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Chapter 009

Compelling Confessions

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Friday, June 04, 2010; early afternoon

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So after we left the cave, we headed back to the boarding house and after checking that everything really had arrived from the cave and elsewhere, Bonnie went about placing all the other spells we need.

As she said in the cave, she knew a spell to allow any in our family to read, write, speak, and understand fluently all of the different languages found in the journals and Grimoires, which she assured me she can easily do on other people as the various members of our family return to us. Then she did the spell to keep those who mean us harm out, which turned out to be better than the spell that would have just kept the Supernatural out since this spell will keep the Founder's Council out too if they try to take me down again. She followed that up with spells to protect against fire and water, ones to protect against mold, decay, and aging in general, and one to keep our secrets secret from those who shouldn't know them.

I smiled at her when she showed me that last spell understanding that it will keep our enemies from eavesdropping but also keep Elena and Caroline in the dark about their own spells and their roles in my life as Drago. The same will be true for the rest of our family when they finally return.

We are now working on getting the first one back. We are about an hour outside of Chicago and although I wanted to try to make it in a single day Ric suggested the Humans would do better sleeping in beds at a hotel. So we're doing the drive in about a day and a half since Ric and Bonnie convinced me to make many stops along the way so we could take pictures, mostly for her dad, Mr. Hopkins, who believes Ric had a family matter to attend to in Chicago. Mr. Hopkins thinks that instead of leaving Jer and Elena alone at home so soon after their most recent loss, Ric decided to take them with him and turn it into an educational experience.

Since today is June 4th and as of May 28th school is officially out for the summer Ric then sweet talked Bonnie's dad and Liz into letting Bonnie and Caroline go on the trip too. The only one whom we invited that we thought couldn't come was Tyler, but instead of leaving Wednesday morning like we originally wanted to we delayed the trip a day so he could attend some dinner with his mom Wednesday night.

I explained to Carol, "Carol, Tyler's had a lot of loss and upset in his life recently and since Ric and I will be in attendance to chaperone wouldn't it be nice to just let Tyler be a teenager on vacation with his friends especially since Ric plans to make it an educational vacation."

Ric even supplied me with an itinerary and I sweetened the pot by telling her, "I have a degree in art history, so between me and Ric we can easily teach Tyler more about history and art in a week of museum trips than most other people could."

She told me, "He can't miss the dinner."

I called her bluff and asked, "Well then how about we wait to leave until Thursday so he can go to your dinner and still come to Chicago with us?"

Finally, she relented after telling me, "Fine, but if anything happens to my baby boy I'll hold you personally responsible."

So anyway, Ric explained to all of us, "We need to make it look real," so we've been stopping along the way. Bonnie and I are sure that Klaus and Stefan are in North Carolina right now, so we plan to stay in Chicago for a few days maybe up to a week and go to all the museums.

The teens all groaned at that news but I told them "It'll be fun since we have a talented and personable history teacher and someone who was actually there during the history to narrate and point out all the historical inaccuracies." I also added that, "If our real reason for the trip is successful we'll hopefully have two individuals who lived through so much history to give you firsthand accounts."

I have to say I'm a little nervous about undaggering the Originals. We decided to go with Jer's idea and do Elijah first and then once we've won him over, ask him what he thinks the best bet with his siblings will be.

When we arrive in Chicago, we head to the nicest hotel in the city, which has a condo on the top of it that just happens to be conveniently owned by me.

Bonnie smiles as the porter rolls the bag cart to the elevator across from the one we just got out of at my urging. The second elevator only accesses the floors of my condo. The porter turns back to look at me and tells me, "Sir, I'll take the bags up one floor and meet you up there."

After I nod at him, Bonnie asks me, "So, do you own just the condo or the whole…"

I laugh, "I actually own the whole building and the hotel. I own many actual houses but I especially own many hotels around the world, actually, well I own a lot of buildings and businesses in general but definitely a lot of Hotels most of which have a condo inside them somewhere. I'm sure Elijah is the same way; we probably have holdings in mostly the same cities and regions. I also know Katherine owns a bunch of bed and breakfasts around the world."

She turns to look at me as I lead her and the others into the foyer then she and Tyler ask at the same time, "How do you know that if you've only known she wasn't trapped for a few months."

I smile that smirk of mine that usually means I'm up to no good and tell them, "Pearl and Anna actually had a friend of theirs investigate Katherine. When Pearl died, Anna showed up the next day to tell me Pearl was dead and that she had several boxes she asked be delivered to me in the event of her final death. Upon Anna's death, I actually inherited everything they owned, but there were things Pearl wanted me to have even if Anna was alive."

I pause considering the past then tell them, "I have to say I don't really regret much in terms of things Damon wasn't able to do, but not being able to save Pearl and Anna are definitely towards the top of the short list. They were good to me back in 1864 and except for reminding me that she was my elder and to be respected, they were continuing that theme once Pearl was released from the tomb. She even apologized for not controlling the tomb Vamps well enough to protect Stefan. For the record, apologizing wasn't really something she generally did, so it was a big deal that she admitted to that failure on her part. Then as I said they both left me everything they had accumulated in their long lives when they died."

Bonnie and Tyler double team me again and interrupt to ask, "Didn't the founding families steal everything the tomb Vampires owned."

I smile realizing Care has obviously filled Tyler in on every last detail, which is a good thing, so I laugh and say, "Nope, they only took the local properties and holdings. They had no way of knowing what the Vampires had outside Mystic Falls and since Pearl and Anna were both centuries older than Katherine, Anna knew everything she needed to know to maintain and grow everything all the tomb Vampires had. She did so figuring they'd get out eventually. I think Emily even helped by removing all the records of the holdings outside Mystic Falls and most of the more priceless valuables from their homes so the Founders wouldn't know about or have access to them."

I smile that smirk again and tell them, "Anna and Emily actually did phenomenal jobs of it too as most of the tomb Vamps' net worths when they died on Founder's Day were higher than those of the wealthiest Humans. Now that they're all gone, it's all Damon Salvatore's as Anna for whatever reason named me everyone's beneficiary so she literally left it all to me. I'm in the process of moving most of it around so it's not so obvious what happened to keep anyone from asking why I just inherited huge fortunes and estates worth hundreds of billions of dollars each from 27 different people, who all happened to die within a few weeks of each other."

Everyone's eyes are wide at the mention of hundreds of billions of dollars so I smile then get back to answering their questions. "Anyway, back to the boxes Pearl left, among the many boxes Anna delivered were several with info she thought I might need and lists of the people Pearl and Anna protected through the years and a request that I continue to look after them, which I am doing if you're wondering. Some of the other boxes had everything Katherine likely doesn't want anyone to know, all her aliases, all her holdings, lists of all her friends and more importantly lists of anyone whom she feels owes her. I pretty much know everything she did while I thought she was in the tomb.

I pause then tell them, "Anna also at her mother's request introduced me to several individuals of use including her investigator, Hanz Klein, who is about four centuries older than Elijah. Apparently, Pearl thought highly of me and spoke fondly of me even giving me most of the credit for getting her out of the tomb, so he has decided to honor her wish that he help me in any way he can until his final day. I have him currently looking into Klaus as cautiously as possible."

I pause and then at all the worried looks being thrown my way I tell them, "Don't worry I made sure Hanz knows Klaus is an Original and a Hybrid at that and that if he gets caught he might end up begging for a quick death. I also made sure he knows that I don't want him to martyr himself and that if he feels it's getting too dangerous I won't hold it against him if he discontinues his research. Last thing I want is to get Pearl's friend dead just for helping us."

Bonnie throws a questioning frown at me so I tell her, "Oh don't look at me like that Judgey, I'm not so willing to allow collateral damage as I once was. And for the record that change of heart is just about equal parts my new family's influence and my breaking the spell. Besides I actually knew him before the spell was cast as Asya is the one who turned him, and she will never let me hear the end of it if I get him killed. The good news is Asya was about 453,500 years old when she turned him so he's significantly stronger than Elijah and Klaus are combined so he stands a good chance of surviving. I called and told him I'm back, so now he's helping me because of who I am and not so much because of Pearl."

I smile as Bonnie nods. I know she thinks my changed perspective has more to do with Elena than the rest of them and while that was true in the beginning I hope they all know that they've all had a positive effect on me.

I really don't plan to get anyone other than Klaus and then the younger Pervonachalnyue killed if I can help it, so I'm serious about having warned Hanz. Besides, he's a good guy and now that my switch is broken in the on position, I'd feel like shit if I inadvertently got him killed.

Bonnie's distracted from our conversation by the view as they all shuffle out of the foyer behind me into what is one of my nicer living spaces on this side of the Atlantic. She obviously agrees as she breathes out, "Wow Drago, just wow."

She laughs as do I, as everyone else nods deeply as they look around. I smile and say, "Follow me."

They follow me up the first flight of stairs and through the upstairs living room to a long hallway with doors on one side and one at the end of the hall. The porter is waiting just outside of the elevator with our bags. I open the first door and say, "There are three floors and they all have bedrooms. Since the Hotel, takes up half of the entire city block and the condo takes up the entire length and width of the hotel there are a total of 29 bedrooms, including my master bedroom, in the whole condo. Vampire Barbie this is your room."

She kisses my cheek as she passes by me and then most of us quickly cover our ears when Caroline squeals to high heaven. They all stick their heads inside the door and smile at the room that looks like it belongs to a princess complete with canopy bed that has light pink gossamer curtains surrounding the bed, though there is no roof on the canopy. There is also a huge balcony through the French doors, which adds to the decadence of the room.

Care spins and runs to hug me then runs back into the room, and after kicking off her shoes, she jumps on the bed a couple of times before landing on her back and saying breathlessly, "That's kind of trippy with the view and the bouncing. I felt like I was flying for a sec."

I laugh at that, and I take her bag from the porter and place it on a bag stand over by the door that leads to a bathroom that rivals mine back at home. Bonnie giggles and asks, "Brother, who does all your bathrooms?"

My eyes crinkle as I laugh heartily at that and only say, "I know a guy."

I then lead them to the next door and say, "Little Gilbert, this one's yours or yours and Bonnie's depending, which ever, doesn't really matter to me."

She looks at Ric who shrugs and says, "I know for a fact that Jenna knew Stefan and Damon spent hours and sometimes whole nights in Elena's room. I also know that she knew Stefan wasn't staying on top of the covers fully dressed unlike Damon, so who am I to start acting all parental. Provided no one ends up pregnant I really don't think I get a say."

I chuckle as Elena turns bright red at Ric's apparent knowledge of her personal life before Bonnie smiles and kisses Ric's cheek and then has a silent conversation with Jer. Finally, she smiles as he nods before grabbing her bag from the porter and following Jer into the powder blue room that has a huge sleigh bed in the middle of it that is made of cherry wood. This room has a balcony too. She walks over to the window and looks out, and since it's a clear day, she can see for miles. It's a beautiful view so I'm not surprised when she runs back and kisses my cheek and whispers, "Thank you, Brother."

I smile and nod before leading Tyler, Elena, and Ric down the hall. I skip two doors and then open the second to last door before the room at the end of the hall. "This one is Wolf-boy's room." He grabs his bag from the porter and walks into the room that looks a lot like my room in Mystic Falls only with a balcony all along one wall. He stops and says, "Nice, thanks man."

After he places his bag on the bag stand I lead Elena and Ric to stop at the last door before the perpendicular one and say, "This is your room Elena," as I open the door.

It's got a canopy bed with white and pale yellow curtains and roof and the room again has a balcony.

She smiles and kisses my cheek as she takes her bag from the porter and sets it on the bag rack inside the door of the walk-in closet.

She then turns and follows us to the perpendicular door at the end of the hallway and I say, "Ric you get the grown up room, well one of them."

Bonnie sneaks out of her and Jer's room and follows to see what kind of digs Ric got. Her unspoken 'Holy shit' is written all over her face. It is a pretty nice room as it's a corner suite so two of the walls are floor to ceiling windows with a wraparound balcony. I smile and tell them all, "Fair warning I'm the only one with a private balcony, so you all get to share, so just be aware of the communal status."

They all nod so I leave Ric to inspect the huge California King four poster bed done in dark purple and lead Bonnie, Jer, Ty, Elena, and Care back down the hall.

I stop and open the two rooms we skipped when asked about them. I point to them and say, "These two and two more upstairs are for Elijah and his siblings if they need a place to stay that Klaus won't know about. I'm not actually listed as the owner of most of my property so like Elijah I should be slightly harder to track than Katherine and Klaus are proving to be.

Bonnie asks what everyone's wondering, "So who's listed as the owner of your stuff if not you, and wouldn't it just be an alias like you said Katherine has?"

I shift my weight a bit before I say, "Katherine and Klaus use aliases that they just randomly come up with. The names come out of thin air and there is little to no back-story or paper trail so all one has to do is look for people who didn't exist before a certain time. I mean look at Elena, Stefan easily figured out she was adopted because there was no record of a hospital stay or her mom having been pregnant. My aliases on the other hand have actual filed birth records, recorded hospital stays for their births, recorded doctor's visits, school records when needed, and families and descendants who remember them. The original ones all died as teens or young adults and I compelled everyone to forget they died and think I'm their loved one or a descendant like them."

Bonnie is frowning so I turn to look her in the eye and tell her, "Now before you go getting all Judgey, Judgey I make sure the families are considerably better off compared to how they used to be and I make sure all of their descendants are well taken care of through the years. I treat them all kindly and act as if I love them the few times I see them. I send them postcards and video when I travel and write them letters so they don't worry.

"At this point most of them even know my secret like Zach did and they keep it and protect me. Every generation I compel a doctor to make a birth certificate and forge doctor and hospital records for the alias I'll use in the next generation with the current alias I'm using listed as the father. The grown children back up the birth records and claim me to be their cousin through the last alias I used in their family so I get to keep my wealth hidden with them and they get to keep reaping the benefits of having an immortal benefactor."

I pause and at the deepening frown on Bonnie's face, I continue explaining, "I didn't cause the deaths of my original aliases they happened on their own and their families all know that as well as the fact that I didn't have to take care of their families. I only took advantage of our similar appearances after the fact and all of my deceased aliases are buried in crypts with my actual descendants so I can be sure they're being properly cared for. Of course while the spell was in place I didn't actually know they were my descendants but still they are and the graves are treated with respect and well cared for."

Bonnie clearly isn't completely convinced as she asks, "You didn't cause any of the deaths?"

I sigh as I see her prepare for the worst, "Only one and only because my nature spooked the horse he was riding and he fell off and broke his neck. I actually didn't look that much like him, but I turned him into an alias, so I could make sure his family who had lost their father the year before was well provided for. The father had left them practically bankrupt, so I fixed all of his financial issues, and the family is currently part of the one percent the Politicians are so quick to complain about these days. And for the record I actually felt bad about his death especially since that hadn't been my intention."

She obviously feels bad for assuming the worst but still asks, though more gently, "What was your intention?"

I sigh and tell her the sad story, "I was staying with them as a guest and his little sister was playing with a ball while he ran the horse back and forth across the yard. She reminded me of a childhood friend who died young from influenza so when she ran too close to his horse I moved her out of the way before she could get hurt."

Frowning I continue the story, "The irony that by trying to save the sister I actually wound up killing the brother wasn't lost on me, and I immediately set about covering up his death and setting things as right as I could manage. For the record I regret that death too."

She smiles and tells me, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have—"

"It's okay Bonnie truth is I was a bad man for a long time. That was one of the few times Damon had his switch turned on back then and that death actually precipitated me turning it off for a couple of decades, well actually until I met Elena."

I barely pause as I say, "First time I laid eyes on her… I of course first thought she was Katherine, but then once I heard the different cadence to her speech and truly realized she was a live girl, well my switch got a mind of its own and began the longer than anticipated process of turning itself back on."

Now I do pause and then cautiously continue, "And in the interest of full disclosure I watched you Elena, for just as long as Stefan did, though not to make sure you weren't Katherine. I already knew you were nothing like the bitch and that was even before I realized just how big a selfish and cruel bitch she is."

She smiles so I keep going, "Mostly I wanted the sweet girl whom I briefly spoke with to get everything she ever wanted, so I kept an eye on you to make sure you were safe, and for the record, I was seconds behind Stefan when he pulled you out of the water. I actually dove in and pulled your mom out while Stefan went back and got your dad. I stayed just long enough to know you were going to make it then I hightailed it out of there since I hadn't planned on letting Stefan know I was in town. But I knew trying to save your family was more important than keeping a low profile."

I'm looking at Elena who has tears running down her cheeks. She's looking deeply into my eyes and she seems to find what she's looking for as she steps into my arms and sobs out "Thank you for trying."

I hold her while she cries and pet her hair. When she calms down she looks up at me with still watery eyes and asks the question I was pretty sure was going to come when I started this line of conversation, "When did we meet? I'm sure I would have remembered."

I sigh again and drop my arms preparing for her to be angry with me. "I met you moments before your parents picked you up. We had a conversation during which we discussed what you wanted in life. I told you that you want what everyone wants, a love that consumes you. I told you that you want passion, an adventure, and even a little danger. Then I wished for you to get everything you were looking for, and then I compelled you to forget me."

She doesn't seem angry but still I tell her, "In my defense, I didn't really know you then, not beyond what I could see of you looking into your eyes, and I really didn't want Stefan to know I was in town. If I had known then, that five minutes later I'd be blowing my cover to help him try to rescue your family from the lake I wouldn't have bothered compelling you."

She grabs my hands and asks, "Is that the only time you compelled me?"

Shit! I probably should have seen that coming. I shake my head. "No I compelled you one more time."

She gasps but doesn't let go of my hands as she asks, "When?"

I hang my head in shame. I wait for her eyes to flash and narrow and her nostrils to flare in response to the first compulsion but they never do. Still she'll definitely be angry about the second compulsion even if she doesn't seem mad about the first one. She uses our entwined fingers to tilt my chin up so I'm looking in her eyes.

I barely notice that everyone else is kind of debating sneaking into their rooms so we can have what should obviously be a private conversation in private but neither one of us pays our audience much attention as I say, "After we got you back from Rose and Trevor. I found your necklace in the abandoned house so I showed up in your room to return it to you."

She tilts her head to the side and narrows her eyes as she asks, "Why would you compel me to forget that?"

I uncharacteristically slouch and then proceed to bare my soul again in front of my family. "I told you I had to say it just once, you tried to stop me, but I told you I love you and then told you that because I love you I can't be selfish with you. And because of that I had to let you go because while I don't deserve you my brother does. Then I compelled you to forget the whole conversation and left before you snapped out of it."

Bonnie tilts her head to the side and purses her lips before she says, "I have that memory Damon, that's not all you did."

Elena stiffens but I stand up straight since that really is all I did and I tell her, "I swear that's all I did."

Bonnie frowns and seems to really examine the memory for a moment then she tells me, "I don't think you meant to do it if it's any consolation, but you believed so strongly at the time that she should always choose Stefan that I think you inadvertently compelled her to choose him over you. I think that's why she's so conflicted. Her heart wants to choose you, but her mind won't let her because you accidentally compelled her to choose your brother over you."

My eyes widen and I get the chills while a tingling sensation spreads through my chest just before I say. "Fuck, did I? God Elena I didn't mean to fuck with your head or your heart I just needed to say the words and for you to hear them just once, but I didn't want to hurt you by doing it, so I tried to take the memory away. I'm, I'm so sorry I never meant—"

She places her finger over my lips and whispers "I believe you. I know you would never intentionally fuck with my head as you so elegantly put it. Is there a way to undo it?"

I think hard, lost in thought for a moment and then I say, "Usually if you want to undo a compulsion you need to basically put an escape clause in it when you place it and say 'do this or forget that until…' which I didn't do. However, Tianna removed a compulsion without an escape clause once. Someone compelled someone to do something I thought was beyond wrong and immoral so I asked Tianna to consult her tomes. She reworked three spells into one and gave them back their memories."

I frown at the memory, "Of course then we had to leave, but I felt that was better than letting the man believe his wife had willingly been unfaithful, so he and everyone else knew that one of my Vampire descendants had actually forced himself on the woman. I killed him for that and then we left that area for a few decades. Anyway, I know Tianna wrote it in one of her books so maybe when we get back Bonnie can look for it and then try to undo what I accidentally did. I really am sorry. Damn I keep apologizing for shit. That seems to be all I do lately."

My heartbeat begins to race, well as much as a Vampire's heart can race, when Elena quickly whispers, "It's alright. I forgive you. It takes a lot of love to let go of the one you love because you believe someone else is better for them." She looks deep into my eyes as she continues, "Do I wish you had let me keep the memory and make my own choice? Yes, but you're a work in progress, Damon, and I remember where you were on your road to feeling again when that took place, so I know you thought you were doing the right thing."

She pauses then grips my hands tighter and tells me, "I do, however, need you to promise not to compel me again. If you do that and really mean it, and I'll be able to tell, then I'll forgive you right now and say a little prayer that Bonnie can fix it."

I let go of her hands and her face and shoulders drop until I cup her face in my hands and looking her right in the eyes vow, "I swear to you Elena, I won't compel you or any other member of our family without their prior consent ever again."

She smiles and I let go of her face and stuff my hands in my pockets as I tell her, "Besides, now that the spell is broken I'm back to believing that less is more when it comes to deciding whether to compel someone or not."

She nods with her smile firmly in place as do the rest of them as she tells me, "I'm going to hold you to that Damon."

I nod back and whisper, "I know. I wouldn't want it any other way."

When we look to be done with our not so private moment Bonnie interrupts as softly as possible probably so as not to jar us out of our little bubble, "I saw the spell the other night as we were looking for the others for the boarding house. Since the book also houses the spell used to freeze Drago and his family I actually have the book here in Chicago."

She pauses briefly and then smiles before saying, "I think I have all but one of the things I'd need. When we go to the Witchy store later today to get what I need for the spell for the Originals then I can pick up the herb I need for this spell and we can do it tonight if you guys want. Though I have to warn you I'll need blood from both of you and it has to be freely given."

We both smile and Elena nods as I say, "That won't be a problem," which honestly I'm sure she never doubted but she obviously wanted to give us full disclosure.

Jer breaks the following silence next and asks, "So have you compelled any of the rest of us?"

I nod and say, "I compelled Caroline a bunch of times, but she remembers all of those now that she's a Vampire. I've apologized though if you need to hear it again, Sister, I will tell you I'm sorry as often as you need me to."

She smiles and says, "I'm good, Brother, since one of the last things you wanted to do before you died was apologize to me as if you needed to right the wrong you had committed before it was too late I believe you're truly sorry. When you whispered that you were wrong to do it and that you'd take a bite from Ty again if it meant protecting me, well it helped me get past it, but thank you for offering."

I nod and then continue, "I compelled you Jeremy the one time that you know about from reading Elena's diary."

Bonnie interrupts, "You might get those memories back through Damon's memories, but I could reverse that too if you want, but everyone who saw you after Vicki's death, before Damon compelled you to forget, agrees you were pretty wrecked and that it was gruesome, and they wish they didn't remember, so be careful what you wish for."

I'm surprised but not when Jer looks at me and asks, "What's your opinion, Brother? You know what the compulsion was, and you and Elena know what I forgot. Do you still believe I'm better off not remembering?"

I pause and give the question the consideration it deserves then I say, "First I wasn't present for the worst parts you personally saw. Therefore, those memories won't be returned through my memories but possibly through Stefan's memories since he's the one who saw her attack you and staked her in your defense. That said, honestly I was horrible to Vicki too and I turned her into a monster and that you will get from my memories. While I didn't intend to turn her into a monster, the last time you saw the first girl you loved she was staked by my brother as she tried to tear out your and your sister's throats. I did that. I made her into that."

I see Tyler's eyes widen in surprise and realize a moment too late that he might not know about what I did to Vicki. I already said it though so there's no going back so I soldier on despite the anger Tyler might feel towards me. "I understand that you wish I hadn't removed the memory, and I totally understand about the hole you mentioned the other day still being there but all I can ask you is this, 'Do you really want your last memory of the girl you loved to be of what I turned her into? Or do you want to remember the last time you saw her before I killed her?'"

I pause and as he obviously considers my question, I tell him, "I'll support your decision whatever you decide but maybe you should think about it for a few days. Bonnie is this spell something that you can do for Elena now and then do later for Jer if he decides he wants the memory back?"

She nods and tells us, "Yeah it's actually probably best to wait until after we deal with the Originals before I go trying to fix Jer's memory though I firmly believe the sooner we fix Elena's the better, so I'm going to push to do that tonight after we've eaten dinner."

I nod and smile sadly, "Okay so Jer, think about it and if you want to talk about it and have me tell you everything that I've been told happened like I just did with Elena let me know and I'll answer all your questions so you can make a fully informed decision."

Jer smiles and tells me, "Okay, I'll probably take you up on that later, Brother."

I nod and smile slightly, "Whenever, my door is always open to you, to all of you for whatever you might need and Tyler, obviously you didn't know the finer details of Vicki's death, so if you want to know what happened in more detail find me later and I'll fill you in, okay?"

Ty nods deeply and thankfully and, honestly, surprisingly, he seems more curious than angry as he says, "I'll definitely be taking you up on that later."

I nod back and after everyone else nods at my offer they thank me before I frown and say, "I also compelled you, Ric, shortly after you got to town, you kept acting shifty around me, so I asked who you were, why you were here, that sort of thing and then compelled you to forget the whole conversation."

Surprisingly Ric smiles, "I know, Brother, I was holding a Vervain branch in my hand at the time."

I unexpectedly laugh at that, "Of course you were…" I pause and really think about what he said for a minute then tell him, "I suppose I should have known that since your answers turned out to be lies, still all the same I'm sorry."

Ric smiles and shrugs, "I forgave you for most of the shit you did to me the first time you saved my life. Forgiving you for turning my wife into a monster took a little longer but now pretty much all is forgiven since I now know she actually begged you to turn her. I know how persistent she could be when she wanted something so, yeah I've pretty much forgiven you for everything you've done 'to' me at this point."

I nod and then say, "For the record Ric I'm sorry I killed you too, twice no less. I don't think I actually apologized so just know I'm sorry for that too."

He nods back and tells me, "I must have brain damage from my two deaths because strangely I forgave you, Brother, for that fairly easily all things considered."

I laugh and say, "Well thank you then." I turn and look at everyone else and tell them, "I haven't done any other compelling to anyone in this hallway."

Bonnie smiles and tells me, "I think I speak for everyone when I say, thank you for telling us the truth even though we all know you thought we'd be angry and never forgive you. You're a brave and good man Damon Salvatore."

I laugh and tell her, "I don't know about that Sabrina, but I thought the least I owe all of you is my honesty."

They all nod and the girls all give me hugs and kisses on the cheeks while Jer, Ty, and Ric pat me on the back. Then Caroline brings the mood back up to where it was by asking, "So can we see your room?"

I laugh again and then lead them all back down the hallway where we get into the private elevator and ride down to the main floor. After grabbing my bag off the porter's cart, I wink at Bonnie before compelling the porter, "You won't remember any part of our conversations since we first got onto the elevator with you in the lobby." He repeats what I said and then I hand him a crisp hundred-dollar bill, and we watch the elevator doors close behind him before we all head back into the living room.

I quickly show them around telling them, "This is the kitchen," then I show them down the hall and lead them into my office and then the 'man cave' off under the stairs. I quickly show them the seven bedrooms on that side of the first floor then as we head back into the living room I turn to everyone and extend my arm in the opposite direction of the stairs before leading them into a short hallway.

At the end of the hall, I open the door and we all shuffle inside. Three walls are floor to ceiling windows with a balcony that extends from all three walls, so I chuckle at their wide eyes and hanging jaws. There's a huge lowered sitting area off to the left and my bed is to the right against the wall the door is in. My bed is pretty similar to the one I have in Mystic Falls only this one is slightly bigger and higher off the ground. The ceiling is high and there is no second story above this room, though the third floor does have a few rooms above this one.

Caroline and Bonnie open one of the doors to the balcony and step out into the afternoon sunshine. My view is, in my opinion, even more amazing than all of their views because you can see the lake in the distance from my balcony. There is a high wall out on the balcony with a door in it, which separates my portion of the balcony from the one that goes out from the main living room.

I set my bag down on one of the bag stands resting just inside the huge walk-in closet set into the wall the bedroom door is in, and then I turn and ask them all, "So Sabrina needs to go to the Witchy store. I'd prefer we stick together but anyone who wants to stay behind should be fairly safe inside the apartment. Although I'll get really mad and extra bossy if anyone who does stay leaves the safety of the apartment without the rest of us for back up. We're essentially in enemy territory so we have to play it smart and safe whenever possible."

We all look at each other and then everyone agrees we'll all go to the store. We go to our rooms to freshen up after the long drive, and then we meet in the foyer and head out into the city to buy Bonnie's supplies.