Ava eyes snapped open she lurched forward gasping for breath, she felt sore. Incredibly sore

"Gran-"

"Ava-"

"Stefan?" she croaked "what's going on? Where-"

"Ssh, Claudine said we needed some time alone" Stefan murmured, she flinched when she felt something wet and cold against her skin

"What-"

"It's to wipe away the blood" the vampire muttered. Lightly holding her chin as he dabbed away the blood.

"Blood?" she questioned the ache from her head was easing up and her throat no longer felt raw.

"Blood" Stefan was leaning over her as he sat on the edge of her bed "You coughed it up Ava, Damon's blood. You were convulsing-"

"It's nothing" she waved him off, and hissed when his grip tightened someone

"It isn't nothing Ava" he growled

"Why are you so concerned, I'm fine" she scowled

"Wow you are really dense sometimes, Ava you are my friend, of course I'm concerned. I care for you and I was scared"

Ava sighed "Sorry" she murmured,

"It's ok" he cupped her chin "Ava your Gran said you're not normal, what did she mean?"

The blond laughed nervously "No clue, you know how Gran gets once she gets too many drinks she-"

"Ava" Stefan said sternly she sighed dejectedly "What did she mean?"

Ava bit her lip "She means….I'm…..a freak-"

"I DIDN'T SAY THAT. YOU'RE NOT A FREAK-"Gran shrieked from the other side of the door

"Gran, you can't eavesdrop" Ava huffed, Stefan shook his head a small smile marred his face

"Ava, she's gone" the vampire uttered he could Claudine's fading footsteps "So tell me="

"You're going to think I'm a freak" Ava muttered, Stefan frowned for the first time he could see how vulnerable she looked, so small on her large bed.

"Ava…"

She took a deep breath; she knew she had to tell him. She had no other choice since Stefan had witnessed her fit, as well as her Gran telling him she wasn't normal "I….I'm….the thing is…-"

"Ava" Stefan grasped her hand "just tell me"

Ava licked her lips "I…I can read minds" there was a moment of silence. She stiffened when he didn't move or say anything "Stefan?-"

"You can read minds?"

"Yes-"

"Ava-"

"OK" Ava started "I….I understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore or that you want nothing to do with me-humph-" she couldn't get the rest of her sentence out since Stefan had slammed the palm of his hand over her mouth.

"Listen carefully Ava I don't think you're a freak, and I am not going to walk out on you" he pulled his hand bag, her eyes were wide

"You won't?" her voice was small "and you actually believe-"

"What that you can read minds?" Stefan chuckled "I'm a vampire Ava, so I guess I believe in the not so ordinary."

A big smile crossed her face she surprised him by launching herself towards him, she hugged him tight. Stefan wrapped his arms around her holding her close "And you won't leave me?"

"No I won't" he breathed kissing her temple, he pulled back letting his hand rest on the nape of her neck

"So can you read anyone's mind? Or-"

"Pretty much" Ava replied "but not yours and Damon, I think it's because you're a vampire and you know-"

"Dead?" he asked

"Yeah, but I can control it." she assured him "Its most a low buzzing in my head. But you can't tell anyone Stefan. Promise me" she pleaded

"Of course" he assured her, he knew what it was like hiding yourself away and sometimes that course of action was for the best.

Stefan nodded he always knew there was something different about Ava but he'd never imagined this was it. So she was a telepath perhaps that could explain it, but from the feeling he got off of Claudine, he knew there was more to Ava. But the vampire decided not to push it.

"Ava-"

"What happened?" she asked she could tell by his tone that something had happened

"Anna has taken Elena"

"Anna?"

"The girl that's been after Jeremy, she wants a way into the tomb"

"Why?" Ava asked worriedly

"I got an idea, but she took Elena and the only reason I think that they got her is to use her to negotiate-"

"They want the grimoire" Ava murmured connecting the dots, "What time is it?"

"Seven in the morning, I've been searching all night Ava. I can't find them"

"Oh crap" she swung her legs out of bed feeling much better "Damon might know where they are" she pointed out

"That's what I was thinking. I'm going to talk to him you stay-"

"No" Ava snapped "I'm not getting left behind. I'm coming with you-"

"It could be dangerous" he as trying to deter her but she vehemently shook her head

"And? She is my friend and I am going to help-"

"Ava-"

"Stefan"

"Fine-"he reluctantly agreed "I'll be waiting outside" truth be told he was going to talk to her Gran knowing that Ava would listen to her. When she heard the sound of her bedroom door shutting she ran into the direction of her bedroom and hurriedly washed her face and brushed her teeth.

When she was done she flew into her bedroom and hurriedly pulled on her clothes, she tied her hair up and trudged down the stairs.

"Claudine can't you-"

"No Stefan, if she wants to go with you she will find a way" the elderly uttered

Stefan let out a frustrated sigh "She's so stubborn" he muttered causing Claudine to chuckle

"I take after Gran, now come on-"Ava said from the doorway

"Breakfast –"

"No time" without another she ran out of the house,

"Claudine-"

"I trust you to look after her Stefan"

Stefan smiled hearing that and like Ava he shot out of the house he could hear Claudine shouting at him to make sure she ate and to take her cane.


Soon enough they were at the Boarding House

"You ok?" Stefan asked setting her on her feet, he had used vampire speed to get there, he handed Ava her cane

"Fine" she replied but a frown when she felt her cane

"Claudine insisted"

Ava sighed and Stefan grabbed her hand as he led her to the boarding house, she had to pick up her pace to keep in step with his longer strides.

"Anna took Elena" Stefan stormed into the parlour, he saw Damon lounging in the armchair going through the grimoire

"Yeah I got that from your six hundred voicemails-"

"Well than why haven't you done anything" Ava snapped, causing the raven head vampire to look over at her

"Ah Ava lovely-"

"Don't speak like we're best friends"

"Oh but we are-"

"Go fuck yourself" she sneered.

"Control her brother, or her brain might be splattered on the walls" Damon scowled, Ava felt an overwhelming sense of hurt at that, Stefan grasped her by her upper and pulled her behind him

"Damon" Stefan uttered "all night long I've been searching every street in town. I've been searching, she could be dead-"

"Well tough luck, it would've been easier if Ava was taken isn't it? at least we're guaranteed to see her again" Damon murmured his eyes still focused on the book but not for long.

"How can you be so cold?" Ava said quietly "How can you be? Gran was wrong"

"Oh yeah? About what?"

"There are monsters in the world because one is sitting right here"

Damon stiffened slightly, she never thought he was a monster? He felt a small surge of emotion swelling in the pit of his stomach but he pushed it back. He didn't care, he didn't but that was far from the truth

"Just…please Damon" Ava resorted to pleading with the vampire

"What do you know?" Stefan asked kneeling down beside him "you were with Anna, you must know where she is living just tell me where I can find her"

There was a moment of silence, Ava shifted from foot to foot, and leant against her cane waiting in anticipation for Damon's answer

"Nope" her jaw drop "you can go, really. And take Ava with you. I doubt she's going to be much fun"

"You know all I can remember is hating you, there might have been a time when that was different but your choices have erased anything good about you" the petite blond remained quiet knowing this was a moment between the brothers, she discreetly raised her hand and felt around, seems like Stefan had placed at the table that was behind the couch, her hand brushed against something cool it took her a second to realise that it was a bottle, of what she assumed was alcohol "But I know that you have just as much reason to hate me. This all began with me; Katherine got taken away from you because of me"

Ava licked her lips, seems there was more to the story than she first thought she tucked in a stray strand of hair behind her ear

"And I'm sorry" Stefan said clearly

"Apology accepted" Ava smiled in relief

"So please tell me what you know" she heard the sound of pages being turned "It's Elena Damon, if you know something tell me. Damon stood up snapping the grimoire shut

"I mean this sincerely I hope Elena dies"

The smile that was on Ava's face was gone in an instant, she felt a surge of anger towards the vampire her hand closed in on around the bottle and without a second thought she flung it across the room, just managing to miss him

"That was the good scotch-"

"You know what Damon" Ava snarled "I mean this sincerely; I hope you never find Katherine and that you'd be a alone for eternity"

Damon growled and blurred towards the blond, grabbing her by the throat, she cringed when her back hit the wall,

"DAMON" Stefan shouted

"I could rip your throat in seconds" the raven head vampire pressed his lips against her ear, causing her to wriggle "in second-"

"Do it then" she dared him. Damon swallowed and studied her he couldn't hurt her like that; he dropped her and picked the grimoire and was gone.

Ava's knees buckled but Stefan caught her around the waist, she rubbed her throat, Stefan lightly grasped the nape of her neck and tilted her head back, "It's not going to bruise" he stroked his fingers against her throat,

"I don't care about that Stefan what are we going to do about Elena?"

"Come on let's get you something to eat-"

"Stefan-"he easily pulled her onto her feet "We can't-"

"Trust me Ava"

Ava finished her drink and set it down on the table, she bit her lip worriedly. Stefan picked up her dirty dishes

"Ava, you ok?"

"No I'm scared" she admitted, Stefan sat down beside her abandoning the dishes; "Elena is like a sister to me and is my best friend. Now there's a chance she won't come home"

Stefan sighed and dropped his arm around her shoulders pulling her close he was worried too "She will." From the doorway Damon watched the scene, seems like the petite blond hadn't only managed to work her way into his heart but Stefan's as well. Just then Stefan's cell rang

"Elena?" Ava perked up hearing him there was a brief moment of silence, "I can get it" he uttered causing her to realise that he wasn't currently talking to Elena, Stefan hanged up

"What happened?" Ava asked

"Go ahead" she jumped slightly hearing Damon behind her "grovel again, oh wait I don't care" Ava shook her head and could hear footsteps leaving the room.

"Stefan what happened?" she repeated her question Stefan sighed

"Anna wants to make a deal, she wants the grimoire in exchange for Elena and…" he trailed off not knowing how she would take this

Ava frowned "And?" she gestured for him to carry on

"Anna also has Bonnie"

"Fuck, come on we're going" she jumped off of the stool, Stefan grabbed her wrist stopping her

"Where?"

"To get them-"

"We don't know where-"

"You're a vampire" she uttered "Sniff them out-"

"Not a bloodhound Ava, it doesn't work like that" Stefan shook his head "I can't track them-what?" he asked seeing her wide eye look, she got an idea

"You can't track them. But what about another witch? Sheila, she can use her mojo-"

"Ava-"

"Come on Stefan" Ava snapped wrenching herself out of his hold and ran out of his room. Stefan groaned and heard a thump an a large 'Ow'

"Ava?" he walked out and saw the blond sprawled out on the floor, "walked into the side table? You want your cane?"

"No shit Sherlock" Ava huffed causing him to snort.


"Told you I could convince Sheila to help" Ava said, she and Stefan were currently sitting in his car, they had gone to the elder Bennett's house and told her what had happened, when they mentioned that Bonnie was taken she didn't need much convincing.

She did a location spell and told Ava and Stefan the address after she had given the blond a ten minute lecture about being safe.

"Never doubted you" Stefan murmured

Ava scoffed "Ok a little, now Ssh-"he allowed his heightened senses to take over so he could locate them "Got it"

"You know what room they're in?"

"Yep-"

"Great lets go" in a blur of movement Stefan was gone. Ava grabbed the door handle and tried to open the door "what the-"it wouldn't opened. "STEFAN" she shouted, he had locked the car with her init. "Ass" she muttered and sat back now all she had to do was wait.

It wasn't long before she could hear a familiar stream of thoughts; she heard the click of the car

"Ava?" she jumped out of the car and had launched herself at Elena and Bonnie hugging them tight

"Oh my god, I was so scared. Are you ok? Are you? Because if you're not I could get my cane and whack him into-"

"Ava shut up" Bonnie chuckled "we're fine"

"Thank god" Ava stepped back smiling in relief,

"Oww-" they both yelped when Ava slapped them hard on the hard

"What the hell?" Elena rubbed her sore arm as Stefan approached them

"That's for getting kidnapped" she glowered at them "made me worry sick-"

"Ok, ok" Bonnie uttered hugging the teen once again "sorry, so how did you guys find us?"

"Let's just get out of here first" Stefan said pushing front seat forward, he wanted to get them out of here before Anna shows up. Bonnie climbed into the back whist Elena got in the front passenger seat.

"Duck your head" Stefan murmured placing his hand on the top of Ava's head as she got in. once they were all buckled in, the vampire started the car and pressed his foot down on the accelerator

"So you're going to tell us?" Elena asked glancing over her shoulder to Ava

"We got help from Sheila" Ava answered and surprised the two other teens by leaning forward and slapped Stefan upside the head hard, she knew he was in front of her as Elena's voice came from her right

"Ava-"

"Don't. Stefan deserved that didn't you?" Ava asked. Stefan rolled his eyes but much to Elena's and Bonnie's amusement he nodded

"What did you do?" Elena questioned fiddling with Ava's cane, the blond had left it at the front when she had rush out to greet them

"I locked her in the car"

"Ohh, bad move" Bonnie uttered "just know that Stefan you're lucky to get away with only a slap."

"Yeah I got that"


Ava was currently sitting in the Bennett house beside Bonnie; Stefan had drove them all back here.

"Ava here" Sheila set her drink down beside her hand, she set a cup of coffee in front of Bonnie and took the seat opposite in front of them. Ava picked up her glass and sipped it

"Oh hot chocolate-"

"You were never one for coffee" Sheila uttered "Claudine called by the way, says something about going out with Greg-"

"Ah-"

"So your poker game is cancelled?"

"Nope, we rescheduled for tomorrow-"she smiled seeing Ava slumping in her seat "What's wrong honey-pie?"

"Can you not take my Gran to the cleaners? She has a bitch-athon every time she comes home when she loses" Ava murmured.

"Sorry no-can-do" Sheila shook her head, Ava rolled her milky green eyes and leant back in her seat

"Ava mentioned you told her and Stefan the location of where we were" Bonnie stated "how did you know where we were?"

"Many things can fuel a witch's power, worry, and anger. After Stefan and Ava told me that they had taken you I had a lot of both-"

"Mostly anger" Ava pitched in

"Ok more of that" Sheila admitted "a simple locator's spell was easy after that."

"I'm sorry" Ava finished her drink and set the empty mug down on the table "about all of this" just then the door slammed shut.

"Not as sorry as they're going to be" Shelia smirked

"Oh is Sheila going to get nasty" Ava grinned causing the two other women to snort. As Elena and Stefan walked into the room.

"So what are we going to do now?" Elena asked coming to stand beside Ava, Stefan moved around the room

"For now you guys need to stay here" Stefan uttered

"Pfft" Ava scoffed "no way"

"She's right-"

"I'm getting used to being right" Ava whispered loudly to Bonnie who rolled her eyes

"It won't last long Ava-"

"Nice Bon, you're so nice" she drawled

"I'm not going to be a prisoner in my own home" Sheila said seriously

Stefan folded his arms across his chest and shook his head "I can't protect you if you leave this house"

"We can protect ourselves"

"I've been trying to tell him that" Ava muttered under her breath, she rested her elbows on the table "We need to give him Katherine back" she uttered "He won't stop till if he gets her back, if we help it'd end this"

"No" Bonnie uttered looking over to Elena who agreed with Ava "he doesn't deserve to get what he wants"

"What other choice do we have?" Elena took over; there was a moment of silence which was broken by Sheila

"Witches being pulled down by vampire problems, as much as we do to try and stay out of it" Sheila commented glancing over to Bonnie. "I'll open the tomb; you get your brother's girl out and destroy the rest with fire. Then this would be all over"

"We still have to get Damon to agree" Stefan pointed out, Ava bit her bottom lip maybe there was one way to convince him

"He already agreed once" Elena stated

"Yeah but then we double crossed him" Stefan countered "so now his angry-"

"He's pissed and hurt Stefan" Ava said "I know what to do. I'll talk to him-"

"No Ava-"

"I can do this Elena" she snapped "I'm not some kid, let me do this"

Stefan sighed as they reluctantly agreed.


"Ok, the door is down the path Ava take this" Stefan handed her the cane. "Ava?"

"I can do this Stef" she said determinedly and she turned on her heel heading towards the boarding house. His cell rang and glanced down and saw that it was Elena

"Elena?"

"Is she there?"

"Yes and-"

"Do you trust him not to hurt her?" Elena asked worriedly she had stayed at the Bennets house

"Yes I do" Stefan admitted "In some twisted way Damon does care for her"

Ava reached out and grasped the door knob, she pushed it open and stepped inside the large manor, she heard movement coming from the parlour, and she used her cane to guide herself there. Ava stopped at the steps and cleared her throat. Making Damon spin around

"Surprised that you turned up, I'm guessing Elena and the witch are back" he pulled his jacket; Ava tapped her fingers against the cane

"Yeah thanks to Stefan"

"Ah brother, ever the white knight" Damon leant back against the couch clutching onto the grimoire

"Yeah you could be as well you know. Don't have to be the bad guy all the time" Ava commented "anyway we managed to convince Bonnie to help you"

"I'd doubt that"

"Yeah if I was you I'd doubt it as well, after all you're a complete douchebag to everyone" she uttered "look you're pissed that we double crossed you, but hey you do that all the time. We only did it so we could protect the people we love" she sighed "and you were in a weird way trying to do the same thing. We're all on the same side Damon; we all want the same thing now."

"Not interested" he said walking away but she called him out

"Liar. You Damon are a liar, you were willing to work with us yesterday and I don't think that's changed."

"Fool me once shame on you" Damon wagged his finger, Ava sighed and lightly tapped her fingers against her cane

"Come on Damon" she stomped her foot, "In Atlanta I'm not going to lie I had a good time, we….we are friends Damon despite everything that's happen, you're my twisted friend. And I know we all hurt you by going behind your back" Ava murmured "And I didn't mean what I said earlier I was just so angry and you weren't exactly helping the situation since you were acting like a complete dick-"

"For someone who's trying to convince me to work with you, you're not doing a good job" Damon scoffed.

Ava sighed as he walked passed her but she grabbed his hand stopping him "Listen I…no one derserves to be alone forever least of you. We want to help Damon"

Damon cupped her face "I'm not going to lie in Atlanta we had fun. You're a funny drunk and in some weird way I consider you someone important to me Ava." She let out a small breath "I'm trusting you Ava, don't make me regret it"

"I promise I won't" Ava assured him.


Ava climbed out of Damon's car, she had called Stefan to let him and the others know that Damon had agreed, Damon then took the phone off of her and said that she and he would meet them at the tomb.

"So where are you going to go once you get Katherine back?" Ava asked

"Out of this place" he replied walking around the car, he placed his hand on the small of her back; she had left her cane in the car thinking she wouldn't really be needing it since she would be with Elena and the others. "Not sure yet"

"Hmm go somewhere quiet" Ava suggested she could hear the party that was going on in the woods, she remembered Caroline saying something about it "just the two of you, somewhere where you can be you" she suggested

Damon's lips tilted up into a smile "Yeah I'd like that. Now pick up the pace"

"Dick, you was being nice before-" he snorted "Ok I lied but-"

"Seriously Ava do you ever stop talking?" Damon cut her off, he guided her forward she could hear the sound of teens laughing and chatting "There's a fallen branch in front of you" he murmured into her ear, she stepped over it but stumbled slightly, Damon caught her by her wrist and opted to hold her hand so it'll be easier.

"Ava, hey Ava"

"Damn it's Barbie" Damon muttered

"Hey Ava" Matt greeted the blond

"Where have you been? And is Elena around?" Caroline asked,

"Erm…-"

"Elena is around, it's a long story no time to tell" Damon smirked causing the other teen to scowl

"I wasn't talking to you"

"Sure you weren't" Ava sighed

"You're being a dick" she sang under her breath and knew the vampire heard her since he squeezed her hand

"I'm Matt I don't think we've met" the jock offered the vampire his hand

"Matt? There's a reason why we haven't met" Damon said sarcastically "you and I going that way" he pushed Ava in the direction of the Fell Church

"Bye" Ava yelled over her shoulder and stumbled forward over a rock Damon grabbed her by the back of her top

"Seriously?"

"Hey you're the one who's pushing me" she snapped trying to pull away from him but his grip on her didn't relent "It's not as if I can see, you fuc-"

"That's it" his patience was wearing thin, Damon looked around and threw her over her shoulder

"DAMON" she shrieked and gripped onto him as he blurred towards the Church. "Let go-"

"Put her down Damon" Elena snapped seeing the vampire striding towards them with Ava flung over his shoulder

"You know you should choose your words carefully"

"What-OWW-!"Ava yelped as he dropped her on the ground. She landed hard on her bottom "Ass hole-"

"Been called worst princess" he drawled marching over to the ruins,

"Ava you ok?" Elena helped her onto her feet, Ava nodded

"Yeah my butt hurts though-"

"Want me to kiss it better?"

"Enough Damon" Stefan snapped

"Fine, witches" he greeted the Bennetts

"Ava you-?"

"Fine Stefan" Ava muttered as Elena held onto her hand tightly and led her over to the others "Let's just get this over with."

Elena nodded and looked over to Sheila and Bonnie "Ready?"

"Yes" Bonnie nodded

"Let's go then" Stefan declared as they headed into the tomb, he brought up the rear as Damon led from the front.


"Ava there's a step-AVA-"Ava slipped on the stone steps Stefan managed to catch her by her underarms

"There four more steps" Stefan told her making sure to keep close to her as they entered the tomb with the others.

Soon enough they were all standing by the wall as Sheila and Bonnie started to work, the elder witch lit a flame, Ava stood beside Elena and on her other side was Damon

"Air, earth fire" Shelia uttered clearly,

"Water" Bonnie held up a jar of water Shelia took it off of her and sprinkled the water over it

"That's it? Just water from the tap?" Elena asked

"As oppose to what?" Sheila asked

"Something cool and mystical" Ava uttered "like you know that water from the fountain of youth-"

"Honey are you referring to Indian Jones film?" Shelia shook her head "You and Claudine spend way too much time watching films-"

"Huh, well Gran went through that Harrison Ford phase" Ava said leaning back against the stone wall she could feel its rough texture

"Who hasn't?" the elder Bennett scoffed "He's yummy the things I'd do to that man-"

"Ew Grams don't-"

"Yeah please don't" Damon scoffed

"This is nothing compared to what Claudine says to Ava-"

"How did you ….she freaks me out on purpose" Ava groaned rubbing her temple.

"Yeah and she comes to me and we have a giggle about your reaction" with that both Bonnie and Elena laughed, Damon smirked and Stefan chuckled.

"When I get home I'm definitely going to talk to Gran" Ava muttered under her breath. She canted her head to the side hearing rustling next to her

"What's that?" Stefan asked shining his torch light on to her

"It's for Katherine got to have something to keep going" Damon smirked over to an oblivious Ava "Or we could have Ava or your girl tap a vein-"

"Piss off" Ava snapped making the vampire chuckle; both Elena and Stefan shim a dirty look

"Admit it" Damon whispered to Stefan "you can't wait to get rid of me"

"I can't wait to get rid of you" Stefan admitted.

"We're ready" Bonnie declared she and Sheila were crouching down in front of the Grimoire

A couple of minutes passed till Bonnie and Sheila began chanting, the others looked on or in Ava's case listened

"What are they saying?" Damon asked

A small frown marred Ava's face as she concentrated on the words "It…it sounds like Latin" she answered him.

"I don't think it's Latin" Elena murmured, Ava felt the heat coming from the flames, Stefan lightly tugged her back so she wouldn't burn herself when the flames flared even higher, Elena clutched onto Stefan as he grabbed Ava and tugged her even further back

"What's happening?" Elena asked,

Ava heard something a loud creak the tomb door was opening

"Of course it worked" Sheila stated, Damon looked over to Stefan

"Don't you have some fires to build?" he asked his brother

"I'm going to get the gasoline, I'll be right back" Stefan assured Elena and left. Damon looked over to the pair of witches and then Elena. His eyes finally landed on Ava

"You coming Ava?"

"What?" she asked startled but he didn't give her an answer and simply grabbed her hand

"No Damon don't" Elena snapped

"You think I'm going to go in there by myself?" Damon tugged Ava towards him so that she fell into his chest "

"Don't take her in there with you" Sheila snarled "I'll bring the walls down-"

"What and you won't bring down the walls anyway?" Damon snapped "You think I trust you?"

"As about as much as I trust you, Ava is not going in there-"

"Ok" Ava intervened "He needs leverage, so I'm it. Let's just go so we can get this over and done with"

"May I?" Damon picked up one of the flamed torches and took hold of Ava's hand. They entered the tomb.

Ava clung on to the back of Damon's jacket and her other hand grasped his hand

"Ava-"

"What's that?" she jumped hearing loud whispers through the cavern "Damon?"

"Ssh, you're fine" he assured her, he wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her in front of him, he knew she was scared.

"But what was that?" she asked her voice shook,

"They can sense you" Damon replied his grip on her tightening slightly when she stumbled "Now where is she?" he could hear more whispers coming from the other end of the tomb "Ava stay here-"

"No don't leave me" Ava pleaded she grabbed his arm "Damon-"

"Just stay here. I'll be back ok?"

"Damon-"

"It'll be faster, just don't move" she swallowed

"Please-"

He cupped her cheek and saw that her eyes were welling up with tears "Ava stay here. I'll be back" he kissed her temple and with a pulse of air he was gone.

Ava shuddered and hugged herself, all she could hear were whispers which were doing nothing to ease her nerves. She swallowed and shifted

"Damon" she called out, it was a couple of minutes and there was no sign of him returning "Damon-"she held her hand out and trailed it across the wall her pulse quickened she had no clue where she was.

Ava lurched forward tripping over something, she got onto her knees and felt around, all she could hear was her quick breathing she shrieked and scrambled backwards when she felt something cold grabbing her wrist

"DAMON. STEFAN-!-"

"AVA-" Elena shouted running towards her , she couldn't wait outside any longer and when she heard Ava shouting she ran in ignoring Bonnie's and Sheila's yells for her to stop

"Elena?" she asked tearfully, the brunette shined her torchlight onto Ava's face and saw her face was streaked in tears. Elena didn't blame her for being terrified, she was as well, but it must've been more frightening for Ava since she had no clue where she was

"Yeah it's me, Ssh" she soothed and hugged her "come on-"Elena saw several dried out vampires strewn about, she clutched onto the frightened blond teen's arm and turned around. She jumped when Anna appeared

"You must have a taste for it-"

"Who's that?" Ava asked as Elena pushed the smaller girl behind her and backed up

"Anna" Elena breathed, alerting Ava that this was the mystery girl that was after Jeremy

"You scream and shriek and tried to escape, but then you just keep coming back" Ava staggered as Elena kept backing up until she made Ava trip over a body

"Mother" Anna cried out running forward. Elena grabbed hold of Ava and pulled her to her side "Your boyfriend did this you know-"

"It was his father" Elena retorted

"And Jonathan Gilbert, I made a choice a long time ago that it would be Gilbert blood that brought her back to life, I had Jeremy all ready to go-"

"Bitch-"

"Ava-"

"What she is a bitch, I shouldn't have listened to Jere should've slapped her down" Ava muttered clenching her fists "But-"

"No- ELENA-"Ava shouted as her friend screamed she rushed forward but was thrown backwards, her back collided against the stone wall. Ava lost her breath and groaned in pain, she was trying to get her bearings and could hear scuffling.

"Elena-" Ava managed to get onto her knees and held her hands out trying to find anything she could use as a weapon, she felt a rock, Ava closed her hand around it and used the wall to help herself up, Anna leant over Elena and forced the bloody wrist against her mother's lips.

"No please don't" Elena cried out

"It's ok mother-"

"Hey" Ava shouted and with all her might threw the rock in the direction where she could hear the commotion coming from. Out of all the odds the rock crashed against the vampire's head causing Anna to snarl and her grip on Elena to loosen.

Elena took that chance and kicked Anna off of her, the female vampire snarled and was about to launch herself towards Ava but she was thrown backwards by Stefan.

"No-"

"Go, go, take Ava, I'm right behind you" Elena grabbed Ava's wrist and they ran out of the dark tunnels, till they were out of the tomb and with Bonnie and Sheila


"Elena, Ava. Stefan-"

"He's right behind us" Elena said turning around, Ava stepped forward

"Hold it there baby, there's a fire by your left side" Sheila uttered making her stop, Ava leant against what felt like a pillar

"Stefan?" she heard Elena "what are you doing?"

Ava frowned "It's going to be ok-"Bonnie said "we'll fix it"

"What happened?" Ava asked

"I can't-"Stefan started

"Can't? Can't what?" Elena asked looking at her boyfriend

"The spell is still up, we can't get them out yet" Bonnie told her

"You went in there not knowing if you can come back out?" Elena asked Stefan looked down "Oh my god-"

Ava's eyes widened in realisation "You knew? Stefan why-"

"You both were in trouble" Stefan murmured "I couldn't have that"

"We've got to get him out of there" Elena uttered her eyes welling up in tears "we promised him both of us" she was referring to Damon

"I know" Stefan nodded

"Even if we're able to break through the seal we won't be able to hold it for long" Sheila explained

"Ok" Stefan disappeared back into the tomb leaving behind a group of worried women.

Bonnie and Sheila started to chant again, Ava stayed by the wall and Elena paced up and down. The flames flared higher

"I think it's working" Elena breathed seeing something moving in the tomb. But it wasn't Stefan or Damon, no it was Anna and her mother she stepped aside

"I just wanted my mother back, Jeremy is fine he's outside" Anna told Elena "we won't touch him"

Ava could hear the chanting wavering "Bonnie keep going" Sheila cried out "They'd better hurry-"she yelled at Elena

"STEFAN" Elena shouted "THEY CAN'T HOLD IT MUCH LONGER"

The fire went out; Ava heard running and knew Elena must've gone back into the tomb

"Elena-"Ava leapt up from the her position on the ground and was set to run after her but was stopped

"AVA XENIA DO NOT GO INTO THAT TOMB-"Shelia screamed at her

"But Elena-"

"Don't go in the tomb Ava, or I'll tell Claudine" she threatened, Ava's jaw clench and it was her turn to pace up and down worriedly as Bonnie and Sheila chanted again. The tomb door slammed shut

"Elena-"

"They're out"

Ava sagged against the wall "If Katherine isn't here, where is she?" she stiffened hearing Elena's thoughts

"Where's Katherine?"

"Not here" Damon snarled and stormed out of the ruined church. They followed out after him, Elena and Stefan rushed over to check on Jeremy. Ava paused and slowly walked forward

"Damon?"

"What?" she followed his voice and held out her hand, she touched her hand against his cool leather jacket "Ava not-"

"I'm sorry" Ava surprised him by hugging him tightly "I'm sorry" she whispered into his ear, Damon's arms came around her and stroked her back. Elena and Stefan watched on. perhaps they were both wrong Damon can care.

The petite blond and the vampire parted ways

"Damon-"

"I just need some time" he blurred off. Ava sighed and jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder

"It's me" Stefan murmured "Let's get you home"


"So wait Katherine was never in there?" Gran asked, Ava was back home and was lounging on the couch beside the elderly woman

"Nope-"

"Bitch, so she was out the whole time. Such a whore-"

"Gran"

"Oh Ava you know it's true. No go upstairs and shower you smell like dirt. By the time you come back down I'll have some hot chocolate ready"

Ava rolled her eyes "Yeah did spend some time in that" she got onto her feet and trudged up the stairs. She headed into her bedroom and kicked off her shoes, Ava had a quick shower and changed into a pair of flannel shorts and a camisole; she padded barefooted down the stairs and entered the living room "Gran?" she called out not hearing her

"Kitchen" Gran called back, Ava headed into the kitchen and could smell the brewing hot chocolate "So any other gossip to spill?" setting the mug of chocolate in front of Ava

Before Ava could say anything the phone rang, Gran went to answer it, Ava picked up her drink and was about to take a sip when Gran gasped

"No, oh god no" the phone clattered to the ground.

"Gran what-"Ava rushed around the counter and gasped as she was pulled into a tight hug "Gran?"

"It's Sheila she's….she's…"

"What?"

"Dead" with that Claudine broke down into sobs; Ava eyes widened hearing that Sheila was gone? Ava left the mugs and led her Gran to the living room

"How? She was fine-"

"Some spell took it out of her"

Ava swallowed the painful lump that lodged itself in her throat and for the rest of the night she spent comforting her Grandmother on the couch till they both fell asleep leaning against each other.


AN: Apologies for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Outfit link on profile. massive thanks to all those reviewed.

Just wanted to let you know, Ava's reaction to blood will be explained throughout the story.

So in this Chap-The beginning Stefan learns the some of the truth about Ava's ability but there's more. Ava learns that Anna took Elena and goes with him to the Boarding House him to talk to Damon, she ends up chucking a bottle at him. They learn Bonnie's been taken so go to Sheila after Ava runs into the table. Stefan locks her in the car, he ends up getting slapped. Ava talks to Damon and she somehow manages to get him to agree to let them help/ They got into the tomb and Damon uses Ava as leverage. Elena comes to her rescue, Ava ends up helping her as well by throwing a rock at her. Katherine isn't there. Ava tells Gran what went down and they learn the Shelia died.

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