Your luck is holding. Peachie X still acts as Beta for this. Pray that it continues, we all need her keep to me straight...

Witches and Promises

Sarah was told that Damon was trying to get Elena to take a break and clear her head before having to face Katherine, so she took the chance to speak with Bonnie.

"You've only known for a year?" Sarah asked Bonnie. "I've always known – surrounded by witches from the beginning. It must have been a shock to find out as a teen."

Bonnie nodded. "It was. Then my grams died and Elena and I were just finding out about vampires at the same time."

Sarah looked directly at Bonnie and asked "Is it hard to help Elena, knowing what she does for them?"

"I don't really know what she does for them."

Sarah stared at Bonnie. Her shock was apparent in her voice. "You help her without knowing? She pledged her loyalty – she could be doing anything. Who knows what this vampire has made her do?"

"You don't know her, Sarah." Bonnie said defensively. "I trust her. I mean, I know she sticks up for vampires sometimes when I think she's wrong, but she sticks up for me when she thinks I'm wrong."

Sarah wasn't convinced. "But an oath to a vampire. An oath to a demon? I know you said she did it for you, but I don't see how she can be …well, good…when she made an oath to a vampire."

Bonnie scowled defensively. "Emily Bennett, my ancestor, made the same oath to the same vampire." When Bonnie saw Sarah's look of surprise, she added, "Katherine saved her life, so she pledged her loyalty. I don't understand it, I don't like it, but I don't bring it up. Elena reminds me that Emily did what Katherine asked and still helped Mystic Falls fight vampires."

Sarah was silent briefly before asking "Can I trust Elena? Have I screwed this up by agreeing to talk to this vampire-oath girl? Will she lead me into a trap or make a deal they won't keep?"

Bonnie glared at Sarah now. "Can you trust her? Can she trust you? Did you know what would happen?"

"No!" Sarah said quickly. "I did not know my aunt would do that."

Bonnie continued to stare at Sarah. "I know you've got major powers, Sarah, compared to me. I'm new and I'm still learning. I can handle some vampires, but not all. Maybe you can handle any one of them, but there will be a lot of vampires here if Elena can't smooth this over. As much as I dislike Isobel, her threats weren't empty – Katherine would do anything to protect Elena, and since she's helping Nathaniel, he might as well."

Sarah wasn't sure what Bonnie meant, but felt threatened, so she glared as she responded. "That sounds like a threat. Would you help vampires attack us?"

"No." Bonnie said, shaking her head. "I only protect Elena. I can tell you that every vampire and every person who did threaten her is dead. None of them got to her. Between me and the vampires, she has been kept safe. The only thing that has threatened her and still lives is your aunt, and she did more than just threaten Elena."

"She won't do it again." Sarah claimed. "My mom can stop her, even if I can't."

Bonnie noticed that Sarah seemed to be getting upset. She tried to soften her tone.

"I'm sorry," Bonnie said. "I didn't mean to get upset, but Elena is my best friend and I was standing right next to her but couldn't help her. I can help her escape 50 vampires, but I can't keep her safe around witches – my own kind."

Sarah was surprised again. "Help her escape vampires? I thought she was working for vampires."

"Vampires sometimes fight each other, Sarah, and since Elena has a strong tie to Katherine, she has been a target of others. At least I get to fight those that attack her." Bonnie smiled as she remembered recent events. "Not long ago we trapped a lot in a fire. It was satisfying to hear their screams."

Sarah stared at Bonnie now, almost in disbelief. "I get that you think Elena is good and that you protect her, but I'm starting to wonder about you."

Bonnie wasn't fazed. "Yeah. Elena wonders about me sometimes. Vampires have caused me and Mystic Falls nothing but harm. My family is gone because of them. I don't like them and I never will. I don't trust them either but Katherine and hers are as protective of Elena as I am." Bonnie made sure she had eye contact with Sarah. "And now, I need you to tell me that you will protect her."

"Me? Protect her? Vampires, you and Alaric aren't enough?"

"We weren't this morning. Tell me you won't let your family hurt her again."

"I don't even know her, but she was talking about protecting me this morning."

Bonnie was almost glaring again. "You may not know her, but she doesn't know you either. Yet, even after she was hurt in your house, her biggest concern is how to keep you alive when you go with her to meet Katherine and are surrounded by vampires. Does that not tell you anything about her?"

Sarah didn't respond right away, so Bonnie continued. "You don't have to fear these vampires while she is with you. Does she need to fear your family of witches when you are with her?"

Sarah understood now and shook her head. "I swear. I will not let anything else happen to her – not in my house. She will be safe there, with me."

Phones and Tempers

Bonnie could see Elena and Damon starting to walk towards them when Isobel spoke to her. "Bonnie, Elena would like you to meet her about half way." Isobel pointed in the direction.

"Alone?" Bonnie asked.

"Yes. Damon will keep coming and you two can talk alone."

"Can I go too?" Sarah asked Bonnie. "I'd like to talk to her away from the vampires as well."

Bonnie had started to leave, but stopped and looked back at Isobel.

"Damon? The blonde witch as well?" Isobel asked in a normal tone looking at him.

Bonnie could see Damon ask Elena. She didn't see or hear a response.

"Yes." Isobel said. "She'll talk to both of you."

Sarah didn't really understand what had happened. Bonnie had to take her hand and pull her along, saying "Come on. Now that she's up, she'll want to get moving quickly."

Sarah watched Damon as he released Elena's hand. Elena had stopped at the halfway point. Damon kept walking.

"Don't try anything." he growled as he walked past them without looking. Sarah stopped briefly to look at him, Bonnie just scowled and kept walking, pulling Sarah along.

They noticed that Elena did look better. She seemed relaxed and calm. She nodded to Sarah, then spoke to Bonnie.

"Do you have your phone? Is it charged?"

"Sure." Bonnie answered.

Elena was suddenly nervous as she looked into Bonnie's eyes. "Please don't get mad and please don't say 'no' right away."

Elena was hesitating enough that Bonnie asked "What is it?"

Elena swallowed and then finally spoke. "I'd like you to go into the house and wait with Sarah's mom while we're gone. I'll call you and leave my phone on so you all can hear what is said."

Elena glanced at Sarah, who looked like she was not understanding, and back at Bonnie whose look was one of disbelief.

"Elena, I'm not sure it's a good idea," Bonnie said.

"Katherine and Damon could hear them when we were in their house. I think they should hear us when Sarah is with the vampires and me. I hope it will make them feel better, trust us more."

Bonnie remembered the microphone Elena had worn and glanced to where it had been. "The mike's gone."

Elena nodded. "Damon took it off me – I'm not sure when. I don't know how much they heard." Elena said, sounding a little embarrassed. "But I think we should do the same for Sarah's family."

"Elena, we're making concessions they haven't asked for?" Bonnie disagreed. "We were the ones betrayed. They should be making concessions."

"You weren't…" Sarah started to interrupt, but stopped. She knew it was true, at least from Bonnie's perspective.

Elena glanced at Sarah and waited to be sure she was done before turning back to Bonnie. "I know, Bonnie and I know it's a lot to ask of you. But Natalie liked you. If Sarah will call her and get her to agree to have you there as well as tell her they will be able to hear us, I think it will help." Elena looked at Sarah now – almost sternly. "You need to get them to agree that Bonnie would be safe in there as well."

Sarah looked a bit surprised. "The vampires will let you have your phone on so my mom can listen?"

Bonnie spoke before Elena answered, but still stared at Elena. "You'd be surprised at what Elena can get them to let her do. It sounds like a hostage exchange, Elena. I'm not OK with being a hostage."

Elena closed her eyes and tensed. "No, Bonnie. It's a trust thing. They need to know we are still willing to take risks to trust them. I'll ask Alaric to go with you if you like."

Bonnie shook her head. "While you were doing whatever on Damon's lap, Isobel spoke to Katherine. She's expecting Alaric to be with you when you go there. She wants to talk to him, so he won't be able to go with me."

Bonnie could tell that Elena was disappointed. "I'm sorry," Elena said. "then there's no one else."

"You would be OK in there," Sarah said quickly. "I'm sure my mom will agree, and if she can hear Elena and me while we're with the vampires, she will feel better. She's scared to death because of what happened and for me."

Bonnie looked and Sarah and saw no deception. She turned back to Elena.

"Is it really something you would want them to hear? No one you're going to will be happy about this. They will threaten Sarah and the others for what happened. Even if you can smooth it over, they'll hear a lot of ugliness."

Elena nodded. "They have to, Bonnie. We can't hide what the vampires are from them, and we wouldn't want to. They have to know, whether or not we can work this out."

Bonnie nodded. "OK. I'll go." she said, though Elena could hear the hesitation.

Elena gave Sarah her cell phone and pulled Bonnie a few steps away while Sarah called her mother.

"I would also like you to tell me what they're saying about it all," Elena whispered to Bonnie. "I'm hoping they will speak freely around you."

Bonnie just stared at Elena and expressed the frustration she felt she had to hold back when Sarah was listening. "Elena, they hurt you, and now I'm going back in there alone?"

"I know it's a lot to ask, Bonnie, especially when I've asked for so much already. I really think you'll be OK there. Don't you?"

Bonnie nodded. "Yeah. I just have to get over wanting to kill them for hurting you."

Elena hesitated, then asked "So you'll go?"

"Yeah. It'll probably be better than being surrounded by vampires."

"She agreed," Sarah interrupted. "and she's grateful, Elena. She really appreciates this. She promised me Bonnie will be safe with them. She can keep that promise, she is every bit as powerful as my aunt."

Elena nodded and said "OK." She stared at Sarah as she said, "Bonnie, will you give us a minute?"

Bonnie didn't look happy about it, but she nodded and walked back to wait with the others.

"I had a chance to think about all of this Sarah, and I'm having doubts. Do you really want this?"

Sarah was surprised at being doubted. "Yes, Elena. I do."

"I'm not sure about your mother, but your aunt seems to disagree. Do you know why?"

Sarah hesitated and closed her eyes briefly before responding. "Elena, I'm really sorry about what she did. She never said anything against this, she just stayed quiet when I brought it up. It was a long time ago, but her husband was killed by a vampire."

Elena continued to stare at Sarah. "That's no reason to attack me."

"I know. It was unexpected. My mom and I won't let it happen again."

"That won't be enough Sarah. The vampires we're going to, take the agreements they make seriously. I hope it doesn't come up, but they're likely to talk about a price to be paid for what happened."

Sarah stared at Elena, stunned. "You're fine, aren't you?"

"That may not matter Sarah. I won't say anything, I'm just warning you about what might happen."

Sarah's stare was turning into a glare. "I'm starting to have doubts. What are you? Everyone here, human, witch and vampire obviously does what you say. You're obviously with Damon. We were told a 'normal' girl would come and talk to us. Instead we get you. Whatever you are, it's not normal. I'm told you work for the vampires, but it looks like they work for you."

Elena started to glare back at her. "The vampires don't work for me, they work for Katherine just like I do. They may defer to me when I'm working for her, but only because of her. Bonnie and Alaric just help me when I ask. And yes, I'm with Damon, but that's no reason to get bitchy. I didn't ask to come here and I'm trying to help you." Elena was yelling now. She closed her eyes and took a few calming breaths.

She opened her eyes and spoke to Sarah calmly now. "Are you in? Is this for real? I need to know before I send Bonnie into your house. Before I try to convince what will be a very unhappy group of vampires that this is worth it. Tell me now, Sarah."

Sarah had to calm herself as well. "Yes, Elena. This is for real. I think we need this."

Elena nodded and voiced her only remaining question. "How did you set this up, Sarah? How did you even know who to contact?"

"I ran into someone and figured out he was a vampire, so I followed him. I was going to just take him out when we weren't around people. I expected him to attack someone, but he just went from place to place doing normal things. He didn't attack anyone. It made me curious, so I talked to him rather than attacking. He was kind of a jerk at first, but when I showed him who I was and got him talking, he put me in touch with Nathaniel. Nathaniel sounded reasonable and he seemed to want some kind of arrangement with us, but he didn't trust us any more than we trusted him. Then he told me about you – someone who was not a vampire that he would trust to speak for them. We were able to come to an agreement and set the meeting up."

Elena nodded. "You said something about taking out the vampire. Do you do that often?"

"No." Sarah said. "I don't go looking for trouble, Elena, but I have come across it a few times and had to take action. I don't like it, and neither does my mom, but we know what vampires can do." Sarah hesitated before adding, "You said some vampires help you keep the bad ones out of your town?"

"Yes."

"If we can have that here, I think we need to try."

Elena nodded and starting walking towards the cars. "Then let's go. I'm sure Katherine will think she's waited long enough, and I already have enough to explain to her."

"Oh," Elena added as an afterthought, "you should know that Katherine looks just like me."