Chapter 4

Damon drives through town with an amused smirk resting on his lips. The early morning light flickers across his blue eyes, and he squints to protect against the glare. He doesn't want to admit that he almost believes the crazy blonde hiding out at the boarding house. She was pissed when he left her alone in the giant house. Apparently his trip through town is diverging from the original timeline. But hey, if Caroline isn't willing to dish, he doesn't have to play her game. Sure, his original plans for the day had involved stalking Mason Lockwood and killing the werewolf because, well, what else would he do with a creature that could kill him with one bite?

He knows the volunteer picnic, or founding families' fundraiser, or Mystic Falls event of the week, or whatever it's called, would be the best way to keep an eye on Fido and, apparently that's where Damon is supposed to be right now. Big things will happen at the picnic, and he's a major player, according to 'future' Caroline. But she refused to tell him more than that, so what's a man to do? Naturally, he told her to shove it. She did not like that at all.

Damon snickers at the amount of cursing and the vivid imagery Caroline used to insult him. She was mid-rant and gearing up for what Damon considered a truly epic tirade when their favorite Sheriff called. That shut her up real quick. Evidently, someone went on a killing spree at Mrs. Flower's B & B, and his services are needed. Which means Sheriff Forbes thinks it's vampire related. Caroline expressed concern because this particular killing spree never happened in her timeline. At least, as far as she can remember. Which, let's face it, there's no way Damon Salvatore is relying on Caroline Forbes to remember anything not directly related to her and her latest man obsession. Now if he ever needs to know the exact time and date Brangelina call it quits, she'll be the first person he calls.

And he said as much before leaving her trapped in his house without a daylight ring. Her requests for him to call Bonnie for a new daylight ring fell on deaf ears, since the teenage witch hates Damon with the all fury of hell. Interestingly enough, Caroline seemed surprised by this information and then laughed. Again, it seems she'd forgotten that tidbit of information.

Damon huffs as he tries to remember a time when things were simple, and he spent his eternity partying and killing. With some surprise, he realizes that he doesn't miss the cold emptiness of those days. With his humanity switch off, life was simple but empty. Now things are complicated and messy but full. Stefan actually speaks to him in a semi-civil manner, Alaric is turning out to be an entertaining drinking buddy, and he honestly considers Liz Forbes a friend.

Then there's Elena. Just the thought of her puts a goofy grin on his face. Even when she's mad and refuses to speak to him, except for a few insults, Elena makes him feel real. She cares for him, whether she ever admits it or not. She considers him a real person with feelings and expects more from him than his typical murderous behavior. At least, she did before Damon killed her brother. Obviously, there's no way he's ever going to live up to those expectations. But she once believed in him, believed that there was something good still left in him. Given time maybe he can win her friendship back. That's what he should be doing right now. He should be trying to find a way to convince Elena to forgive him. Or at least killing Mason Lockwood.

Unfortunately, the 'future' Caroline decided to drop into his world and fuck everything up. Now he's racking his brain trying to decide if the crazy blonde in his house is lying or not. Rational thought says that she is a big, fat, neurotic liar. But this is Mystic Falls, home of vampires, witches, werewolves and doppelgängers. Why not time travel?

What if she's for real, Damon wonders as he pulls into the driveway of the B&B. He follows the curve around to the back of the building as Sheriff Forbes had requested when she called. He's surprised to find a dozen dead bodies strewn throughout the backyard patio. The Sheriff crouches in the center with an open notepad, examining one of the unfortunate victims.

For a moment, he feels bad for Liz. These people, like all the victims in Mystic Falls, were her responsibility to protect, and she's known most of them all her life. What's worse is that she has no idea that her handsome and debonair friend and vampire hunter, is also one of the worst murderers Mystic Falls has ever seen. Oh, and he's a vampire. Damon moves to exit his car when Sheriff Forbes waves at him, but he spots another officer interviewing two witnesses, and he pauses.

No way, Damon says to himself. It's not possible.

But there they stand, speaking to the police officer as though they're innocent bystanders. They look just as Caroline described them: mid-twenties, black hair, blue eyes, average height. One twin has her long hair pulled back into a pony tail, but Damon can still spot a few deep red highlights that identify her as Jo. Lizzie's long, wavy hair, highlighted blue, lies across her shoulders. Apparently, the odd colors are part of the latest fade in the future.

Damon decides to watch the girls and listen in on the conversation before joining Sheriff Forbes. He stares at them from his car until his sensitive hearing picks up their voices.

"So you have no idea where she is?" Jo says. She glowers at man for daring to waste their time,

"Ma'am, I've never heard of her, but I do need to get a statement from you. Can you please describe to me the incident?" the cop says with a patient nod. This isn't the first time he's interviewed compelled victims and witnesses, so he's accustom to odd behavior.

"Of course he doesn't know anything. He's not in charge." Lizzie says. Her flippant sneer causes Jo to roll her eyes.

"Tell us who's in charge," she says.

"Look, I'm more than happy to assist you in your search, but first, I need to know what happened here," he says.

Jo lifts one hand as though mimicking a puppet. With a flick of her fingers, the officer's mouth snaps shut, and he stares at Lizzie in surprise.

"Let's try that again," Jo says with a wicked smile. "Who's in charge here?"

The police officer lifts a hand to point at Sheriff Forbes, who immediately notices his strange behavior.

"Can I help you?" she calls to the girls as she steps closer. They meet her half way, leaving the police officer standing alone with his mouth still sealed shut. Whatever the witch did to him, prevents the officer from moving.

"I don't know. Can you?" Jo says. "We're looking for someone. A vampire, actually. Judging by the vervain swimming through the veins of every officer here, you're doing the same."

"We just want to help," Lizzie says. Her faux innocent voice sets Sheriff Forbes on edge as the young woman peers up at with big blue eyes. Damon doesn't believe her for an instant and neither does Liz. She snaps a hand to her gun, but Jo is quicker.

"Now, now. Let's not be hasty. Jo flicks her hand again, and the puppet officer jerks around with his gun drawn and pointed at Liz. Damon notices that the remaining handful of officers follow suit. In total, he counts four guns aimed at his friend, so Damon figures that it's time to introduce himself.

Both twins stiffen when Damon climbs out of the car, although Lizzie is the only one to glance back at him. Recognizing the elder Salvatore brother, her eyes widen in surprise, and she elbows her sister. Jo twists her head enough to see Damon strolling past one of the officers still struggling against the invisible threads holding him in place. Damon flashes a broad grin at Sheriff Forbes.

"Hey, Liz. How's it going? Making friends? What have I always said about playing with witches?"

"Witches?" Liz says. She glances at the twins for a reaction to the accusation. Instead, they both watch Damon with empty expressions.

"What are you doing here, Uncle Damon?" Lizzie asks. Damon pauses at the question, or more specifically, the title 'Uncle'.

Why the hell would Caroline's kids call me 'Uncle'? There is no way that Vampire Barbie and I are actually friends in the future. Certainly not close enough for her children to call me 'Uncle'.

Damon tilts his head, feinting confusion. "I'm sorry, what?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard you two were looking for someone, so I thought I'd offer my services."

"Why?" Jo asks. Her brow knits together with suspicion, but Damon notices something odd about the tone of her voice. Something isn't right, but he can't quiet put his finger on it.

"Well first, because I'd rather you not kill my favorite Sheriff." He waves his arms around to emphasize their current situation. "Is this really necessary?"

"Yes," Lizzie says. Again, a nagging feeling tugs at Damon. Something is definitely off with both twins. They're very calm, too calm for women their age in this situation. But maybe that's due to their strength as witches. Hell, if Damon had the power Caroline claims these girls possess, he wouldn't be frightened of anything either. Not that he's scared of anything now. Certainly not the adopted offspring of Caroline Forbes.

"I'd also like to get you and your sister out of my town as quickly as possible. If that means helping you accomplish whatever it is that you came her to do, I'm game. So just tell me who it is you're looking for, and I'll gladly deliver them to you in a doggy bag."

The girls glance at each before smirking in unison at him. "We're looking for Katherine Pierce."

"Great." Damon sweeps his arms wide. "I've been trying to get rid of her since she showed up. She's like a bad, slutty, penny."

"You know her?" Lizzie's surprise doesn't quiet reach her eyes. Apparently, that wasn't the response they expected from their 'Uncle'. Watching their expressions closely, Damon finally realizes what's bothering him about the girls. Their emotional responses are dull and listless. It's like they are mimicking the tone and expressions that are expected of them, but they're not real. It's like they flipped their humanity switches, but witches can't do that. Can they? No way. Damon would have heard about it. Of course, he thought the same thing about werewolves just a few days ago. And time travel.

Shit, I'm actually starting to believe this time travel crap.

"I've met the bitch," Damon says with a bitter smile.

"She's a doppelgänger like Elena," Jo says in an oddly accusatory tone that confuses Damon. Liz, who has watched the exchange in silence without moving for fear of triggering a response from the tiring officers all around, frowns at the mention of one of her daughter's best friends.

"Yes…" Damon says, prompting more from the twin witches.

"Did you meet her before you met Elena?" Lizzie asks. Damon picks up a flicker of genuine curiosity before it's snuffed out.

"It doesn't matter," Jo says. "We want Katherine Pierce dead. She surprised us during our first attempt."

Jo motions to the dozen bodies lying around. "We intended to take Katherine down quickly, but the moment she identified us as threats, everyone inside and around the building surged toward us. They couldn't hurt us, of course."

"They were cannon fodder, so she could escape." Damon was more annoyed at Katherine's wily ways than concerned for the victims. They were already dead, what did they need his sympathy for?

"Yes," Lizzie says. "Next time, we won't underestimate her."

"Right. I'll tell l you what, you let the Sheriff and her deputies go, and I'll be glad to track her down for you," Damon says. "I'm certain she hasn't gone far."

"No," Jo says, much to Damon's irritation. "We didn't tell you this, so you'd help us."

"We told you, so you'd stay out of our way," Lizzie says.

"The creepy twin talk is not flattering."

"Tell mother to go home and stay out of our way," Jo says. She waves one hand into the air, and all but one officer drops to the ground, unconscious. The last remaining deputy stands at Sheriff Forbes' back with his gun still aimed at her. "Or next time, the Sheriff won't walk away."

The instant before the gun fires, Damon reacts. He grabs Liz and blurs away from the threatening ballistic. Unfortunately he's not fast enough. The wooden bullet strikes Damon in the back, but he keeps moving. When he speeds through the tree line leading into the surrounding woods, Damon stops, collapsing against a tree.

Liz sputters from the sudden movement. One second, she's standing next to Damon and listening to him chat up a couple of witches that referred to him as 'Uncle'. The next, she's standing in the forest with the noise from a gunshot ringing in her ears and Damon writhing on the ground next to a tree. Everything in between is a blur, but she's certain Damon Salvatore just saved her life using vampiric abilities. She pulls her gun and aims it at Damon.

"You're a vampire!"

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