Author's Note: So, lots of drama last chapter. Thank you for all the awesome reviews. Hope this chapter will answer some of the questions. Oh and there will be more Salvatore background in the next chapters. This is AU so some things are gonna be different and let's just say I'm obnoxiously excited for them.

I DO NOT OWN VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.
Music Credit: "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence

Chapter Eight:

~*.*~
'How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb.
Without a soul, my spirit sleeping somewhere cold,
Until you find it there and lead it back home.

Wake me up.
(Wake me up inside.)
I can't wake up.
(Wake me up inside.)
Save me.
(Call my name and save me from the dark.)

Wake me up.
(Bid my blood to run.)
Wake me up.
(Before I come undone,)
Save me.
(Save me from the nothing I've become.)

Now that I know what I'm without,
You can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real.
Bring me to life.'
~*.*~

I sat around the Salvatores waiting for Liz to pick me up. She told me that she'd take me to Sharon's so I could get my things. I didn't bother putting any cover-up on. She should see the damage. I've faked things for her for far too long. The twisted part is, I'm going to miss them. While things were bad growing up, they weren't all bad. At least not all the time… There were some good days. When I first got there, there were a lot of good times.

As sad as it is, they're the only parents I'm used to. I've been with them for so long, I don't know anything else. It's hard trusting people. I mean, sure, I trust friends… to an extent. I think it's something I just have to work on. Maybe I should talk to someone about everything. I just don't know right now.

I heard the doorbell ring. I went downstairs, slowly. I saw Liz talking to Zach. Zach was trying to persuade her to let him come with us. Liz didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

"Hey Bonnie, how are ya feeling?" She asked, gently. I shrugged.

"About the same as last night," I told her. She nodded and placed an arm around me.

"Let's go. The sooner we do this, the sooner it's over with." She told me. I nodded. "There's something I would like to discuss with you in the car." She told me. I nodded, again. We both got into her squad car and she started to drive. "Bonnie, how would you feel about a small trial? We could still go to court, but it was as minimal as possible. I know you want to settle this quietly, but if you want him to do jail time, it's unavoidable." She told me.

"Sure. If you think it'd be a good idea. I don't see why not." I told her. I just don't want to see him again. I hate that I'll have to. It just keeps reminding me that this isn't over, not really. I do want justice. More than anything, that's what I want.

We got to Sharon's house a lot sooner than I thought we would. It seems so eerie now. It doesn't seem like home anymore. It's hard to believe that it ever did, now that I'm back here. We got out of the car and knocked on the door. Sharon answered the door. Concern immediately washed over her face.

"Oh my God, look at what he did to you, my poor girl." Sharon moved to reach out for me but Liz got in her way, keeping me behind her.

"We're only here for her things, Sharon." She told her. Sharon just nodded and moved out of the way. I went upstairs and Liz kept an eye on Sharon. I packed my things as quickly as I could. I didn't really have too much. I had clothes and luggage to put them in. Sharon already started packing my shoes. I took my yearbooks and started boxing books. We might need to make two trips. I packed all of my sketches and paintings. I think I got it all. I started moving things downstairs. It was easier than I thought.

We managed to get everything loaded into Liz' car. It's a lot more spacious than it looks. I guess criminals take up space.

"I'm going to miss you, Bonnie-bee. I love you." Sharon cried. I didn't know what to say. I just walked away. Yeah, I will miss her, in some twisted way. She's my mom. Of course I love her. As much as I try, I just can't hate her. I don't have it in me.

I watched as she got smaller and smaller as we drove away. It's really over. I can't believe it.

"Bonnie, Zach has already petitioned the court to get custody of you. He's arranged a meeting with the lawyer tomorrow. Alright?" She said. I nodded. "I'll help you take these inside."

I finally got everything unpacked with Stefan's help. Damon was out for the day 'curing his urges', according to Stefan.

"Bonnie, you know, if a human drinks vampire blood, it'll heal them almost instantly." Stefan told me as we hung up some of my sketches in my room. I chuckled.

"And what happens if someone happens to die with vampire blood in their system?" I asked. I'd been reading up on things supernatural in the grimoire Grams gave me, but not as much as I'd like to.

"They'd turn into a vampire. But, I wouldn't let you die, B." He smiled.

"'B'?" I asked.

"You don't like it?"

"I've heard worse." I shrugged. He smirked.

"I'm serious about the offer, Bonnie. You shouldn't have to suffer more than you have already." He pressed. He sat down on my bed and watched me. I shrugged.

"I'll heal in time, Stefan. And since this is going to trial, I need physical evidence that something happened. It'll look suspicious if I'm magically healed before this goes to court… Especially since Liz has picture proof. You know? I appreciate it – I do, but I'll be okay. I'm tougher than I look. Give me credit." I told him. He smirked.

"I know you are. You're a hell of a woman. You know, you remind me of someone I used to know." He told me.

"Oh yeah? Who?"

"Your ancestor, Emily Bennett. She was even sassier than you." He cracked a smile. I chuckled. "I have a friend that I want you to meet. She should be in town in a few weeks. I think you'd hit it off."

"What's her name?"

"Lexi."

I woke up feeling refreshed. It's nice to wake up and be in a home that you feel safe in. I stretched and got up to brush my teeth. I headed downstairs in pajamas. It's nice to be able to do that here and not worried about being felt up.

"Well, someone looks delicious in the morning." Damon whistled. I made a face at him. "Ooh, see that's what I'm talking about. Sexy." He winked. I rolled my eyes.

"Where's the coffee?" I asked him. He smirked and handed me a mug full of steamy goodness. "Thank you." I told him.

"I can think of a really good way that you can thank me." He winked. Oh yeah, Damon's back. He definitely heard what I told him. He's acting just like he used to when I first met him. I'm glad he listened to me.

"Morning Bonnie, breakfast?" Zach asked. I nodded. He started bustling around the kitchen. "Oh, I invited Sheila over for breakfast. I figured it might be nice to see her." He told me. I nodded.

"I better go get dressed then."

Grams came over for waffles. It's awesome seeing her. I hugged her when she got here.

"It's good to see you." I told her, my voice cracking. Just the way that she's looking at me makes me want to cry.

"Sugar, it's not your fault." She whispered. I started trembling. "You just learned that you were a witch. You can barely wield magic, let alone expect it to be your first instinct. You fault with all that you could. This is his fault and his fault alone." She soothed. I nodded against her, trying to calm down. "Let it out, baby." Just like that tears started falling down my face. "Cry until you can't cry anymore." I did just that.

We made it through a magic lesson. I finally got the hang of fire. We started working on water. Grams said once I could channel the elements everything else would be cake. I believe her. It's so nice having her in my life. It just feels natural. It feels right.

She didn't spend too much time at the house. She wanted to give me some time to get used to the house. Sure I was used to it, but now things are completely different. I knew I'd be living here. It's started to feel like home. It makes me feel bubbly. There's no other way to describe it.

"Bonnie, there's some things you should know." Damon told me, walking into my room.

"Okay, shoot." I told him. He motioned to my bed. I sat down and he followed suit.

"Stefan and I don't have such a great track record when it comes to woman. We used to date Katherine Pierce. She was a vampire. We didn't know it at the time. She was a bitch and I couldn't get enough of her. She scared me and enthralled me. She was everything I wanted. She was foreign and sexy. When it started, I didn't know that she wanted Stefan, too. She's the one who turned me and my brother.

I spent years of my life pining after her. Long story short, Stefan told our father, a vampire hater, about Katherine. They burnt most of the vampires in a tomb here in Mystic Falls. She let us think that she was trapped there. I would have kept believing it if it weren't for Stefan's friend, Lexi. I'm sure you'll meet her soon. She bumped into her in Rome a few years back." Damon took a break. I nodded, slowly.

"So, you don't share well?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Not at all, and we both crave a challenge."

"Okay, but what does that have to do with me?"

"You're living here, you should know our history. Living with us, yeah, you'll be safe, but it also comes with its risks. I can't let anything supernatural harm you. I made a deal with your ancestor a long time ago. She helped me in exchange for her lineage. I agreed to protect you. I'm sorry that I couldn't help you with your not-parents. You don't know how hard it was to watch." He told me.

"You knew?" I asked him. He nodded, not looking at me. "You knew and you didn't say anything?!" I yelled. "You lied to me. You could have at least told me that you knew." I told him.

"I never said that I didn't, Bonnie. I told you that if you ever needed anything, to come to me. I've checked up on you, yes. But I haven't lived here in some time. You can't expect me to be fucking psychic." He growled.

"This is so frustrating." I told him. "I didn't say it was your fault. It's just… a lonely life." I whispered.

"You'll never know how sorry I am." He got up and left. I just sat there, unable to move. At least he was honest. That's more than I can say for a lot of people.

~*.*~
'I've been living a lie.
There's nothing inside.
Bring me to life.

Frozen inside without your touch,
Without your love, darling,
Only you are the life among the dead.

All this time, I couldn't believe I couldn't see.
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me.
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems,
Got to open my eyes to everything.

Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here.
There must be something more.
Bring me to life.

Wake me up
(Wake me inside)
I can't wake up
(Wake me inside)
Save me
(Call my name and same me from the dark)'
~*.*~

Author's Note: Alright lovelies, I was going to make this a really long chapter, as I've been writing it for a few days BUT here makes a much better stopping point. I don't want to cram too much in one chapter. Lots of things come to light next chapter, let's just say that. Some foes rear their heads. Thank you for the awesome reviews! Feel free to leave me. I love getting your feedback!

Much love!
Xo Xo
Anneryn