AN: YAY, CHAPTER EIGHTEEN! I have so many reviewers to thank, but first I must apologize for taking so long. I've been writing other things, so I've kind of been coming back and forth from like five stories-one of which is my own novel. Thanks for your patience, guys. Thanks to a LOT of guest reviewers (unless they are all the same person) but anyway, those reviews were so sweet. And thanks to Undying Love13 (I sent you a private message about one of your stories which you need to continue) for your concern for Damon. You'll either find out in this chapter or the next. I don't remember these things. Disclaimer: It is probably a good thing I don't own TVD…'Nuff said.
Alaric's Point of View
Alaric was gently brushing back sweaty, black clumps of hair from Damon's eyes. His conversation with Bonnie had not gone well. She had said that her help ended here and she wanted nothing more to do with Damon. Alaric got it, he really did. But did Bonnie honestly expect him to not take the chance to save his best friend? Bonnie would do it for Elena any day whether she knew it or not. Caroline was on her way. She had agreed to help Alaric turn someone. After all, she was the only available vampire he knew that was actually willing to do this.
"ALARIC!"
Alaric jumped and spun around to see a frustrated looking Caroline standing in the entrance of the living room with her hands on her hips.
"Caroline," Alaric began, catching his breath. "When did you get here?"
"Well I've been outside for the past three minutes knocking on the door waiting for you to freakin' answer it! Then I got a little freaked out because no one was opening the door and I thought maybe you were passed out drunk or something."
Alaric raised his eyebrows. "I don't answer the door, and you automatically think I'm drunk?"
"Sounds about right to me," she said."
Alaric sighed. "Well I'm not drunk," he told her. "I was just lost in thought I guess."
Caroline's expression softened. "So is he still like out of it?" Caroline asked looking at Damon.
"Yeah," Alaric said sighing and kneeling next to his ill friend.
"Is he…" Caroline trailed off.
"Dead?" Alaric asked looking at her. She nodded. "No, he's not."
Caroline nodded. "Okay, good."
Alaric looked at her in surprise. "So do you actually care? Or is it because you know Elena-"
"It's not just Elena," Caroline interrupted. "Damon saved my life and I don't care what Bonnie says, that shows me that there's some good in him. He jumped right in front of Tyler to protect me and Matt. That's something I will never forget."
Alaric stood up. "We should get going then. We don't have much time. Now are you sure you can do this?"
"What? Change some innocent person into a vampire and then kill them?" Caroline asked. Then she frowned. "Okay, that could've been worded better… Anyway, yes I can. I will do this for Damon, Elena, Stefan and you."
Alaric smiled. "Thanks Caroline."
Damon's Point of View
"Is that really the best you can do?" Stefan taunted, laying on the ground with a new stake wound in his abdomen.
"Yes as a matter of fact it is because any worse and you'll be dead," Klaus pointed out. "I need to see how much you can take-what it will take to make you crack. How much you can go through physically and emotionally."
"Why?" Stefan and Damon asked at the exact same time although Klaus didn't hear Damon.
"I need to see what my little helper can do," Klaus mocked Stefan.
"Oh shut up," Damon hissed only to be left unheard again.
"I guess I don't really need to test you emotionally as much," Klaus smiled. "I already heard about how you handled Damon."
"What are you talking about?" Stefan asked, still on the ground.
"So calmly," Klaus continued. "Your own brother was dying and you didn't seem to care at all. What did you do other than lock him in a cellar?"
Damon felt like stabbing Klaus in the eye. He probably would have if he could. Stefan just looked away from Klaus' eyes and Damon shook his head. "You did help me, Stefan. Don't let him tell you otherwise."
Damon backed away from the other vampires and headed to the door of the room he was in. For the first time since arrival, he actually got a good look at where he was. It almost looked like a barn, except it was a little bit bigger and there was a second floor. There wasn't really anything inside except for a few wooden crates and barrels. He figured he was in a shack of some sort. He walked toward the door and stopped. His brows furrowed, he reached for the door handle not at all surprised when his hand just went through it. Shaking his head he knew what to do. Drawing in a breath, he walked straight through the door.
Alaric's Point of View
"Question is who," Alaric muttered to Caroline.
"That is a good question," she agreed. They were at the bar section of the Grill watching as people walked by living their lives. For one person, it was the last time they would do so.
"People die every day," Alaric said. "It happens."
Caroline swallowed next to him. "Yeah it does. But I'd never thought I'd end up being the cause of someone's death because I murdered them with the help of my history teacher."
Alaric laughed. "I never thought I would help any of my students commit murder."
"This is weird," Caroline said, shaking her head. "I've killed before, but it still feels weird."
"We just have to choose the right person," Alaric said. "We need to choose someone who isn't entirely innocent. That's why we're at a bar."
"Innocent or guilty, no one deserves to get turned into a vampire, then completely slaughtered."
Alaric nodded. "You got me there."
"Wait!" Caroline hissed under her breath. She tucked her hair behind her ear and put her finger to her lips.
Alaric waited unsure of what was happening, when Caroline bolted out the bar. "Caroline!" He yelled running after her.
He ran out of the Grille and saw Caroline pressed up against the front of the building. Her eyes were on a couple that was arguing down the street.
"You always do this to me!" The woman was yelling. Her heels smacking against the pavement as she tried to walk away from the man.
The man grabbed her arm tightly and she yelled in pain. "You listen to me," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I told you what happens when you walk away from me."
"You're drunk, Brad," her voice shook with fear and tears. She tried to pull her arm away but his grip was too strong. "GET OFF OF ME!" she yelled. "Somebody hel-"her call for help was shortened when the back of his hand struck her face.
"Shut up!" he ordered. "Now, you're coming to my place, and we're going to have some fun, okay?"
"Hey!" Caroline yelled before the woman could reply. The man named Brad looked up and smiled at Caroline.
"You really shouldn't get into this, babe."
"Alaric!" Caroline yelled. Alaric stepped next to Caroline. "Alaric, I think I found our who."