Thanks to Peachie X for acting as Beta on this chapter. You should thank her as well - she made it much better than it was at first...again...

Blurterer (or Whatever)

"We'll drop you off and go to where we're allowed to be." Isobel said. The morning had arrived and Elena was being taken to the witches' house.

"Will Katherine be with you?" Elena asked. "I kind of expected her to be with me now."

"No. She is near but at a different location with a number of Nathaniel's vampires. She has the equipment, she will be able to hear everything."

Elena nodded. She wasn't able to hide her nervousness.

"We'll be close, Elena." Damon said. "I'll be on foot, nearby - as close as I can get. I'm linked in too, I'll hear everything. If I think you're in danger, I'll be there."

Elena hugged Damon. She was in the back along with him and Bonnie. Alaric sat in the front next to Isobel. Katherine's other vampires were in a car behind them along with a few of Nathaniel's that could also move in sunlight. They were driving in an older neighborhood with large houses, big yards and a lot of trees.

"No Damon. I'm going to be nervous the whole time. You might think I'm in danger just because of that. Don't come unless I call for you."

"You'll call for me by name?" he asked.

"Yes." Elena said as she leaned her head against his chest. "I don't want to have to remember some codeword or anything. There's enough going through my mind."

"So 'Damon' brings me to the doorstep of the witches' house."

"Better make it 'Damon come'." Elena said. "I could blurt your name out anytime."

"'Blurt'?" Bonnie asked with an annoyed expression. "Elena, this is serious. There will be no blurting of anything, especially not his name."

Elena sat up straight to defiantly sing her reply. "He's my vamp and I'll blurt if I want to."

Bonnie scowled while the rest of the passengers laughed.

Arranged Meeting

Elena thought it was an ordinary looking house – not that she expected anything else. The Bennett house was not really distinctive.

This house looked old and, like the houses around it, had a large front yard – gigantic, really, with a number of large, old trees.

"Showtime." Damon whispered as Elena kissed him before following Bonnie out of the car.

"Later, Damon." Elena said. "Hopefully much later. If I see you too soon, well…later, Damon."

"I'll be listening." Damon said, showing her an earpiece.

Elena watched the cars leave, checked her earpiece and microphone, took a deep breath and walked to the house with Bonnie and Alaric. She had not reached the porch when a girl who looked close to her own age, perhaps a few years older, came out and greeted them. She was a blue-eyed blonde and not very witch-like, in Elena's mind anyway. She went immediately over to Elena.

"Elena Gilbert?" she asked.

Elena nodded. "Yes."

"I'm Sarah Proctor. I'm glad to meet you."

"I am as well," Elena said, turning to make introductions. "and this is Alaric Saltzman and Bonnie Bennett."

"We didn't know if you would be alone," Sarah said. "Mr. Saltzman." she added, shaking his hand.

Sarah turned to Bonnie and hesitated. She looked curious. "Bonnie Bennett," she said as they shook hands, "from the Bennett line of witches?"

"You know us?" Bonnie asked, surprised.

"We know of you." Sarah explained. "My mother is interested in the family lines of witches. A hobby, or maybe she's trying to figure something out, I'm not sure, but she'll be pleased to meet you."

Sarah turned back to Elena. "It looked like you were dropped off by vampires. We trust that they are keeping their distance, as was agreed."

Elena nodded. "They are and will and they trust that we will be treated well."

Sarah nodded.

"Who made the arrangements?" Elena asked.

"I did," Sarah replied. "Our conflicts with the vampires are getting serious. I think we have to at least try to talk to them."

Elena nodded.

"Who are you to them?" Sarah asked. "I don't mean to be rude, but I've never heard of anyone like you, someone who would be willing to work for them and intercede with us on their behalf. Why? What is all this to you?"

Sarah was staring at her. She was not glaring or threatening, just staring as if to test the truthfulness of Elena's response.

Elena hadn't expected the question. "I help them with things when they ask me to."

"Why? I mean, you look normal – no compulsion or anything.…May I?" Sarah asked Elena as she reached towards Elena's hair.

Elena nodded. Sarah pulled her hair aside and looked at her neck, then pulled up her hands and checked the visible part of Elena's arms.

"They're not feeding off of you, you have vervain. They can't be controlling you, that I see. Why do you help them?"

"Because of me." Bonnie said with a pained expression. "One of them almost killed me. Elena interceded. To save me, she pledged her loyalty to the vampire."

Sarah stared, first at Bonnie, then at Elena. "You made a pledge to a vampire to save a witch?"

"Yeah," Elena replied softly.

Sarah kept staring. "Is it hard?"

"Yes." Elena said. "But, I've never regretted it."

"You are a friend to witches then." Sarah said, as if finally satisfied.

"I really only know Bonnie, but if someone is like her, yes."

"And vampires," Alaric finally spoke drawing the eyes of the others to him. "she is friends with a number of vampires."

Sarah looked at Elena as if expecting a comment.

"I know that many are bad," Elena said. "Maybe most. But, some just want to be left alone. Some help protect my town, my home. Some might even be willing to protect yours."

Sarah nodded. "Shall we go inside?" she asked, turning towards the door.

"We passed the test?" Alaric asked as the group followed Sarah.

"You passed my test," Sarah said as she opened the door. "The tests of my mother and aunt will be harder."

Elena felt much better after meeting Sarah, but she still hesitated before entering the home – enough that Sarah noticed.

"Is there a problem?" Sarah asked.

"No. Sorry, just thinking," Elena said as she tried to push any worries out of her mind and entered, followed by Alaric and Bonnie.

They entered directly into a living room where they were asked to wait as Sarah left the room. Elena decided to remain standing rather that sit.

"Are you feeling alright" Alaric asked Elena noticing her continuing nervousness.

Elena nodded. "Sarah seems nice. That helps."

"We're fine." Bonnie said.

At this point, Sarah entered the room with two older women, one with red hair, looking to be in her forties. The other was older, with distinctive silver hair.

Sarah walked over to Elena, followed by the redhead. "Elena, this is my mother, Natalie Proctor. Mom, this is Elena Gilbert. She is accompanied by Alaric Saltzman and Bonnie Bennett."

Natalie nodded to Alaric and gave Elena's extended hand a passing shake. Then she turned to Bonnie with a warm expression. "Bennett? Sarah tells me you are a witch. Are you related to Emily Bennett?"

"Yes. She's my ancestor." Bonnie replied smiling.

"Emily Bennett?" the silver-haired woman spoke from across the room. "Would she approve of what you are doing?"

Elena's eyes turned from Bonnie to the woman who appeared annoyed, at best.

"My aunt Sylvia," Sarah said, visibly rolling her eyes.

"What I'm doing?" Bonnie asked, confused.

Sylvia took only a couple of steps towards her and spoke again, her hostility showing now. "Helping vampires."

Bonnie shook her head, taken aback at the difference between Sylvia and the others. "That's not what I'm doing. I'm here to help Elena."

"Don't take her too seriously." Natalie whispered to Bonnie as Sylvia turned her attention to Elena.

"Do you speak for the vampires, Elena Gilbert?" Sylvia asked coolly.

"In this case, yes." Elena said, nodding, being careful to make eye contact.

"Then give them this." Sylvia said, followed by a hand motion and a few words Elena did not understand.

Elena wondered what she meant when she suddenly felt like she was hit by a ton of bricks.

"Sylvia!" Natalie said at the same time Sarah said "Aunt Sylvia!"

Elena was staggering, trying to remain standing. Alaric immediately put his arm around her to support her as Bonnie and Sarah moved to stand in front of her, between Elena and Sylvia.

Alaric could tell that Elena was having trouble breathing and starting to slump. When he moved his hand to check her pulse he noticed the ring Isobel had given him. He quickly made a decision. "We need to get her out of here." he said as he removed the ring and slid it onto Elena's thumb.

Alaric lifted Elena and carried her to the door, but could not open it.

"Aunt Sylvia!" Sarah said as she and Bonnie backed towards the door behind Alaric. "Let them out. Release the door!"

Sylvia shook her head, concentrating.

"Release the door or I swear I'll invite every vampire out there to come inside." Sarah threatened.

"You wouldn't." Sylvia said angrily.

"I need a name." Sarah said to Bonnie.

Bonnie didn't speak – she was too shocked by the events.

"Damon," Alaric said, still trying to open the door.

"Damon, come…" Sarah began, but was interrupted by the door flying open.

Alaric was immediately out, carrying Elena, followed by Bonnie and Sarah.

Alaric carried Elena to a tree about half of the way to the street and gently laid her onto the grass underneath.

"I don't think she's alive." he said softly, "not any more."

"I'm sorry." Sarah said frantically. "She never said anything, but I knew she wasn't very happy about this." She looked at the house and then back to Elena. "I had no idea she would hurt anyone – especially a normal girl. You have to believe me," she added, to no one in particular.

Bonnie had been staring at Elena, but suddenly turned to Sarah. "You should go back inside. It's not safe for you out here."

"You think it's safe in there?" Sarah asked frantically.

"I think I got the ring on her in time." Alaric said, holding up Elena's hand and showing Bonnie the ring.

Bonnie breathed a sigh of relief and asked "Do you think it will work?"

"It had better," Alaric replied, "or that house will be burnt down by midnight along with anyone in it." It was the first time Bonnie could remember seeing him upset.

"Ring?" Sarah asked confused. "What ring?"

"Something Emily did." Bonnie replied point at the ring on Elena's thumb. "It keeps whoever is wearing it from dying."

"Oh, they die," Alaric contradicted. "and she's dead. But, she should be back with us soon."

Sarah looked like she didn't know what to think.

"Go back inside," Bonnie said to Sarah earnestly. "We'll be surrounded by vampires any time now."

Sarah looked nervously around the yard. "You think they'll be back so soon?"

"Yes. They're fast, and they're sure to be on their way here now. Go, please!" Bonnie implored.

Sarah turned towards the house but was pulled back by Bonnie as Damon appeared with a vampire she did not recognize. Two cars pulled up at the same time.

"Too late. Sit next to Elena." Bonnie said forcefully. "Alaric and I will try to stay between you and the vampires to explain. When Elena comes back, stay with her. Do not leave her side. Being next to her is the only chance you have of being alive an hour from now."