Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries and never will, but I do own Charlene Davis and Megan Swann and any other characters I come up with.

Author's Note: Hope you love the updated version! :D

Charlene pulled out a drink from the fridge before turning towards Elena and Megan, who were busy looking for Jonathan Gilbert's journal in their family stuff. She felt a little better about doing this than she was before. Damon couldn't find it and get Abigail out of the tomb…but she still couldn't help but feel like she was betraying Damon. Charlene shook her head as soon as the thought crossed her mind again. She wasn't betraying him. This was the right thing to do.

Charlene took a sip of her drink as she headed back over to Elena and Megan, but she went to stand beside Stefan, who was there with them. She sat down her drink on the counter before she crossed her arms.

"Finding anything yet?" she asked her best friend and sister.

Megan heaved a heavy sigh at the question, running a hand down her face. "No. It's nowhere in here. Maybe you guys don't have it." She said the last part to Elena and Charlene.

"Well, Damon's convinced that we do." Elena commented. "We just have to keep looking, that's all."

"I guess so." Megan said, unconvinced.

Charlene said nothing for a moment. "By the way, do you think Damon really believe we're trying to help him?" she questioned softly, looking over at Stefan. She hoped he did, because it would be easier to lie to him if he did.

"I don't think Damon knows what to believe." Stefan answered, crossing his arms. "Trust isn't something that comes naturally to him."

"Well, he seems to trust Charlene."

She couldn't help but wince at what Megan said. She hoped that wasn't trust…but she knew deep inside that it was true. Now, she was feeling guilty all over again.

'Thanks Megan.' Charlene thought glumly, then she spoke again, changing the subject, well sort of. "It's sad." She said.

Megan's eyebrows furrowed at her, confused. "What is?"

"That Damon really does think everything he's done…has been for a love. I know that doesn't excuse what he's done…but it's just sad…" Charlene explained, and she felt Stefan's gaze turn to her, but she didn't meet his eyes.

"There's other ways to get what you want." Stefan added. "You don't have to kill people, or turn people against their will." She knew he was talking about her and Vicki.

"I know that, Stefan." Charlene told him. "I'm just worried…what if he finds out about us betraying him like this? You know how he is when someone breaks his trust…" If he found out, who knows what he would do… Charlene sighed heavily as she uncrossed her arms to grab her drink and take a sip again. She felt Stefan take a hold of her free hand. When he squeezed, Charlene looked up at him.

"He's not going to find out." Stefan said, and she believed him. Sort of, so she nodded. He let go of her hand before crossing his arms again and sighing heavily. "Damon has no regard for human life. He enjoys inflicting pain on others…for 145 years, every single time that I have let my guard down and let Damon back into my life, he's done something to make me regret it. I'm not going to make that mistake again."

Charlene said nothing, though she did have something to say about it. Despite his words, she knew he would. Damon was his brother, his family, and no matter what, he always would be. Family was something you will always have, even if you can't pick who they are.

"So, what do you think will happen if the tomb gets opened and Damon gets Abigail back?" Elena asked curiously.

"I think that no matter what Damon promises, a lot of people will die."

"That's comforting, Stef." Charlene said under her breath, sarcastically.

"I found something!" Megan announced, getting everyone's attention. She held up an old picture.

Stefan moved to get a closer look. "That's Jonathan Gilbert."

Wanting to look too, Charlene went over and took the photo from Megan, gazing down at it. She could sort of see the resemblance between Jonathan and Jeremy.

"What's this?" Elena suddenly asked. She had a wooden box open, and showed everyone what was inside.

"Whoa." Megan said, her eyes slightly wide as she reached in and picked it up. "It looks like a muzzle…why would something that this be in here?" She looked up at Stefan, thinking he would know the answer, because it looked like he recognized it. He didn't have time to explain as Jeremy came into the room.

"What are you guys doing?" he asked.

"Hey." Elena greeted before explaining, "Just going through some stuff, feeling sentimental. Dad had this old journal from years ago. I thought I'd dig it up."

Jeremy sat down on the kitchen counter. "Jonathan Gilbert's journal?"

"Yeah?" Charlene looked at him, surprised. "How do you know about it?"

"I just did a history report on it."

Megan spoke up. "Um, where is it now if you don't mind me asking?" she asked casually, trying to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal, but of course, it was.

"I gave it to Mr. Saltzman." Jeremy answered. "He wanted to see it…why are you trying to find it?"

Charlene shrugged. "No reason, just thought it would be interesting to look at, that's all." She told him.

Jeremy stared for a moment before shrugging and leaving the kitchen. There was silence but it didn't last long as Megan spoke, looking a bit nervous.

"Well, this isn't good."

That was an understatement.

"I'll be back." Stefan suddenly said. He left before any of them could say anything, but he didn't have to explain what he was doing.

He was going to get the journal back from Alaric Saltzman.

Alaric Saltzman sat at his desk in Mystic Falls High School with the Gilbert journal right in front of him. He stopped at an entry and silently read it to himself.

'I met Barnett and Giuseppe this evening. I saw the skepticism in their eyes when I showed them the compass…'

1864…

Giuseppe Salvatore, Barnett Lockwood, and Jonathan Gilbert all stood in Giuseppe's office, discussing the compass that Jonathan created.

"We're supposed to believe that can track one of them?" Giuseppe questioned in disbelief, looking at the compass in Jonathan's hand.

"What is it, magic?" Barnett asked curiously.

"It's science." Jonathan corrected.

Barnett crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll believe it when I see it."

Wanting to keep an a from starting, Giuseppe changed the subject. "I've been thinking about this church idea." He said seriously. "I really think that it could work."

Before anyone could say anything more, Stefan Salvatore entered his father's study, and all three of the adults turned to look at him. Once they looked, he shifted awkwardly on his feet.

"Excuse me, father, I didn't know you had guests." Stefan apologized.

Giuseppe nodded at him. "We'll be done in a few minutes, son."

Stefan nodded back. "I'll come back," he said. He looked at Barnett and Jonathan, "Forgive me, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Lockwood." He closed the door leaving them alone once more.

"Have you told them?" Jonathan asked, looking at Giuseppe.

Giuseppe shook his head. "Not yet."

Jonathan looked at him seriously. "Giuseppe, we need all the men we can get."

"I'll tell them." Giuseppe reassured his guests. "You can count of both of my boys."

Present…

Alaric was making copies of the journal for himself. He went to his locket and put the copies in it before heading back to his office. Unknown to him, someone was following him. After returning to his classroom, he threw the journal on the desk before sitting back in his seat and going back to grading papers. Suddenly, he heard a noise coming from the classroom door and he looked but didn't see anything.

"Hello?" Alaric called. He got out of his desk to check it out, and he looked out in the hallway but didn't see anything. "Hello? He didn't say anything, so he went out into the hallway and tried again. "Someone there!"

Slowly, he started to walk down the hallway when suddenly he heard something from behind him and he rushed into the teacher's lounge to get to his locker and pulled out a duffel bag. He opened it up quickly taking out a long blow dart gun, which had been modified to use wooden stakes. He put a stake inside and he cocked the gun before walking back to his classroom. Before entering, he pressed himself against the wall in the corridor, next to the classroom. Swiftly, he turned into the doorway, pointed the gun, and shot the stake out.

But Stefan Salvatore caught it before the stake could even hit him. His student stared at him, and Alaric began to load another stake into the gun as Stefan watched him. He looked down and cocked the cock, moving towards the doorway as he did so. Before he could do anything, Stefan vamp-speeded around him and blocked his way. Alaric looked at him, startled, as he grabbed him by his shirt.

"You shouldn't have done that." Stefan growled as he pushed Alaric hard at the chairs that immediately fell once the teacher hit them. Alaric scrambled off from the ground and grabbed a hold onto a desk that didn't fall. "Have a seat." Slowly, Alaric sat down in the desk keeping his eyes on Stefan. "What is this? Compressed air? Did you make it yourself? Who are you?" Seeing the frightened look on Alaric's face, Stefan sighed. "I'm not going to hurt you…unless you try that again." He handed Alaric back the gun before he picked up one of the desks that had fallen down and settled himself on it before speaking again. "Now…who are you?"

"A teacher."

"Are we going to do this hard way?"

Alaric hesitated for a moment before he sighed. "I'm also an historian…" he said. "And while researching Virginia, I—made a few discoveries about your town."

"So, you show up like Van Helsing." Stefan said, not believing him for a second. "Come on…tell me the truth."

Alaric sighed. "My wife was a parapsychologist. She spent her life researching paranormal activity in this area. It was her work that led me here."

"Where's your wife?"

"Dead." Alaric said in blunt voice. "A vampire killed her."

"Where's the Gilbert journal?" Stefan questioned.

Alaric raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you want with it?"

"Where is it?" Stefan repeated.

"It's on my desk," Ric answered.

"No, it's not."

Alaric looked and sure enough it wasn't there as he looked back at Stefan. "It was on my desk."

Anna was reading the Gilbert journal. She had managed to get it. As of yet, she didn't find anything of importance.

"Anything yet?" Ben questioned from his spot on the ground in front of the TV, tying his shoes.

Anna shook her head, her eyes still on the journal as she flipped through the pages. "Not yet. Just a lot of gibberish." Ben got up from the ground and made his way over to her as Anna continued, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, some people shouldn't journal."

Ben put his hands on the desk that Anna was sitting in, looking at the journal. "I thought this Gilbert was the brains."

"Don't you have a date?" Anna questioned annoyed, looking at him. She hated when people stared over her shoulder like he was doing.

Ben nodded. "Yep," he said. "Wish me luck." He leaned down to kiss her but stopped when she pushed him away.

He looked at her with a hurt expression, but she didn't notice as he left the hotel room. Anna found something interesting in the journal that shocked her to no end…

'I saw her again today—the most beautiful woman in town, with a name just as pretty…Pearl.'

1864…

Demetria, Abigail, Katherine and Pearl all stood in a store.

"Have you girls thought more about what I said?" Pearl questioned, looking at all three of the girls.

Abigail nodded, "Yes Pearl we have."

"We'll leave soon Pearl, I promise," Katherine told her friend.

Demetria grinned as she nudged Abigail in the side. "Abby and I need to take care of few things first."

Pearl's eyes widened slightly when she realized what Abby and Demi planned on doing. "You two are going to change the Salvatores, aren't you?" she asked, hoping that she was wrong.

Abby and Demi nodded.

"Unfortunately, we have to," Abby told the older woman.

"Girls, please, be careful." Pearl said looking at them pleadingly.

"We'll all be safe," Katherine reassured. "I promise."

Suddenly, Demi grinned when she noticed Jonathan Gilbert standing outside of the store. "Mr. Gilbert's coming," she told Pearl. "Quick, your cheeks." She squeezed them gently and after she was done, she smiled at Pearl. "There…perfectly rosy."

Jonathan came into the store, his eyes still on Pearl's face, "Miss Pearl…may I have a moment?"

Pearl nodded as she turned to face him. "Yes Mr. Gilbert," she said going over to him until she was standing in front of him. Abby, Demi, and Katherine watched her as she smiled at him brightly. "I'm still waiting for you to explain that comet in the sky."

They both left the store and Katherine looked over at Anna, who was standing across from them, and smiled. "Your mother has an admirer."

Anna smiled as she nodded.

"As descendants of the founding families, they'll want to know that they can count on you." Giuseppe said as he and his sons walked together across their property.

Stefan nodded, looking at his father. "Of course, they can. Is there any doubt?"

"I'm not sure your brother Damon understands the duty of importance," Giuseppe said calmly, not noticing the way Damon's face tightened at the insult.

Stefan noticed the look on his brother's face. "Damon left the Confederacy on principle." He said, standing up for his brother. "It was his choice and should be respected."

Giuseppe glared at his youngest son. "You'll forgive me if I have trouble respecting a deserter."

Damon's jaw clenched. "Well, I never asked for your respect!"

Giuseppe stopped walking and whirled around to face his son, glaring at him now. "Good for you Damon." He growled. "Because all I have is disappointment."

"You said the town is in trouble?" Stefan quickly changed the subject.

The glare disappeared from Giuseppe's face and was replaced with a serious look. "There have been too many deaths. It is time for us to fight back…stop these killers."

Stefan pretended to be confused. "Killers? What do you mean?" he questioned.

"We live amongst demons," Giuseppe replied bluntly.

"Your being cryptic now, father," Damon said, snappishly. "Why don't you just say the word?"

Giuseppe just stared at his son for a moment. "Vampires." Stefan and Damon shared a look before looking back at their father as he went on. "They exist. And they live amongst us. But we have a plan to kill them."

Damon and Stefan pretended not to be fazed by this news but on the inside, they were freaking out, Damon more so than Stefan.

"And you're going to help us," Giuseppe added, looking at both of his sons.

Present…

"Hello Charlene."

Charlene blinked, shocked to see Damon in her house, chatting with Aunt Jenna, who didn't seem to be bothered by him being here. Then again, her aunt didn't know Damon as well as she did.

She tried not to be bothered as she sat down her bag. "Er, hi." She forced a smile. It felt awkward being around him, knowing what she, Megan, Elena, and Stefan had been doing. Charlene didn't think she would seeing him anytime soon and she was happy about that, so she didn't have to feel the guilt seeping in.

"Hey, where have you been?" Jenna asked, breaking her out of her thoughts. "We're cooking dinner."

"Just out with Megan." Charlene answered, trying not to look bothered by Damon's presence.

"Is Stefan with her?" Damon asked as he cut up some tomatoes.

Charlene avoided his gaze. "Yeah…both of them will be over soon…" She turned around to go over to the fridge, and she could feel Damon's gaze on her but she just ignored it.

"How long have you've been aware of me?" Stefan asked. He and the History teacher were still in the classroom, talking.

"I just learned recently." Alaric responded. "What about your brother?"

"You met Damon," Stefan said with a nod of his head.

Alaric's eyes darkened in sadness. "Who do you think killed my wife?"

"Are you certain it was Damon?"

Alaric nodded. "I witnessed it."

Stefan regarded Alaric seriously. "If you're here for revenge, this is going to end badly for you." He told him.

"I just want to find out what happened to my wife."

This statement confused Stefan. "I thought you just said Damon…"

Alaric interrupted him before he could finish. "Yeah…" He didn't meet Stefan in the eye as he continued, "I saw him draining the life out of her. He must have heard me coming because he just disappeared…" Alaric met Stefan in the eye again. "So did her body. They never found her."

"Damon can never know why you're here." Stefan told Alaric after a moment of contemplating what the teacher said. "He'll kill you without even blinking."

"I can take care of myself."

Stefan scoffed in disbelief. "No, you can't. I can help you. If you let me."

TBC...

In...

Children of the Damned, Part 2