Chapter 11: Two down, three to go

A person was lounging against the bar at the Grill. Only a couple was in there besides them in the large empty establishment. the redhead woman threw her head back laughing loudly before placing a kiss on the man's lips and headed to the bathroom. The person at the bar moved to intercept her.

"Sarah?"

the redhead undersheriff turned to the person following her. Her green eyes widened in recognition but she had no time to say a word or call for help. The killer plunged a well sharpened knife into her chest and pulled it back letting the air whoosh in and kill her immediately.

At the same time as Sarah Franks was being killed the same happened to her husband, Ian Franks the hospital director in his office. Both were members of the Founders' council as they were part of the town's officials.

And now they were dead.

Liz Forbes woke up groggily thanks to the annoying 'Staying alive' song. She hated the Bee Gees

"I'm going to kill Charlie"

she muttered pressing the button with the little green phone on. Moments later she sat up on her bed all plans for a relaxing day gone from her mind. She got dressed in her uniform mechanically and walked downstairs where Charlie was making breakfast while talking on the phone. she poured a cup of coffee on her travel mug as he finished his conversation and turned to her.

"There are two more"

were the first words she told him. he nodded

"Tracy called me. She's keeping it off the press, for now"

"Tracy? Oh you mean Logan's sister?"

"yeah she arrived yesterday. What happened with the woman at the Ferris?"

Liz took a sip of his coffee telling him that she was the head of the fire station. also a member of the council even though she wasn't a founder descendant.

"how many are still alive?"

Charlie asked fearing for the answer. Liz grimly responded

"two. Carol Lockwood and myself, Saltzman doesn't count"

At school the new teacher was welcomed as if she was a new brand of mold. No one cared. No one paid any attention at the fact that her last name was Gilbert or the striking resemblance she bore to Elena Gilbert who was easily failing the class. The only person that was even remotely friendly to her was her cousin who made a point by ignoring his 'sister' and spending his free time either talking to Stephenie or sketching on his notebook.

During recess Stephenie casually walked up to Alaric Saltzman who was in a heated discussion on his cell phone. She introduced herself but the older man ignored her so she turned on her laptop and worked on her material for the day.

Caroline was leaning against her locker when she received the best mews she had in the past couple weeks. A hand covered her eyes and a pair of fingers gave her the tickling of a lifetime.

"Tyler!"

she shrieked and slapped the offending hands away before knocking the breath of the teenage hybrid with a bone crushing hug and a welcoming kiss.

"When did you get back?"

"A moment ago"

"and you came to school?"

Caroline wondered checking comically his forehead for fever. Tyler slapped playfully her hands away smiling proudly

"I missed you"

Caroline smiled widely and nested in his arms. she didn't want to ask if he had managed to shake Klaus' hold on him, she simply did not wish to know

At the hospital Elliott Forbes demanded to be the one to perform the autopsy on the undersherriff and the hospital director. Meredith Fell tried her best to sway him from this decision but he was adamant as he was older and far more experienced than her. The young doctor had to other option but to step down cursing under her breath and hope against hope he didn't find anything he wasn't supposed to find.

At the other end of the small town Damon Salvatore was lounging on his chair sipping his drink while throwing knives on a large detailed map of the US that was hanging in his father's old office.

"Hey! You could hurt me"

Exclaimed the dark red haired vampire that was almost hit with the knife.

"nah, I have a great mark"

Damon lazily snaked. Bella rolled her eyes and took the knifes off the map and returned them to him

"what are you doing?"

Damon took the knives back and started throwing them again with his eyes closed this time while he replied.

"Planning my future buffet table since you're now... less than human"

"sorry. You only have yourself to blame for that you know. if you hadn't fed me your blood then I'd be a dead cold one by now"

She replied cheekily. Damon opened his eyes and groaned when he saw his knives were all over the map and discarded the idea altogether.

"Want a drink?"

"Sure, why not"

Moments later the two were sitting on a couch with drinks and were talking like old friends.

"Damnit"

Alaric swore when he left the school. the new girl, Stephenie, was talking with Jeremy and matt out on the front court. he had done his best to ignore her all day but Elena who once again was wrapped up in her own little world was not answering her phone and he had no idea what to do. he decided to act normally and walked up to them.

"oh, hey "

Matt exclaimed seeing the named history teacher behind Jeremy and Stephenie. Stephenie pulled a face before turning to see him and offer a polite smile.

"Hey Ric"

Jeremy greeted the teacher and sometimes friend with his casual childish smile.

"Jeremy... I thought you were in Denver"

Alaric asked with his eyebrows knotted.

"well, I was, but we didn't have any family friends there, kind of strange don't you think?"

Jeremy pointed out and Stephenie gave him a sly smile under Alaric's radar.

The resident 'Vampire hunter' nodded wondering just what had happened in Denver and who this Gilbert girl was.

"Well, you better work better on that essay"

"Don't worry, Jerry's under good care"

Stephanie mock-punched Jeremy's shoulder. Matt looked surprised at the nickname

"Sorry to leave you all but I'm off to practice"

Matt muttered and left. Behind him Jeremy was locked in a stare down with Alaric and Stephanie bit her lip when the latter muttered something under his breath.

"well, see you in class"

He told Jeremy before heading off to his car, his parting words making sure that Jeremy wasn't welcome in his own house.

"Looks like Mr. History doesn't want you home"

Stephenie said while taking her car keys of her pocket. Jeremy glanced at her.

"Seems like it. What's up with your attitude?

"nothing. He just rubs me the wrong way"