"Buried Secrets 3:

Chapter 11

"Really?" Bella said shooting an incredulous look as she stood inside the living room of the Salvatore Boarding house, "You bring me here?"

"Come on," Damon drawled as he appeared beside her, "We had some good times here."

"I'm gonna kill Thierry for snapping my neck when I wake up." Bella mumbled.

"You know the guy?" Damon asked tensely.

"Why? Is someone jealous?" Bella asked innocently.

"I think I have a right to be." Damon replied while studying her.

"Thierry is Charlie's uncle." Bella said.

"You two aren't related though," Damon countered.

Bella laughed, "Thierry watched me grow up Damon. He looked after me like a big brother does for their litter sister. He fed me when I needed it because we couldn't risk my exposure. There are you happy?"

"Not by a long shot," Damon said and sat down.

"Let me guess, you wanna talk about me leaving." Bella said, "I warned you from the start Damon."

"That you did," Damon replied, "But things change Bella…people change."

"Are you saying that you shed your bad boy ways?" Bella asked.

"Not all of them," Damon smirked, "But for the most part, yeah."

"Yeah yet working with the enemy is one of those things that hasn't changed about you." Bella said.

"I may not like Klaus but I'm glad he stopped you from killing that hunter." Damon defended, "I hear the aftermath isn't pretty. Now quit trying to avoid the subject at hand."

Bella crossed her arms, "I told you once I had Klaus that I was gone."

"No you said once he was dead you were gone," Damon corrected.

"Well unless you and everyone you know that's a vampire wanted to die, killing Klaus wasn't really an option." Bella was annoyed. "I told you the night I left that was it."

Damon nodded, "Yeah and I had quite a few nights to think about it…to replay it. I was going to stop you and it took me a while to figure out why I didn't." Damon said and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "You drained me more than usual when you bit me."

Bella nodded, "Only enough to keep you down so I could leave. I didn't want you to make a scene." Bella said and then quietly added, "I'm sorry about Alaric."

Damon nodded, "Me too. I lost my best friend and my girlfriend all in one night."

"I'm not your girlfriend." Bella replied.

"Right because we didn't have that stupid high school talk where I asked you if we were together or not," Damon said sarcastically.

"I was just some girl you slept with." Bella said while shaking her head.

"That's a lie," Damon stood and blurred over to her, "If that's all you were then why tell me that you loved me? Why tell Marcel that you were taken?"

Bella didn't answer.

"That's what I thought." Damon said.

"I'm not the same girl you met," Bella said as she stepped away from him, "You don't know me Damon."

"That's a lie because you see, I do know you. I know you because I've been there. Everyone tip-toes around you Bella and well, I won't. That darkness you've ran away from for so long is now creeping into you…changing you." Damon said and Bella tensed. "You're pushing us away because you're too scared to come towards the light. You're too scared to believe that maybe you can be happy and free."

"Are you saying that you buy into Klaus' remorse?" Bella asked before letting out a dark laugh.

"No," Damon said, "I'm saying you're too chicken shit to take a chance and instead of fighting alone, you start putting your trust into someone to fight with you. And I get it Bella. I do because I've been there. I'm not going to go easy on you and I'm not giving up on you either. I am going to tell you like it is and we are gonna fight and we'll probably exchange a few blows, but I am not letting you go again. I will fight until my last heartbeat to make sure you see what I see." He took her hand, "This is real, what we have is real and it is worth fighting for. It is worth all the pain, joy, heartache, hope, and whatever else there is."

Bella felt herself wavering as Damon leaned in to kiss her.

Just as Damon's lips were about to touch hers, she put her hand on his chest and pulled away.

"Damon," Bella breathed and then opened her eyes to look at him, "Get the hell out of my head." She said and pushed him away further.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Damon came out of his trance with a jolt and looked down at Bella who was sleeping.

He put his lips to her ear, "I told you I'm not going to give up that easily. I'll see you when you wake up."

Damon got off the couch and walked out of the study. He saw Elena looking out the window and walked over.

"She okay?" Elena asked.

"She's being stubborn." Damon replied.

"Sounds like someone else I know." Elena nudged him as if making a point.

Damon shook his head, "She did rub off on you."

Elena nodded and then asked, "How bad is it Damon?"

Damon didn't respond.

Elena took a deep breath, "You should talk to him."

"Who?" Damon asked.

"Klaus," Elena said and Damon's eyes widened at her, "He was the only one with her for months Damon. He probably knows things none of us do. He could have the key."

"He could be playing us." Damon growled.

"Are you willing to take that chance and lose her?" Elena asked, "I'm not. I'll make a deal with the devil if I have to, but I don't want to watch her keep slipping away."

Damon shook his head, "I can't believe you're even suggesting this."

"Neither can I," Elena said, "He's outside."

Stefan came up to join them, "Everything alright?"

"No," Damon replied while looking at Elena, "I won't do it. He can't be trusted."

"Let me guess Klaus," Stefan said.

"Stefan, she's closing herself off…to all of us. He could help." Elena argued.

"You want me to go make a deal with the devil," Damon said, "Not happening. We will figure this out on our own without him."

"Damon sometimes…" Stefan started.

Damon threw his glass across the room, "Don't start with me," Damon growled. "I'm not going to ask for his help. He's a double-crossing, manipulative, sinister piece of shit."

Damon stomped out of the room and Elena leaned into Stefan.

"He could know something Stefan." Elena said.

"I know," Stefan agreed as he rubbed her shoulder, "But let's take things one at time."

"By then it could be too late." Elena said.

"It's never too late Elena." Stefan said before he kissed her forehead.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Bella had woken up a few minutes after Damon had left and just sat in the study. Connor's words playing over in her mind.

"When you are ready to talk to him all you have to do is think about it. He's already in your head…you two are linked."

"In deep thought?" Elijah asked, startling Bella.

"What do you want?" Bella asked annoyed.

"You know I've come to find I get this little nudge in my shoulder and it tends to happen when you are thinking of doing something stupid." Elijah shared before he took a seat across from her, "I don't think it's a coincidence."

"I don't think it's any of your business what I do whether it's stupid or not." Bella snapped back.

"How did you get the hunter to talk?" Elijah asked.

"He just wanted to." Bella replied dismissively.

"We tried everything; compulsion, beating it out of him, all of it, so I'll ask you again. How did you get him to talk?" Elijah pressed.

"I'm just that charismatic I guess," Bella said, "Suppose I get that from Klaus."

"That's not the only thing you get from him," Elijah replied.

Bella stood up angrily, "Back off Elijah. I'm warning you."

"No," Elijah said, "I will not back off Isabella."

"Then suffer the consequences." Bella said before she walked out of the room.

She grabbed her jacket and headed for the door.

"You can't go anywhere," one of the Daywalkers called out to her.

"You gonna stop me?" Bella challenged.

"Marcel's orders," The guy replied.

"I don't follow his orders," Bella snapped, "Move."

The guy shook his head.

"Suit yourself." She shrugged before she blurred and bit into his neck.

She drank until he passed out and then she dropped him to the floor and wiped her mouth. She put on her jacket and walked out the door. She quickly made her way to the cemetery and started looking around for clues.

"We've already scoured the area." Klaus said as he came out from behind a crypt. "Anything of use was destroyed or taken with the ones that fled."

"What are you doing here?" Bella asked tensely.

"Watching your back," Klaus said, "You seem to very hell bent on getting yourself killed or worse."

"Let me guess, you're the only one who gets to do that right?" Bella snapped while crossing her arms.

Klaus sat down on the steps of a crypt, "You can't hide the truth from me Isabella. You talked to me while I was trapped and I paid attention. I know what's going on."

Bella narrowed her eyes, "You don't know anything." She growled.

"On the contrary, I know what's happening all too well because I went through the exact same thing." Klaus said, "After I killed my mother…"

"Save it," Bella said, "I don't care about what you went through Klaus."

"Isabella," Klaus stood up, "Don't become like me."

Bella blurred in front of him and gave him a wicked smile, "But Klaus I thought that's what you always wanted." She said innocently, "You wanted me to be like you. What? You got a taste of it when I took Elijah and Kol and you didn't like it? You like being the one in control, don't you?"

"I don't want to watch my daughter go through the hell I put myself through." Klaus said, not backing down.

Bella punched him and then slammed him to the ground. She placed her boot at his throat and held him there.

"I'm not your daughter." Bella snarled, "When I take out Silas and I will, I'm going to put you back in that coffin Klaus. I'm going to watch you slowly decay and lose your mind. I'm going to enjoy it. Then we will have all the father-daughter bonding time you ever wanted."

Bella removed her boot from his throat and blurred away.

Klaus quickly jumped up, but she was already gone.

"Damn it," Klaus growled.

"She's good at disappearing," Damon said, appearing behind Klaus.

Klaus nodded, "You followed her too."

"No I followed you." Damon said, "I wanted to know what you were up to."

"I'm trying to save Isabella from herself." Klaus said.

"You put her on this path." Damon countered.

"Damon my patience is gone so allow me to tell you something. Yes I put her on this path and yes I do truthfully regret it and while I know she will not forgive me for the sins I have committed, I will not watch her destroy herself." Klaus growled.

Damon was silent for a while as he studied Klaus. He broke the silence once he found what he was looking for, "What can we do?" Damon asked.

"What?" Klaus asked.

"What can we do?" Damon repeated.

"You believe me?" Klaus said shocked.

"No," Damon said, "I don't believe that you've changed, but I do believe in what you are saying about Bella. She needs help otherwise she'll become a soulless monster like you and none of us want that so what do we do?"

"We need to find her," Klaus said.

"Well then I guess it's a good thing Marcel came with me and followed her." Damon revealed as he pulled out his phone.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Bella sat at a table outside near the Quarter and sipped on her wine.

Within a few minutes Connor walked out of the hotel across the street. She quickly threw some money down and caught up to him.

She pushed him into an alley and bared her fangs.

Connor smirked, "Wonder what took you so long to come find me." He greeted. "Let me guess Galen. Tell me, how did you get him to talk?"

"I'm very persuasive." Bella said.

"No," Connor said while his smirk grew, "You compelled him."

Bella tensed.

Connor laughed, "Silas was right…you are unique. We Hunters are like witches, immune to compulsion…except yours apparently."

"Save it," Bella spat, "Now I want answers. Where is Silas?"

"I would tell you, but I can't." Connor said before he pulled out a piece of paper and slipped it into Bella's jacket. "Sorry about this, but I gotta run."

Connor quickly stabbed Bella with a knife and kicked her to the other side of the alley.

Damon, Klaus, and Marcel quickly appeared, standing protectively in front of her and Connor quickly back stepped into the crowded street while concealing the knife. He waved at the vampires before he disappeared in the crowd.

"Bella," Klaus called out as he kneeled down next to her.

"Get away from me." Bella snapped and pushed him away.

"You need blood," Klaus said and bit into his wrist.

"I said get away," Bella growled.

"You compelled that Hunter?" Marcel asked shocked.

Bella didn't respond. She just zipped up her jacket, hiding the blood stain on her shirt, and moved into the crowd.

Damon followed her and took her hand, "You aren't getting away that easily."

"Let me go Damon," Bella warned.

"Go ahead," Damon said, "Make me."

"We need to get back to the house," Klaus interrupted, appearing next to them.

"I should have known I couldn't trust you," Bella snapped at Damon, "You sided with the enemy."

Damon pulled her close to him by wrapping his arm around her waist.

"You're intentionally being reckless and stubborn. I'm going to take all the help I can get to get you to see what you're doing is destroying yourself." Damon said, smiling as a band passed by.

"I'm going to kick your ass." Bella growled.

"Can't risk exposure," Marcel said. "Connor's following us."

"Good he and I weren't done talking," Bella said before she tried to turn around, but Damon prevented her.

"Not going to be that easy." Damon said and squeezed her. "We need to talk."

Bella mumbled curses under her breath as the three men took her back to the house. Once they were close, Connor stopped following. They walked in only to find everyone waiting for them.

Damon sat Bella down in a chair that was set up in the middle of the room.

She rolled her eyes, crossed her arms and legs, "What do you want?"

"You compelled the Hunter." Damon said, "How?"

"Same way I compelled Rebekah and Kol." Bella said.

The Original brothers' eyes fell to Rebekah and Kol.

"I don't know what she's talking about." Rebekah said.

"Don't ask me," KOl said holding up his hands

"Bucharest." Bella said, "You went there and I forced you to take a potion to forget someone then I compelled you to do what you wanted which is why you stopped looking for Klaus because it's what you wanted. And you Kol I compelled you to think you were decaying slowly."

Both Rebekah and Kol's memories resurfaced as Bella told her story as she looked into both their eyes forcing them to remember what she had done.

"You wanted us in Bucharest so you could come back to the States." Elijah deduced.

Bella nodded.

"Can you compel witches?" Bonnie asked.

"Don't know." Bella said.

"Bella you must let us help you," Elijah said.

"I don't need any help." Bella argued before she stood up, "What I need is a shower and a change of clothes."

"Bella." Charlie and Damon said at the same time, each of them had reached out to stop her from walking out of the room.

Bella looked at Charlie then at Damon.

It was quick, only a flash in her eyes, but Klaus saw her resolve waiver for a moment before her cold demeanor returned and she yanked her arms from their grasps and walked out the door.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Camille followed Bella up the stairs and into her room.

"You really are on a suicide mission aren't you?" Cami said.

"Don't start," Bella said as she unzipped her jacket.

"I am," Cami said, "You need help, especially now with this Silas guy coming after you. Maybe Klaus can help you."

"So now you buy his bleeding heart story." Bella snapped.

"I believe he wants to help you, yes." Cami replied.

"Wow," Bella said, "You turned on me too."

"I'm not turning on you Bella," Cami defended, "I'm just not into watching my friend destroy herself."

"Get out," Bella said.

Cami left and passed Elena on her way.

"Watch out," Cami warned.

Elena walked in and shut the door, "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I don't have time Elena," Bella said.

"Time," Elena growled before she threw a vase across the room.

Bella looked at her, "Someone's got an attitude."

"Yes I do," Elena snapped, "I'm mad as hell."

"What do you have to be mad about?" Bella asked.

"You left me to figure this shit out on my own!" Elena yelled, "You disappeared and at first I trusted that what you were doing was the right thing, I understood, but this." Elena waved her hand around, motioning towards Bella, "I don't understand. Do you want to end up dead Bella?"

"I'm not going to end up dead." Bella said dismissively.

"A blood sacrifice," Elena said, "That's what they want Bella. Silas wants your blood! You have left us two times Bella. TWO TIMES. You know what they say about third time's a charm. You are going to end up dead if you don't let us help you."

"I don't want your help Elena," Bella snapped, "I don't need it."

"This isn't the Bella I know," Elena said.

"You're right," Bella agreed before she got in Elena's face, "I'm not so you should just back off and go back to Mystic Falls where you belong."

Bella turned her back, but she didn't hear Elena moving.

"You can leave now." Bella said.

"No," Elena replied defiantly.

Bella whipped around, "As your maker I command you to get the hell out of here." Bella roared.

Elena felt the pull and she immediately left the room.

Bella sat down in her chair and put her hands in her jacket pockets. Her forehead wrinkled when she felt a piece of paper. She pulled it out and unfolded it. She quickly read what was written on it.

Old factory outside of the city. Midnight.

Bella replayed the encounter with Connor earlier and realized he had placed it there. He knew she was being followed he wanted to talk to her without an audience.

Bella stripped off her jacket and hopped into the shower to get ready.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Elena came down the stairs with tears streaming down her face.

"What's wrong?" Stefan asked.

"She broke her promise," Elena said, "She used our bond against me."

"She's really going over the edge." Rebekah mumbled.

"It's okay," Stefan said.

"Is she in the shower?" Charlie asked.

Stefan nodded as he consoled Elena.

"Klaus, Damon, Marcel, Elijah study," Charlie commanded as he pointed to each of the vampires before he headed for the mentioned room.

The four men followed him in and shut the door.

"What do you need Charles?" Elijah asked calmly.

Charlie looked to Damon, "Are you working with him?" He asked while pointing to Klaus.

Damon nodded.

Charlie looked at Klaus, "You and I will never be on good terms you got me." Klaus nodded, "But I've been talking with Davina and she's right. We do need your help with Bella."

"She waivered," Klaus said, "Earlier when she returned from being stabbed. When you and Damon stopped her, I saw it. It was tiny, but her resolve stumbled for a moment."

"What are you saying?" Elijah asked.

"You two are closest to her. She cares about you two the most. She can't keep the wall up with you two. There will always be a weak spot in it when it comes to you and Damon." Klaus explained while looking at Charlie.

"That maybe, but it's still not going to help." Elijah replied.

"She got mad at you earlier when you compared her to Klaus." Charlie said, "That means she's still in denial to a point."

"Elijah has always been the Jimney Cricket of the family," Klaus said before he turned to Marcel, "You have a part to play as well. She doesn't understand why I treated you each differently. She even resents you to a point, I believe."

Marcel nodded, "Yeah when we had our talks, I got that impression."

"So what we hit her from all sides?" Damon asked while looking at Klaus, "What part do you play?"

"Her punching bag," Klaus said simply.

"Can you handle that?" Elijah asked.

"For her…" Klaus said, "I will."

.*.*.*.*.*.

No one bothered Bella after Elena left. She just sat there as she watched the hours tick by until it was time.

Around 11 o'clock, a knock on her door startled her.

"Bella," Davina called out, "Can we talk?"

Bella stayed silent.

"Please," Davina said.

Bella didn't respond and she heard Davina slide to the floor and lean against the door.

"I know you're mad at me for letting him out." Davina started, "I know I've betrayed you, but I swear Bella he's changed. He only wants you safe and happy. I know you don't believe it and I know that you probably never will. He hurt you, he did terrible things and he deserves to be in a special place in hell."

Bella tensed as she thought back to her time with Klaus as a young girl.

"But he really does care." Davina continued. "I can't lose you Bella, not after losing Dad and even Mom. I just got you back and you are on this self-destructive mission. I don't know what to do. I don't know what's right or wrong anymore. I need you Bella. But then again I know there are some things you have to do on your own. That the more we try to hold you back, the more you will rebel. I know deep down that you don't like being this cold-hearted bitch. I don't know if it's to keep your resolve to make it easier when you leave again, but it hurts. It hurts so much to see you like this, to hear you talk like you don't care. Everyone says you're becoming like him and I don't want to believe it."

Bella listened as Davina stood up and sniffled. The immortal suspected that the witch was wiping her eyes dry.

"I love you Bella…please come back." Davina said before she walked away.

A lone tear trailed down Bella's cheek, but she quickly wiped it away and waited until she heard Davina's door close.

Silently she slipped out her door and down the stairs. She made sure that she kept to the shadows. Along the way, she snapped a few of the Nightwalkers' necks. She knew Damon, Klaus, Elijah or any of the others would follow her. They were exhausted and their bodies needed rest.

She slipped out of the house and started running towards the old factory outside of town.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Davina stood outside with Cami as they watched Bella run.

"You sure we shouldn't wake them up?" Davina asked.

Cami shook her head, "She needs to do this on her own. Besides like you said, you saw her coming back in one piece."

"Do you think she listened?" Davina asked.

Cami sighed, "We can only wait and see."

Davina went back inside and Cami watched as Bella disappeared.

"I hope you know what you're doing Bella." She said before walked back inside.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Bella hopped the fence and hid behind a machine as she surveyed the guards. She looked for any markings on them to determine if they were Hunters and when she found none she attacked, incapacitating them quickly.

Once she was done she started to head for a building. When she arrived, she put up her hands.

"Got my message I see," Connor greeted her as he walked out with two other men, both Hunters, with guns pointed at her. "And you weren't followed…impressive."

"I've healed up," Bella shrugged. "You ready to talk like Galen?"

Connor laughed, "Go ahead guys and watch the perimeter. I got her."

The other two Hunters left them alone and Connor put down his weapon.

"Aren't you going to be needing that?" Bella asked.

"Nah," Connor said, "You know what happens when one of your kind kills a Hunter and you aren't stupid enough to take the risk."

"Why did you want this meeting?" Bella asked.

"I'm actually surprised you came," Connor confessed as he walked over to her. "You sure this isn't a trap?"

"No, but I'm willing to take my chances." Bella said.

"You've got some balls, I'll give you that." Connor laughed, "Where's Galen?"

"At the house," Bella said.

"He alive?" Connor asked.

"Last I checked," Bella replied. "Can we cut the bullshit? Why did you want me here?"

"I didn't," Connor smirked, "Follow me."

Bella stayed where she was.

Connor sighed, "This isn't a trap Bella. This is merely a meeting. You are free to leave once it's over. Unlike Klaus, we don't trick people."

Bella scoffed, "Honor among murderers, that's a new concept."

"Look who's talking," Connor countered. "You coming?"

Bella took a deep breath and began to follow Connor.

They walked through the factory and came to a door. Connor opened it up and stepped aside.

"All the answers you want are down there." He said while pointing to the stairs through the door. "Once you've heard enough and have what you need, you're free to go. We aren't like Klaus. There are no hidden agendas."

"Why should I believe you?" Bella asked.

"We tried taking you against your will. That didn't work out so well so this the new approach." Connor said and walked away.

Bella slowly took the steps one by one until she reached the bottom and saw a light down the hall. She headed for it and opened the door.

The room was dimly lit but inside, there was a man sitting at the desk. He turned around and smiled, causing Bella to tense.

"Hello Isabella," He said while smiling.

Bella held in her reaction to the very man who had been invading her mind.

"Silas," Bella replied.

"I've been waiting for you." Silas stood up, "Please take a seat."

Bella walked into the room and shut the door.

A/N: The meeting is finally here! I told you things were going to start moving fast and I was serious. we only have a few more chapters left before the final face off so hold onto your hats ladies and gents.

Thank you to my wonderful beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel for all she does not only as my beta, but as my friend.

Thank you to you my readers for all the support over the last few years of this series.

Quick little mention about Stripped the next chapter is with my beta so as soon as I get that back I will post it.

Review my dears!