Ninth.

She closed my journal and put it down on the bed. "You're not even going to say anything about me reading this?" she asked casually as she rose up from the bed. "You don't look so good Nor, almost like you've seen a ghost or something." I shook my head. This was impossible, something was wrong with me. She walked up bedside me and I could smell her perfume, she leaned in and whispered, "What's the matter? You can't take a joke anymore?" I felt her breath in my ear, then she kissed my cheek and ran for the bathroom door.

I swung around with my hand up to my face, still in shock. "I felt that, how did I feel that?" I had to be dreaming but I didn't remember going to sleep.

"It's not a dream," she cut in as if reading my mind.

"How did you know I was thinking that?" I asked, "What the hell is going on here, why are you doing this to me?"

She laughed at that. "I can't read your mind Norrah, but we've been friends for over three hundred fifty years. I just know you, and I know how you think. Believe me, this isn't a dream." I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry. "Sit down on the bed and take a few deep breaths, then decide which you want to do." Again, I was surprised. She knew me too well.

I didn't sit down though, I followed her into the bathroom. I pinched her arm as she leaned over the counter to check her make-up. "Oww," she slapped at my hand, "what was that for?"

"Are you serious?" I asked her. "How the hell are you here Lex?"

She turned around and looked at me, hurt in her eyes, "I've always been here Nor. I told you I'd never leave you alone. I mean I'm not always right next to you, but whenever you think about me, I'm here." Tears welled up in my eyes as she spoke. "You're my sister, I love you." And with that, the dam broke. She reached out for me, but I stepped back. Again she looked at me with hurt in her eyes. I didn't understand what was happening. I saw her die, I felt the stake as it pierced her heart, and I had mourned for her ever since. Now that I was finally accepting what happened to her, she comes back? How was this fair?

I reached out and grabbed her hand, still completely sure that at any moment it would all be over. I would wake up and she'd be gone again and I'd have to feel all of that pain again. But it didn't go away. I felt her hand just as I had before. I looked up at her before crushing her in an embrace. "I can feel you Lex, I can't believe it, I never thought I'd see you again. How am I able to feel you?"

She pushed me back and put her hands on my shoulders. "I don't know how you feel me, but if you don't knock it off you are going to feel me kick your ass," she told me matter-of-factly and then her face broke into a smile. I laughed at her. She knew she could never take me. "Now let's get all of this stuff together and get the hell out of here."

"Wait, you're coming with me?" I asked her. She looked back at me and raised her eyebrows. I nodded, "okay, let's go then."

"One little problem," she said and my heart sank.

"What?" I asked. "Don't you dare tell me that now that I believe you are real you can't come."

"I'm not, I'm coming with you Norrah."

"Then what's the problem?"

She glanced over at the door and then back at me. "Damon's home…" and right on cue he came crashing through the door.

"What the hell are you thinking?" he yelled as he stormed towards me. "Why would you come back here when you know Katherine has free reign of this house? She could come busting through here any minute and I can't guarantee that I can keep you safe. She's older than me, stronger, and she's pissed off. C'mon, we're getting out of here," he grabbed my arm and started towards the door. I shook him, confused. I looked back at Lexi who just shrugged. I could see fire in his eyes. "Do you think I am kidding about this? Katherine is dangerous. More dangerous than you know."

I watched as Lexi walked over and stood in front of him. "Hello Damon, you narcissistic jack-ass." She made a fist and punched him as hard as she could. I reacted, but her hand didn't make contact with his face.

Damon looked back at me angrily. "What is wrong with you?" he snapped. He couldn't see her, Damon had no idea Lexi was standing right next to me. I looked over at her, she raised her eyebrows and smiled.

"I've been waiting a long time to do that. Probably would have been more momentous if he was able to feel it," she said with a chuckle. I couldn't contain one quick laugh.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, sorry." I went back to the bed and grabbed my purse. I picked it up and turned back to Damon. "Did you try to use me to lure her out?"

"What? No, what are you talking about?" He asked.

"Did you tell Katherine that if she didn't come over here and talk to you that you would tell the Originals that I was still alive?"

"Well, yeah, but it was a bluff. I wasn't really going to tell them." He said as he walked towards me. He could see the hurt in my eyes, the betrayal, but he couldn't see the rage. Anger was boiling up in me about Katherine, about Lexi. "C'mon Norrah, I'm trying to keep you safe."

I shifted my eyes over toward Lexi. "Well," she said, "I've already taken my shot. You're up kid." I gave her a sideways smile.

"I am not a toy for you to dangle in front of her to see if she'll swat."

"I know, look, it was just a way to get her here, okay? He said. "Now let's go before she gets here and makes both of us sorry."

"I'm already sorry Damon."

"Wha…" I hauled back and hit him square in the temple sending him flying across the floor. He slammed into the banister in the hallway and crumpled. I stared at my outstretched fist, shocked. I'd never punched anyone before.

Lexi stood next to me laughing, "Wow slugger, that was a definite home run." She looked at me. "You can put your hand down."

"Do you think I hurt him?" I asked.

"I think he's a vampire who will heal, and he killed your best friend so he deserved it. Now grab your stuff and let's go, the others are coming."

"Hey, just because you're dead doesn't mean you don't have to help," I told her as I stuffed my overflowing pack in her hands. I grabbed the clothes on the floor and walked out of the room. Lexi walked ahead but I stopped for a minute to check on Damon. A huge black and purple bruise had formed on his cheek and his jaw looked a little crooked, I probably broke a few bones.

"Norrah!" Lexi yelled up to me.

"Hey Lex you were right," I called back, "that was a damn good shot." I ran down the stairs and out the front door.