Peachie X was Beta on this chapter (and believe me, that's not an easy job...)

The Bennett Witch

"The house can keep them out, if I want it to."

Bonnie was annoyed at best, also angry and afraid. Vampires were inside her house, witches were outside. Worst of all, she had to explain to Stefan that Damon was right. Her house was protected by the power of her ancestors.

Stefan glanced over to his brother, who was leaning against a wall, smirking. He was obviously listening to their conversation, though looking at the screen of his phone.

"Maybe it will work." He said, his gaze returning to Bonnie, who sat across the table from him. "Maybe we can keep them here, away from Elena."

"I don't want them here, Stefan." The witch was glaring at him again.

"We don't care what you want." Damon sneered, putting his phone in his pocket again. He spoke to his brother. "She's with Isobel, going to Katherine."

"You're talking to Isobel?" Stefan asked not quite believing it.

"Best I've got. At least she tells me what's really going on."

"Like you told Elena what we're doing." Stefan grumbled. He started to turn back to Bonnie, then asked "Do you know where they're going?"

"Yes."

Stefan waited before letting his irritation show. "So where?"

Damon smirked. "You don't need to know. Your job is to keep them here."

"Your job, too." Stefan muttered as he turned to face Bonnie again.

"Nope. I'm going to her."

Stefan was about to turn back to his brother when he noticed the witch's expression. She was still glaring at him. "More vampires are outside now."

"And witches." The other vampire said. It surprised Bonnie and Stefan – he had barely spoken.

Bonnie buried her face into her arms which were folded, lying on the table. "What have I done?"

Damon was instantly next to her, reaching out as if to pull her head up. He stopped and growled at her instead. "You picked a side. The right side."

Bonnie raised her head to look at him briefly, glaring, then buried her face into her arms again.

"Leave her alone, Damon." Stefan said. "It's hard enough for her."

Damon glared at his brother. "It'll be harder for her if Elena's hurt because she refuses to help."

"She'll do what's right."

Bonnie lifted her head and looked at Stefan. Though the glare was gone, he wasn't sure what expression was in its place. "What's 'right', Stefan?"

She didn't wait for an answer. She left the table and approached the vampire Katherine had assigned to stay with her. He was near a window, but no longer looking through it.

"How many witches are out there?"

"Counting the ones on the doorstep, six. Or at least six who aren't vampires."

Bonnie nodded and turned to look at Stefan. She had lost control of the situation, and decided to take it back.

"I've got to let someone in."

"No! Keep them here but outside." Damon said, moving towards her. Stefan managed to catch his arm as he passed and stop him.

"What do you mean?" Stefan asked the witch.

"They might try to come in, Stefan."

"But you said the house could keep them out."

"If I want it to, I think. But if Sarah's right, they're powerful. They might find a way in." She shook her head. "And I really don't know what I want, except I want to talk to one of them."

"They'll find out!" Damon growled, though he did not try to pull away from his brother.

"Yeah, but first I'll try to get some answers out of Heather."

Bonnie could see the fury on Damon's face as the name of the witch that had cast a spell on him was mentioned. She was speaking to Stefan when she said "I won't let them get to you. The house should be able to prevent that." Then she looked at Damon and added, "But maybe to you?"

"It might help." Stefan quickly said to Damon. "We may be able stall them easier if one is inside. Do you know why Isobel's taking Elena to Katherine?"

Damon's glare remained as he answered his brother. "Katherine wants the witch. She and Elena are sticking together."

Stefan nodded and turned back to Bonnie. "Do you really think she'll come in alone? She knows at least Damon is here."

"Was here. I'm leaving." Damon headed out of the room to find an exit.

Bonnie shook her head, "Maybe someone outside will get him."

Stefan thought about following Damon, but had come to think his plan was reasonable. He walked towards Bonnie. "Then let's get their attention. Are you still with us? Will you help keep them here?"

Bonnie headed to the door. "I still want to talk to one of them. I'll talk to Heather."

"But you'll stall, you'll let them think Elena's here? And do you really think she'll come in alone?"

"I'll convince her that witches are safe in here – which they are," she said as she walked to her front door.

The Proctor Witch

Elena was a little shocked at the sight Isobel had brought her to. A woman, obviously unconscious was tied to a tree in a sitting position, her arms wrapped behind the tree and tied behind her. A man, probably a vampire, was sprawled on the ground nearby. Another laid on the ground, moving slightly. A few more stood around. Elena was distracted enough as she took all of this in that she didn't see the vampire that spoke to her.

"Family outing?"

Elena's eyes moved to Katherine, obviously confused at the vampire's statement. Then Katherine spoke to Isobel.

"Human shields weren't part of the plan."

"She thinks they're safer with us." Isobel replied. Her irritation at everything which was happening continued to be seen in her demeanor and heard in her voice.

"She's dead." Sarah said. A shocked look could be seen on her face as she knelt next to the woman tied to the tree.

"Do you know her?" Katherine asked.

Elena moved to go to Sarah, but was held back by Katherine.

Sarah stood, and faced the vampire, sick look on her face. "No. What did you do to her?"

"Bit her," the vampire said to the witch, then turning to Elena, she added "vervain." and made a face. She turned back to Sarah "Bit her and snapped her neck."

Sarah turned to the human girl. "Elena..."

Katherine was next to the witch before she could say any more, taking her arm and pulling her to the vampires Elena had seen earlier. "We need your help over here."

As she led the witch, Katherine spoke to Marcus, nodding her head to where Alaric stood with a few others, "Take them all."

Elena tried to watch Sarah as Isobel pulled her to where Alaric was watching. Marcus was leading her aunt and brother to the same place.

Alaric wasn't sure what to do when both Isobel and Jenna approached him. He managed to stand between Elena and Jeremy, and concentrated on Elena.

"You're OK?" he asked.

Elena nodded, still watching Sarah as she healed another vampire. "It looks like you've been busy."

"Yep. At least I didn't die – yet." He held his hands up so Elena could see that the ring was gone.

"Where is it?" The girl asked.

"Tied to a tree." Alaric pointed. "Katherine thought it was the easiest way to subdue the witch."

Isobel had managed to squeeze between Alaric and Jeremy by now. "You're giving that up too easily." She said, her tone cool.

"Yeah." He responded, but kept his focus on Elena. "We're hoping she knows more than the vampire we caught, or at least that she'll say more."

"The one Sarah's with?"

"No." He pointed at the one sprawled on the ground. "The one they…uh, talked to… is dead now – which doesn't bother me since he was about to bite me."

"I had the ring on me then." He quickly added when he heard a couple of audible intakes of breath.

Elena closed her eyes and took another couple of deep breaths. She was thinking it was no better here than anywhere else – people, witches and vampires still at risk because of her.

She opened her eyes to Katherine's stern voice. "I don't want you or your family any closer to this. Stay here."

The girl wasn't sure how to respond, but didn't have to. Katherine spoke to Isobel now.

"We got a couple of phones. One of them has texts messages about going to the Bennett house. No one has passed by here for some time. We're going to see what's inside the building."

Elena was about to speak, but Sarah had arrived and spoke. "Why did you do that to her?"

"She's alive, Sarah, or will be." Elena said quickly. "I'll explain."

"You know what she's doing." Katherine said coldly to the witch.

"I know she, none of them have done anything. Only your people have killed anyone."

"That's not true!" Isobel snapped. "One has died. More haven't only because we didn't let them get to Elena."

"Only because you keep healing those they do hurt." Katherine added. "Rest with Elena now, please."

Katherine motioned to several vampires, including Isobel. "Marcus, you're with Elena."

"Do you need me?" Alaric asked.

"Not just now. Marcus will talk to the witch when she awakens, and give us any information we need. Get your ring back then."

Elena moved to stand next to Sarah and watched as her mother and great something or other grandmother, along with a number of other vampires moved away from them, wondering how she could get close enough to where they were going to help.