mother told us. Forget every word of it, and you'll only remember that she didn't know anything. Dani's mother doesn't know anything, and her father was lying about bad things happening when a vampire drinks Dani's blood." Stefan nodded and Klaus released him, and he shook his head. "You don't look well Stefan."

"Yeah...I guess that's because we came all the way here for nothing...I mean, if her mom didn't know anything, why tell her dad that?" I stood up from where I'd been leaning against the counter and went into the living room.

Stefan followed me and asked "Are you okay?" I nodded.

"I just...want to get back to Mystic Falls. It turns out I didn't have to see my mother, so this was for nothing..." I wanted to punch myself for being the very convincing liar that I was. "Can we leave now?"

Klaus walked in and said "Sure. But I'd like Stefan to sit in the back, he's such a boring passenger." Stefan glared, but I wasn't in a good enough mood to laugh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"She didn't know anything? Well, wasn't that a waste." I glared at Damon as he complained.

"You didn't even have to go, so shut up...My dad probably just didn't want me to be near you guys anymore, so that's why he said it." I'd had to tell this same lie to so many of them since yesterday, it barely bothered me. Now, it was the fact that I was getting used to it that bothered me, but everyone just thought I was sad about my mom.

"So what if I didn't go? You and your little 'issue' are getting in my way."

"My issue? You think I chose to be like this? You think I want to be a victim to whatever vampire decides he wants to sap a little extra energy for himself?! You think I want to be here with you?!" Damon looked taken aback, as did Stefan and Elena. "You don't ever think about anyone except for yourself. Stefan, all you care about is your little girlfriend, who happens to be in love with your brother, and you're blind to anything else!" It started out as an argument with Damon, but I was way too gone. "And you!"

I pointed at Elena and she looked confused.

"You're a stupid, selfish bîtch that lets everyone else die for her and doesn't give a single thought!"

"What?" She stood. "You can't be serious. Of course I think about..."

"Think about what? Your parents? Your aunt Jenna? Alaric? All the people that had to die for some stupid little girl to have what she wants? If you didn't have Stefan and Damon to protect you, you would've died a long time ago." She took a step forward. "What? You're saying I'm wrong?"

"Of course! I do everything I can to help everyone!"

I could almost feel the rage burning me as I screamed "You don't do ANYTHING!" I shoved Elena as hard as I could and she flew back against the wall, splintering the old wood surface. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had to leave Mystic Falls in the first place, and I sure as hêll wouldn't be in this situation! You brought all these vampires to this town!"

Elena slowly pulled herself to her feet and I ran upstairs. I threw as much of my clothes in my bag as could fit and sped out of the house without a single look at any of them. I knew Stefan and Damon were probably fawning over a distraught Elena, or contemplating if Klaus had turned me evil.

I wasn't evil, and it certainly wasn't by his hand. It was those haughty bâstârds that had been pestering me over every little decision I made since I arrived here over a month ago, and they were driving me insane.

I had tried to be friends with Stefan, and I still kind-of was, but I couldn't talk to him if Damon and Elena were going to be hovering over his shoulder every time I tried. Actually, I didn't mind Damon so much sometimes, but when it involved Elena...

I growled under my breath. Elena. She was the cause of everything I was going through. Okay, maybe not the half-vampire part, but everything else was her fault. It was because of her that there were vampires in Mystic Falls at all, and werewolves, and hybrids, and it was because of her that Alaric was dead. I didn't hate him, but it was one more person that she'd unnecessarily killed.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked through the woods instead of down the long road. I headed in the opposite direction of town, trudging through the trees and undergrowth to an unknown destination. The multitude of leaves above my head dimmed the sunlight, making it look like sundown even though it was only three in the afternoon.

After a while, I almost wished I had Klaus' blood in my system, just so I could get away from Mystic Falls all the faster. I could run faster than a human as I was, but still not as fast as a vampire.

"Why? Why couldn't I have died or just turned into a full vampire, huh?" I looked up at the partially blocked-out sky, listening for answers. "You should've just killed me when I was born, or let that vampire that turned human kill me instead. Why let me live?!"

"You know, I think I said something before about talking to yourself..." I looked beside me and saw Alaric's ghost. I ignored him and kept moving through the trees. "Okay, you look pissed."

"I finally gave Elena and the Salvatore's a piece of my mind. They weren't exactly happy to hear the truth that everyone's been thinking."

"Everyone?" I looked incredulously at him.

"Really? I know dâmn well that you wouldn't have died if Elena was here. Am I correct?" He was silent and I smirked. "Exactly."

"So you told Elena off...and you decide to run away through the woods? Mind explaining that?"

I shrugged. "If I would've went through town, it would've been a helluva lot easier for them to follow and find me. How did you find me?" He shrugged.

"Beats me. I still don't even know why you can see me."

"You don't..? Dâmmit! My mother told me to ask you, because she didn't know why either..."

"Maybe you should contact some actual witch ghosts. It'll be easier out here in the woods, since it's all nature and stuff..." I chuckled a bit. "What?"

"You aren't very good at this ghost thing, are you? 'Nature stuff'?" I laughed again and he made a face. "Look, I don't even know how to contact a ghost on purpose...Plus I don't even have any witch magic! Can't you try something?"

"Maybe...Up ahead is the river and the waterfalls. Go there to wait for me."

"Why?"

"Witches take power from nature. At the river is water, plants, and you'll actually be able to see the sun. It'll be easier for another ghost to try to appear."

I nodded. "So maybe you don't suck at this as much as I thought you did..." Alaric made another face before disappearing from sight.

I continued on through the trees, and as promised, they started to get thinner. I could hear the rush of water, which grew louder and louder as I went ahead.

Eventually I came at the clearing that Alaric had been talking about. It was at the place where a big waterfall met up with the river, and I could see the setting sun off over the tops of the trees. It was all really pretty, as long as I didn't think about all the death and destruction that probably surrounded the place. If it was a part of Mystic Falls, there was definitely death and destruction in its history.

I noted that I must've been walking for a few hours, but I didn't feel the least bit tired. In fact, I felt better than I had before; probably because I was away from everyone and everything that was making me stress out.

I sat my bag on the ground and lounged against a large rock right beside the river. I kicked my sneakers and socks off and dipped my feet into the river, giggling and shivering at the cold temperature.

"You look better." I looked up at Alaric, unsurprised to see another ghostly figure with him.

"I'm all alone in the middle of the woods, away from the people trying to kill me, feed on me, or drive me insane...So yes, I'm feeling much better." I stood, pulled my shoes back on but taking off my hoodie. "So, to who am I talking this time? A witch?"

The dark-skinned woman answered "Yes. My name is Ayana, and your friend informed me that you need help with a vampire situation. I was...reluctant to come, but when he informed me of what you are..."

"You just had to see for yourself...Well, bear witness to the only half-vampire in the history of the world. I guess Alaric told you everything, so I'll just ask: is there anything you can do to help me?"

"Possibly...The vampire curse was not intended to be used on the not yet born, and that is why it has had unforeseen consequences for you. You seem to be permanently in transition. You have increased strength and speed, but lack the weakness to sunlight, desiccation, and invitation. You don't need to drink blood, but if you do, you gain the abilities of a full vampire for a short amount of time. Werewolf bites also do not affect you it seems, or you would have died the first time Niklaus fed on you."

"I know all of that...But what of the things my mother said? She told me that my blood could turn a vampire back into a human. What explanation is there for that?"

"Because it was not I that was responsible for your condition, I can only offer my insight. Vampire blood uses the magic that created it to turn people into more vampires. In your case, it is possible that because you're not fully a vampire, the magic in your blood will turn your victims into humans instead. It would most likely have little or no effect on a regular human, but it may affect a werewolf victim."

I stood and stared openly at the woman. She wasn't saying what I thought she was saying, was she?

"You're saying...I can cure werewolves too? And hybrids?" Ayana nodded. "That...that's impossible!"

"So it may seem, but it is the truth. You are not completely alive and not completely dead, instead stuck between more than any of us. That is also the reason why you are able to see ghosts, if you are still wondering about that."

"I wasn't...I was just thinking about how every supernatural creature is going to try to kill me or use me against all the others."

"While that may be true, you are able to defend yourself. With the drinking of immortal blood you take in strength, but that is not the full extent of your power. Should you take in the blood of many vampires, you will gain all their strengths, and be infinitely more powerful. And if you were to take the blood of a witch..."

"I'll turn into a witch for a while?"

"It is possible. Again, I am not sure because I was not responsible for your making, but it is a strong possibility. I suggest you converse with my descendant Bonnie about this issue."

"And what then?"

Ayana didn't answer, only fade away like I'd seen Alaric do so many times already.

"Well, wasn't that just helpful..." Alaric chuckled.

"You got what you needed, didn't you?"

"Oh, shut up you ghostly windbag." He laughed again as I gathered my things to go back.