A/N So clearly there's no excuse as to why I haven't updated this story in months, all I can say is everything got on top of me. But I'm back more determined than ever, so if I still have any readers I'm super sorry for being away so long...:)

Chapter 17

Let the Right One

All the tombs vampires have been released; it wasn't how it was supposed to be. Things were going to be normal, wasn't this exactly what we didn't want to happen. I guess in the end it didn't really matter, nobody could change the past. I sit passively on the sofa across from Elena and Stefan as we watch Damon board up their window. My feelings were so all over the show I wasn't exactly sure how to feel. "I say we go to Pearl's, bust down the door, and annihilate the idiot that attacked us last night," Damon suggests I glance up at his words, it didn't seem like the best of suggestions.

"Yeah. And then what? We turn to the rest of that house of vampires and say oops sorry," Stefan retorts pointing at the flaws in Damon's plan.

"You made a deal with her," I state suddenly, why would Damon do that? Damon looks at me and I stare into his blue eyes and I wonder if I really felt something for Damon, I couldn't could I?

"It was more like a friendly exchange of information," Damon corrects me, "and its not like I had a choice. She's scary. Besides she's going to help me get Katherine back." I stare at Damon in surprise I assumed he'd given up on that venture and the fact that he hadn't made me more annoyed than I cared to admit.

"Of course she is," Elena mutters darkly, "Damon gets what he wants, as usual. No matter who he hurts in the process."

"You don't have to be snarky about it," Damon retorts.

"I woke up this morning to learn that all the vampires have been released from the tomb I've earned snarky," Elena snaps. I glance over to her, I agreed with her its just I couldn't say it, I didn't want to say it.

"How long are you going to blame me for turning your birth mother into a vampire?" Damon questions her so causally it makes my blood boil.

I grab my bag heading to the door, "Where are you going?" Elena calls gently.

"I'd really rather not be in the same room as the self-serving psychopath with zero redeeming qualities, just tell me the plan later," I hiss, storming out of the room before anyone could protest. I was just so mad, it was the one emotion my mind had allowed me to focus on and it was swallowing me.

"Caroline not today," I mutter as I pick up my ringing phone, groaning when I find out its Caroline. Although to be perfectly honest I had reached a point where I'd be pretty annoyed regardless of who was on the other end.

"You forgot," she guesses in an unsurprised tone.

I frown, "Forgot what?" I question.

"Dad's boyfriend daughter's birthday party," she reminds me.

I groan again, "Today really?" I ask upset, that was the last thing I wanted to deal with.

Caroline sighs, "Elouise I know you hate these things but you promised Dad you'd go so you don't exactly have a choice," she sing-songs sounding rather happy at the prospect.

"Fine," I growl, "where are you?"

"At the Grill, about to leave so hurry up," she orders, before hanging up.

"Nice to hear from you too," I mutter under my breath as I continue to walk. Storming out in hindsight wasn't the best idea, considering I didn't have a ride and it was well a storm. Any other day I'd be happy the weather was this way, bad weather always had this uncanny way of calming me. However being wet for a party I didn't want to go to, wasn't particularly my idea of fun.

"Elouise right," a voice says from behind me, a voice I recognize. I spin around heart beat speeding out of control. As expected their stood the man or vampire I supposed that had mistaken me for Rose.

"Please don't," I murmur before my brain clicks that reasoning isn't going to work and I start to run.

The vampire appears in front of me again a sick smile on his face, "I'm not going to hurt you," he assures me, grabbing me forcefully, "yet."

Stefan stops slowly as he enters the woods listening for the sound of animals moving about their habitat. Instead he senses something else, he turns slowly to find himself surrounded by vampires. Fredrick reaches forward smiling as he shoves a wooden stake into Stefan's stomach. Stefan screams in pain as the stake connects with his flesh.

Elena sighs as she glances over at her phone quickly pushing the ignore button as she sees its Damon that's ringing again. She hears a knock at the door and frowning she makes her way over to open it. "You're ignoring me," Damon announces as he walks in.

"The 6 missed calls," Elena says innocently, "sorry my phone is dead."

"Is Stefan here?" Damon questions her, looking around.

"No, why, something wrong?" Elena asks beginning to get worried.

"He went out in the woods and didn't come back. I can't get him on his phone, I figured he was with you," Damon explains to her.

Elena shakes her head truly worried now, "Caroline called about Elouise said she was meant to meet her but never did. She said she thought she was either hiding out with Daniel or me," Elena informs Damon, pulling out her phone as she attempted to ring both of them. "Its going straight to voice-mail," she tells Damon, "where could they be?"

"You're not going to like what I'm thinking," Damon replies.

"Pearl open this door. I swear to God I'll burst through and rip your head off," Damon yells, pounding on Miss Gibbons door.

Fredrick pulls the door open, "Pearl's not home, beautiful weather, not a ray of sun in the sky," he comments.

"Where's my brother and Elouise?" Damon questions angrily.

"Billy," Fredrick calls, as two vampires drag Stefan into the hallway and another carries a knocked out Elouise.

"You're dead," Damon declares at the sight of them.

"Whoa, I'm sorry. You haven't been invited in," Fredrick reminds him smirking, "Miss Gibbons."

Miss Gibbons enters, "Yes Fredrick honey," she says sweetly.

"Never let this bad man in," he compels her.

"I'll never let him in," she repeats.

"145 years left starving in a tomb, thanks to Katherine's infatuation with you and your brother," Fredrick says looking across at Stefan, "first few weeks, every single nerve in your body screams with fire. The kind of pain that can drive a person mad. Well, I thought your brother might want to get a taste of that before I killed him, Billy," Fredrick orders. Billy stabs Stefan with a stake causing him to scream. "As for Elouise, well you know me and Rose use to have lots of fun back in 1864 who would have thought there'd be a human that looked just like her. I can only think of all the fun I can have with her," Fredrick teases, "have a nice day," he says before shutting the door on Damon's explosive face.

"What happened? Where are they?" Elena questions jumping out of the car as she sees Damon approach.

"They have them, I can't get in," Damon explains.

"Why not?" Elena asks him, looking past him as if she can possibly catch a glimpse of the house that is keeping her boyfriend and friend captive.

"Because the woman who owns the house is compelled not to let me in," he tells her, drawing her attention back to him.

Elena thinks his words over for a few minutes, "I can," she tells him.

"You're not going in here," Damon protests instantly.

"I'm going," Elena exclaims, about to march past him.

"You're not going in there," Damon says blocking her way.

"Why are they doing this?" she asks in desperation, "what do they want with either of them?"

"Revenge, they want revenge," Damon informs her darkly.

"We have to do something," Elena replies.

"I know," Damon agrees.

"We can't let them hurt them, we have to get them out of there," she says her words rushed and hurried reflecting her current state of mind.

"I know, Elena, I know, but I don't know how to get them out," Damon mutters.

I sigh in pain as my eyes flutter open confused at the massive headache I was experiencing, until of course it all came flooding back to me. I attempt to jump up only to be restrained by the ropes that have tied me down. "Damn it," I hiss, looking to see Stefan's body being tied up, as he screams. I wince at the sound, "Stop it, just stop," I beg, I couldn't understand why anyone would want to hurt Stefan.

The vampire who grabbed me turns to look at me a devilish look in his eye, "Be quiet or I'll make you," he orders harshly. I swallow back my protest too afraid of my potential punishment. "That's got to sting," he comments turning back to Stefan, "speaking off," he says pulling out an eyedropper and putting a few in his eyes as Stefan screams at the pain. I close my eyes trying to focus on my breathing anything but the sight of Stefan in pain.

"This isn't right," another man exclaims as he walks in. I take a second to register hope maybe he could make them see reason.

"He killed Beth-Anne, one of us Harper. And don't think for a second he wouldn't kill you if he had the chance," he tells him, turning to me, "she's a Forbes Harper her family is one of those responsible for us being locked up, trust me if she could get the upper hand she'd kill you too. Pearl says we're not here for revenge, I say that's exactly what we're here for. Starting with this," he claims, running a knife along my arm. As the blade connects with my arm I scream , the fright getting to me more than the pain. I can see Stefan desperately trying to get to me but we're both helpless. "And then his brother and anyone else who tries to get in our way," Fredrick says to Harper.

"This isn't right," Harper argues grabbing him.

"You're going to want to let go of me," Fredrick hisses angry that he would even dare to touch him.

"Miss Pearl will be home soon," Harper reminds him.

"Miss Pearl is no longer in charge, tie him up and stake him down," he orders.

Damon appears suddenly in front of a shocked Alaric in the school hallway. "Well don't you look," here Damon pauses his eyes being drawn to the ring on Alaric's finger, "alive."

"You can't hurt me," Alaric tells him, though his voice is almost hesitant as if he isn't sure of it himself.

Damon smirks, "Oh I can hurt you alright," he replies, just as Elena steps up to them, "Mr Saltzman. We need your help," she says her voice desperate. They make their way into Alaric's classroom, explaining the situation to him.

"Stefan and Elouise are in the house. Damon's a vampire, he can't get in. We need you, I would go, but," she trails off unsure of what to say.

"But your life is valuable," Damon picks up where she left off, "yours, on the other hand is."

"Stefan told me about your ring," Elena informs him.

"What about it?" Alaric asks not wanting to admit anything to Damon.

Damon sighs, "Let me recap, you tried to kill me. I defended myself, you died. Then according to my brother, your ring brought you back to life. Am I leaving anything out?"

"Yeah," Alaric snaps, "the part where I try to kill you again, only this time I don't miss."

"Mr Saltzman," Elena interrupts, "please its Stefan and if not for Stefan, for Elouise. She's innocent in all of this," she pleads.

Alaric looks at her, her words taking effect on him, "Fine," he caves, "but only because its Elouise and she's human," he warns. "

Thank you," Elena says, her eyes lighting up.

Alaric begins pulling out his various arsenal of vampire weapons, Damon looks them over curiously, "Teacher by day, vampire hunter by night," he comments.

"I've you to thank for that," Alaric reminds him coldly.

"What are these?" Elena questions, picking up a dart like object and running it over her fingers.

"Those are tranquilizer darts filled with vervain," Alaric informs her.

"Just get me in, I'll get Stefan and Elouise out," Damon tells them.

"That's your plan?" Elena asks in disbelief, "you're just going to take them all on by yourself?"

"Well, I'll be a little bit more stealthier, I hope," Damon tells her shrugging.

Elena sighs, taking the vervain dart as Alaric catches the movement, "Whoa, what are you doing?" he asks concerned.

"I'm going with you guys," Elena says simply.

"No, no, no, no way," Damon states.

"You need me, I'll get in. You could distract them and I could get Stefan and Elouise out," she argues.

"You'll get yourself killed, you're not going in there," Damon repeats.

"I'm going," Elena states, in a tone that implied there really was no choice.

Damon stops arguing with her turning his attention back to Alaric, "So, when you get me in, get out as quickly as possible. I know how to sneak around where they can't hear me. You'll basically just be in the way."

"Damon now is not the time to be the lone ranger," Elena tells him, drawing his attention back.

"Fine Elena you can drive the getaway car," he caves.

"You can't stop me," Elena snaps, "its Stefan and Elouise we're talking about. You don't understand."

Damon smirks at her words, "Oh I understand. He's the reason you live. His love lifts you up where you belong. I get it."

Elena frowns, "Can you not joke around for 2 seconds?" she snaps.

Damon sighs looking her in the eyes, "I can't protect you Elena," he admits, "I don't know how many vampires are in there. That's how long it takes for you to get your head ripped off. I have to be able to get in and out. I can't be distracted with your safety. Or else this will end up a bloodbath that none of us walk away from, including Elouise and Stefan. I know I get it, I understand."

"If we're going to go, let's go," Alaric interrupts breaking the intense look between the two of them.

I watch Stefan try to ignore the various wounds and blood trails on my arm, trying to desperately ignore the pain. It didn't help that my blood was obviously drawing Stefan's attention, he couldn't help I understood. "Thanks for trying to help," Stefan says quietly to the other vampire, the very effort causing him pain. I smile I can't help it, even with this as bad as it was Stefan was still a good guy.

"Yeah," I murmur my agreement.

"They just needed someone to blame, someone to punish," he explains to us. I nod, because the funny thing was I got that, I always needed someone to blame as well, it must just be how we work. My attention is drawn from something else, a new prescene, Damon and Elena. "Thank God," I mutter, unable to focus on anything else but how pleased I am that they are here.

"Elena, you shouldn't be here," Stefan attempts to cough out.

"She was supposed to stay in the car," Damon informs him, breaking the ropes that held me. I try to stand up, wobbling as I do, Damon grabs me steadying me as Elena helps Stefan. "Are you alright?" he questions me. I shake my head, and then I hug him I'm not sure why but I was so sure that I was going to die that I need a way to release my emotions. "Elouise, it's going to be fine," Damon promises me. He turns his attention back to the others as Stefan and Elena pull the stakes out of the other vampire, "We need to go," Damon tells them. Sounds draw Damon's attention, "Can you get him to the car?" Damon questions looking at the weak Stefan.

Elena nods, "All right go," he tells her, "Elouise don't get to close to Stefan, he's weak and you're bleeding," he reminds me. I nod at his words, realizing that my blood must be messing with Damon as well.

"Wait, what about you?" I ask, as we begin walking.

"I'll distract," he tell us, "go." I hesitate for a few seconds before nodding and following behind Elena and Stefan. The weather is crazy the storm still raging, Stefan is struggling I can tell, he can hardly walk he needs blood.

"Can you make it?" I ask him concerned. Stefan responds with a cry of pain. I run ahead trying to find the car, "Its just up here," I say as I spot it. I run up to the driver's seat, taking a hesitant step back when I realize there's no ignition. "Elena," I question warily. Just as I look up Stefan is pulled from Elena's grasp as the vampire I recognize as Fredrick starts beating him.

"Stefan," Elena and I cry at the same time.

"This is for Beth-Anne," he claims, sending a branch into Stefan's body, "and this is for the tomb," he claims, raising it up again.

"Stefan," I yell, feeling completely helpless, stuck to the spot with nothing to do. Elena runs forward stabbing something into the vampire as he collapses. She falls next to him, pulling the branch out as I run up.

"Stefan," she cries in desperation and I look at him, he seems so weak.

"Stefan," I shake him, "damn it Stefan now is not the time," I yell at him, for some reason getting angry.

"Elouise," Elena says, looking at something behind me. I follow her gaze, seeing Fredrick attempting to get up. I look from him to Stefan, to the cuts on my arm. I cringe, my mind running back to Vicki biting me.

"Damn it," I murmur, putting my bleeding arm to Stefan's mouth.

"You two run, please," Stefan coughs.

"No," Elena tells him firmly.

"Come on Stefan, just drink my blood okay, I've got all this free blood going," I argue with him, my voice desperate.

"Run," Stefan repeats.

"Stefan just drink," I yell at him, my emotions going crazy. Its slow at first but I can feel as my mind becomes more dizzy as more blood is taken from me. Stefan gets up as I pull my arm off trying to keep my mind awake when all I wanted to do was sleep. I can see Stefan grab Fredrick roughly, pinning him at the tree as he stabs him over in over. "Stefan," Elena yells, trying to make him stop. I wish she didn't, Fredrick deserved it.

I push my legs up to my chest, resting my head on them as my mind tries to sort through the events of today. Damon and Stefan wanted to give me vampire blood to heal but I refused, which in hindsight was a terrible idea, I didn't even know how I was going to explain my injuries, but for now I didn't care. The house was empty, silent, after the news of Vicki's death everyone was busy sorting that out. Not that I minded I needed to be alone, try and sort out how I was going to lie about no knowing anything about Vicki's death. "Another lie," I mutter to myself. I felt a tear fall down, I wondered if everything was finally getting to me yet, because it was clear my mind had not processed everything yet.

"Hey, Elouise," a familiar voice calls from my doorway, I look up wiping away the solitary tear.

Daniel stands there, "The door was open," he explains, before his eyes found the various bandages on my body. "Elouise what happened?" he asks concerned, rushing over.

I sniff, deciding I wasn't going to lie anymore, "I was attacked by vampires, because I look identical to my vampire ancestor who lived in 1864, the time when Stefan and Damon were turned. Oh and my mother is probably a vampire too, and Bonnie's a witch. And Damon turned Vicki into a vampire but Stefan staked her because she attacked me. My mom's part of a secret council that knows all about vampires. Damon used to feed off my sister, he killed Elena's birthmother and my aunt at the very least turned her. He was in love with Elena's doppelganger as was Stefan and was best friends with mine and," I pause here trying to catch my breath.

Daniel grabs my arms, "Elouise stop, just stop okay, I know, I know most of it anyway," he informs me.

"What?" I question, standing up shaking my head, "how the hell do you know?" I snap.

"When you gave my mum vervain, I put the pieces together, most of it there's some details I need to be filled in on," Daniel explains to me.

Tears start flooding, "You knew, why didn't you just tell me? Damn it Daniel I needed you, why wouldn't you tell me," I cry, angry for some strange reason.

Daniel pulls me into a hug and I sob against him, "I figured you would tell me eventually," he admits. I continue crying unable to stop everything just getting on top of me.