A/N: Hello and welcome back.

Can I just start with apologizing for another long wait between chapters.

I am behind on commenting to replies, on chapter schedule and honestly I'm behind on (home)work and other things too, but still I am really sorry. I will get to all of that. I'm pretty sure I will since as of yesterday, I am now one of those COVID struck people, stuck in isolation. And I hate it.

It's almost silly how used you are to going outside for a walk or simply having breakfast with your family. Well, I'll survive I suppose. I have some time to write now, so there's that.

As for the chapter, I'm not quite pleased with it, but it will have to do. Let me know what you all think.

Lots of Love,

Anna

o.O.o

Chapter Twenty-Eight, The Witch, the Vampire and the Doppelgänger

The moon rose high into the late winter sky, silvery light filtering in through the bare branches above and scattered down on the forest floor below. I was sitting cross-legged, hands folded in my lap, earbuds in my ears and a tangle of white cord curling around my wrist. The music was barely capable to drown out the screeching and the whispers — who'd known that the invocation of spirits would make so much noise — nor did it elevate the horrendous lights or the flickers of faces long lost in time, but at least, it took away the edge a bit.

A little bit, at least.

I squeezed my eyes shut as another scream pierced through a cover of Britney Spear's Toxic song and within a few seconds, another scream joined the first and then they snowballed out of control (again). My eyes snapped open, just in time as something flashed across my narrowed field of view and Caroline crouched down before me.

"Wha—"

"She says she can't find Bonnie," Caroline whispered and I frowned, yanking the earbuds out.

"I don't understand?" I mumbled. "Did something block her?"

"No—" Caroline whispered urgently, "—no, she says she's not there— Elena, do you think she somehow survived?"

I shook my head. "I don't understand." I whispered.

Caroline yanked me up so harshly, my hair flailed around my face. "Bree can't contact Bonnie. She said nothing was blocking her from the other side, which means… She's still alive! She has to be!"

"But I saw her— There was an open casket— If she's not dead, then where the fuck is she?"

"I don't know, but she's not— she's alive." Caroline whispered in awe. "I didn't kill anyone!"

I had no idea what I should say. What I should do and could only stare blankly as Caroline's cheeks flushed. Her enthusiasm, her sudden elation washed over me and she gripped my wrist, dragging me towards the open clearing where Bree had settled. The flickering lights of the torches sent odd shadows over her face and a small trail of blood had starting from one nostril. Only the whites of her eyes were visible as her irises were concealed beneath her quivering lids. When we where close enough to notice her fingers draw odd symbols in the cold, cracked earth beneath her, she suddenly gasped and met my wide eyes dead-on.

"What just happened?" I wanted to know and nervously fiddled with a loose lock of hair.

"The spirits are displeased." Bree whispered, frowning.

"Why?" Caroline remarked, crossing her arms over her chest, previous elation gone and lost.

"Are they planning to— hurt you? Because you're doing something against their wishes?"

"I haven't been enforcing the spirits' will in a long time, doll." She laughed dryly.

I nodded. "Consorting with vampires wasn't appreciated?"

"You know your history, I'll give you that," she smiled weakly and struggled to her feet. "However your friend is not there."

I reached forward grabbing her arm, hoping to balance her before she dropped like a sack of potatoes and frowned. "Are you okay? Did you use too much?"

"Magic has a price," she mumbled and squeezed her eyes shut. "Still, I will be fine."

"Can I do something?" I asked, taking hold of her other arm and pushing her towards a fallen tree. It should do well as a makeshift bench for now. Bree shrugged even as Caroline started to pace, and I pushed the witch against the bark until she sat down. "Perhaps some water?"

"I'll be fine, hun."

"Some vampire blood?" Caroline asked, sounding a bit miffed and I gave her a look. "What?"

"Vampire blood?"

"Stefan said it had healing properties," Caroline defended hotly and I sighed.

"Right, well, than that's plan B." I muttered and looked at Bree again. "What did you mean Bonnie's not there? She should be. We saw her die."

"The spirits are adamant," Bree decided, "your friend is not at the other side."

"Than where?" Caroline whispered, her skin looking eerily in the pale light of the moon.

Bree didn't seem to know and I pursed my lips. Bonnie having survived and not contacting Caroline, the girl who'd lost control and fed on her, or me, the girl who wasn't really who she said she was, wasn't that farfetched I supposed. However, that did not explain why Sheila had come for me. She'd said she'd needed me and back then, I had thought for revenge. She might have been willing to hurt me for being indirectly the reason her granddaughter was hurt (I could understand), but that didn't seem like something Sheila or Bonnie would do. And if she had, she could easily have just hurt me with her magic, before demanding I go with her.

My frown deepened as I thought back to that evening. I rarely did, always ending up ruminating over Sheila's glassy, wide eyes staring unseeingly into the night sky and tasting bile. Breathing out harshly, I gnashed my teeth together. She'd said she wouldn't hurt me. What if she really hadn't wanted to hurt me? What if she'd needed me for something else? The blood pumping through my veins was a strong agent when used in a spell, wasn't it? I just had no idea how that would have helped either Sheila or Bonnie.

"Would you be able to find her?" I asked. "We understand if she doesn't want us to— but we just want to know if she's okay."

"I'm sorry, hun," Bree said and she genuinely seemed to be feeling bad for us. "I can't."

"Why not?" Caroline asked softly.

"The spirits do not wish for me to find her."

"Oh." I whispered and wetted my lips. "Can you tell if she's okay?"

"I can tell you she did not die die."

My mouth went dry. "You mean she's a vampire?"

"It would explain why the spirits are so against a witch trying to find her," Bree admitted.

"How?" I gasped and turned to a horrified Caroline.

"I didn't feed her my blood, I swear I didn't."

"I know you didn't— you wouldn't— Do you think Damon did?"

Caroline shook her head. "He would have used that against us. He would have! I— Or, perhaps—"

I shook my head. "He might not have cared. Might have hidden her somewhere." I said and bit my lip so hard, I tasted blood. The same blood that was pounding through my veins so unnaturally fast, and I too slumped down onto the fallen tree. The bark was damp and rough beneath my palms and my breathing sped up to match my fast beating heart. "Damon could have tricked Bonnie in drinking his blood. Might have spiked her drink with it without her knowing and just planned on killing her some place later."

"Doesn't explain where she is," Caroline hissed and I shook my head.

"It would if he stashed her away somewhere."

"He stays into that tomb," Caroline growled and her growl reverberated in my head.

"Or we could give him an ultimatum," I replied, blinking at Bree, "or disclose the location of our friend or a prolonged stay at his new home."

"He will be pissed." Bree remarked.

"I wasn't planning on throwing you under the bus." I tried. "He doesn't have to know you're already in the loop. He—"

"I never said, I minded, hun."

"Oh," I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding and an unwelcome bead of sweat slid down the back of my neck. "Okay then." My spine tingled, my cheeks felt flushed and I met Caroline's fuming eyes. "We probably have to include Stefan into this now…"

"He would help us."

"I know," I agreed and jerked to my feet again.

I knew Stefan would be willing to help us if we asked. He was nice and pleasant like that and I knew I shouldn't keep dodging him. He might have ulterior motives in getting to know me, but he not actively perusing me romantically as he'd been doing before. Besides, I knew he would be willing to help me and Caroline find Bonnie. He would, if only because he'd understand the fear of waking up a vampire.

Caroline and I packed our bags that evening and were on the road the next morning. Bree had agreed to help us and with Lexi's assistance, had managed to acquire a car. Her boyfriend, Lee, would accompany us, having never met his girlfriend's best friend and that was how we found ourselves crammed in a dark blue Volkswagen. Bree sat behind the wheel, me in the passenger seat of the car, and the vampires in the back, we moved fast. I'd never seen someone drive as Bree did. I'd call her mad, if I wasn't so worried the first six hours or so, that she would cave the nose of the car around a broad tree trunk or even crash us against the guard rail. However, it was because of her manically driving that we passed the Welcome sign several hours earlier.

The promise of rain lay heavily in the wind and the thick scent of trees, wet leaves and dirt blew in through the partially open window (Lee had thought my human scent was too mouth-watering to resist when I'd wanted to whine about it). However, it remained dry, even after Caroline and Lexi had cornered Stefan in his room, doing his usual brooding. I couldn't tell if he was shocked or relieved we'd come to help his brother get out of the tomb, but he was quick to agree to help. Which was why we found ourselves at the outline of the cemetery a mere thirty minutes later.

Bree seemed strangely fired up, rubbing her hands together and Caroline had started to nervously pick at a loose thread in her sweater. Stefan stepped up next to me, cocking his hip out against the bonnet of Lexi's borrowed car.

"Are you ready?" He asked and I nodded tersely. We started walking.

For several minutes, our footsteps, light and quick, were the only sounds in the forest. The remnants of Fell's church appeared too soon for my liking and I slowly followed Caroline down. The air grew almost frigid when the ground began its gentle slope downwards and I let my fingers trail over the bare, mossy wall. The tomb was open, bare, the slap of rock that had been keeping the entrance hidden still discarded to the side.

I noticed Damon a moment later, propped up against the wall like a broken doll. His skin was waxy, almost yellowish and his eyes sunken in, mouth slightly hanging open. I froze. He didn't— he still had strength enough to smile, but he looked horrible.

"Hello Elena," he greeted, stepping up slowly towards the tomb's entrance. He looked pale, almost grey in the face, and he was wobbly on his feet, but still very much in control. A finely arched brow rose when he noticed both Caroline and Stefan flanking me and thrust his hands in his pockets. "Well, well, well, Stefan, you too came to visit the inmate?"

"We're not here to play your games, Damon."

His lips twitched. "Why not? It's the only thing I've been able to do down here."

"Yeah?" I asked, wrapping my arms around my waist. "Are you enjoying playing with Katherine?"

"Hm," he smirked, although he looked somewhat irritated. "Why are all of you here?"

"Where is Bonnie?" Caroline demanded, face flushing darkly.

He looked over at me, bemused. "How should I know?"

"You turned her," Caroline accused and Damon's eyes narrowed.

"Careful now Blondie," he threatened, "I'm older than you."

"You're also locked inside a tomb where no vampire can get out from," I remarked drolly.

"Hm—"

Stefan stepped in front of me, already wishing to play the hero and stared his older brother down. "Just tell them where Bonnie Bennett is, Damon. You hiding her somewhere is low, even by your standards."

"Says the heroic vampire who hides beneath a mask of gallantry but can rip off limbs the next second." Damon drawled and Stefan stiffened. "I'm sorry Stef, was that supposed to be a secret? At least, I can control myself."

"Exactly," I agreed hotly, Stefan's shoulders shivering with what I could imagine was anger. "Yet you can and you just relish in the maiming and murdering of innocent people."

"And you, my darling little dove are as pure as they come, hm?"

"No, I'm not," I crossed my arms over my chest. "But at least I'm not a psycho killer either."

"Hm, your loss, hun."

Caroline made a low sort of whining sound and let out a low growl. "You're a disgusting man whore!" She snarled and I winced at her high, shrilly tone. "You're a lowlife and if you don't tell us where Bonnie is, you won't get out. Do you understand me? You're staying in there!"

"Not for long, right, Bree?" He called out and I stiffened.

The witch appeared seconds later, holding on to the straps of her leather bag and I swallowed noisily. She smiled almost pleasantly, stepping up to my left and waggled her fingers at him. "Hello Damon."

"Hello beautiful," he grinned, forcing himself up to his feet.

"You look bad."

"Yeah," he agreed, "but you're planning on getting me out of this, hm?"

"Hm," she vaguely replied.

I swallowed, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. "She is, but you have to tell us where Bonnie is." I echoed, crossing my arms over my chest and something in Damon's eyes flashed.

"I'm not playing any games with you." He sneered, echoing my earlier statement.

"I'm not playing a game," I argued hotly, "I just want Bonnie back. I know you changed her."

Damon snorted. "You sound like a broken record, Elena. Even if I did, why should I know where she is?"

"Because this is part of one of your diabolical plans no-one cares for!" I snapped back.

"Well, I'm afraid I don't know, Elena."

"Just tell the girl what she wants to know, Damon, so we can get out of here!" Katherine's voice snapped a moment before she stepped into the faint afternoon light, filtering in through a small gap above our heads. I was rather surprised she was still able to move at all and pressed my lips together, hoping what ever she said would push Damon in telling me where Bonnie was.

"I don't know where Bonnie is," he echoed meanly.

I'm not sure what it was about Damon that always rubbed me the wrong way, but as my hackles rose, so did my temper. With a face that felt so hot, I was sure I could catch fire if I wanted, and I took a step closer to the tomb's entrance. "Then you can stay here for all I care," I replied testily and turned around, stomping away. I stormed up the stone steps and stalked down the narrow path leaning up to— God knew where. I still wasn't well known in this area. I would have kept walking too, if I hadn't reached the stone shore before a large river and I skidded to a halt.

I breathed out hard and dropped in a crouch. Right hand extending to the soft lapping water, I let my fingers skim the surface. It was warmer then the chilly temperature around me and I submerged my hand into it, wriggling my fingers. The water rippled over the hem of my sleeve, and I pushed forward until I felt the mossy bank under my palm.

"Are you all right?" Stefan asked, leaning against a tree and I looked up slowly, wiping my hands on my coat. My eyes flitting over his face.

"I'm fine." I tried for a smile and knew I'd failed even though his expression softened and a small smile quirked his lips up.

"I don't think he knows where she is."

"How can he not?"

"He never saw her after he fed her his blood."

I shuddered. "She never knew what hit her, did she?"

"I'm sorry Elena," he answered and held out his hand. I took it after a moment and let him pull me up to my feet. His fingers lingered around mine and I averted my eyes from his face, staring at our intertwined limbs. I tried to subtly pull my hand back, but Stefan's grip was tight. Not painfully tight, but tight all the same.

"Stefan, can I have my hand back?"

"Right, sorry."

"It's fine," I mumbled and pushed my still damp hands in the pockets of my coat.

A small smile quirked at Stefan's lips. "Caroline is ripping Damon a new one."

"I doubt it will help."

"Agreed," he admitted, "Bree is preparing to let him out though."

"Of course, she is," I snorted.

A few wisps of clouds floated overhead, swirling together and Stefan's Lapis Lazuli ring glinted in the dim light of the afternoon sun. I took a step back, averting my face and bit down on my lower lip. I couldn't understand why he was still so interested in being with me. I could tell he wanted to— try something, at least. It made little sense and kept my lips pressed tight together. Stefan falling in love with Elena after recognizing his long lost lover in her face, I supposed made sense. After all, first-season Elena was a warm, pleasant girl, but me— I'd done everything to create a wedge between Stefan and me. I had friend zoned him so hard anyone should be able to see it, but— Stefan remained blind to my attempts to push him away. He remained purposely oblivious and I sucked my lower lip between my teeth.

"Let me take you home," Stefan tried, smiling in a gentle way and I shook my head.

"No, we have to find out where Bonnie is— She—"

"Perhaps she didn't finish the transition?"

I snorted. "That makes no sense. Why would Sheila need me if Bonnie didn't complete the transition?"

Stefan didn't get to answer as Caroline stepped out from beneath the shadow of a large fir tree and waggled her fingers at me. "Elena, are you all right?"

"Care!"

"Are you okay?" She asked again and I tried for a smile.

"I'm fine," I mumbled and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, "I'm sorry I left you there?"

She shrugged. "It's fine. I understand. You're under a lot of stress, I get it."

"Right, so are you," I said, wringing my hands together. "Still, I'm sorry."

"I'm taking you home."

"Oh joy!"

Caroline sniggered. "Yeah, mom's probably going to ground me."

"I don't even want to know what mine will do."

Tucking her blonde hair behind her ears, she smiled wistfully. "I wish things could be easier. I know you do too. I mean you used to be able to tell your parents everything."

"Yeah, well, that was before vampires came to town."

"Yeah—" Caroline agreed, "—vampires came to town."

"I don't mean you," I whispered. "I'll never mean you."

Caroline shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I know you don't mean me per se, but it is me too, isn't it."

I swallowed, or tried to, my throat felt so dry and exhaled softly. Pursing my lips, I considered her words. She wasn't wrong. She wouldn't hurt people just because she could, but Caroline was a vampire. And vampires were dangerous. They were stronger, faster and deathlier than the average human man who could sneak up on you. With the self-defence training (Krav Maga) I'd followed, I knew I could defend myself against a human. I held myself against a vampire before, but I doubted had I encountered Damon somewhere less populated, I would have managed to turn the tables on him.

I swallowed, crossing my arms over my chest and followed Caroline out of the woods. I remained mostly silent as we trudged through the forest, deviating between upset and angry my plan had failed. I certainly was more than upset when I learned that not only did Bree let Damon out, she'd also let Katherine out. Katherine Pierce who had some sort of jealous, hate relationship going with Elena Gilbert, and who would probably go out of her way to make my life even worse—

For Fuck's sake—

Nothing ever went the way I wanted it to go, did it? Even through Lexi apparently had protested, they were out again and how long would it take before Damon went feeding on the local population again? Stefan might pretend like he had a handle on it, we both knew that no one could control Damon.

And then there was Bonnie. Roofied by Damon, because how else did he manage to get her to drink his blood? Witches couldn't be compelled, but teenagers certainly could be tricked in having a drink one way or the other. She must have woken alone in the mortuary, and I guessed she must have been so terrified. It stood to reason that someone took her then, hence why Sheila Bennett had needed me.

"Here," Stefan mumbled. The sudden sound of his voice had me lifting my head.

"What?"

He smiled gently and I realized we'd arrived at the edge of the forest, Stefan's car almost painfully red in the lantern light. It took me a moment before I realized Stefan was holding out his hand to me and I stared at the fine silver wrought ring in his palm.

"Is that?"

"Daylight ring," Stefan agreed and the lapis lazuli stone shimmered in the dim light of the lanterns over head. I sought out Stefan's eyes again, my unasked question bright in mine. "Bree made it for Bonnie," he explained softly. "If she is a vampire, then she'll need it."

I nodded. "Yeah, she does," and allowed Stefan to lead me to his car. I sat in the back seat, my body angled away from both Caroline and Stefan as I thought about what to do, staring outside through the car window. Caroline and Stefan discussed what they should do now and closing my eyes, pressing my body against the door, I tried to think what could have happened to Bonnie. Who would want her in the first place. Perhaps Esther who in the third season wanted to use Elena's blood to send her children to the grave—

Who used Bonnie and her ancestors to turn them human, but, what use would she have for a vampire Bonnie? Other than using her as leverage, I supposed, but no one had tried to blackmail me, so I couldn't be sure.

The car pulled to a stop and Stefan's hand gently dropped on my shoulder. It was enough to jot me out of my thoughts and I was slightly surprised I hadn't even recognized the familiar homes.

Stefan cocked his head, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I mumbled, turning in my seat to stare at Caroline— who was no longer there.

"Yeah, I already dropped her off. You were far gone then too."

"Oh," I mumbled and smiled. "Well, thank you for taking me home."

"You sure you'll be all right?"

"Mentally? Yes, I'll be fine. Physically? Grounded till I'm twenty-eight years old. Have a nice evening, Stefan."

He smiled, his eyes darkened with hurt and felt my stomach churn. "Yes, have a good evening, Elena."

I nodded, and clambered out of the car, "See you, Stefan."

He nodded and I quickly moved towards the porch. I had no idea where Katherine had gone off to (I doubted she remained at Damon's side) and had no intention of running into her. Not Damon either, to be honest. While I'd tried to keep Stefan in the friend zone, I'd positively antagonized Damon at every turn. I fiddled with the door, the key slipping over the brass of the lock when Grayson Gilbert ripped the door open and I let out a surprised gasp. His face was white, his lips drawn in a tight line and his eyes were so livid I did a hesitant step back.

"Shit—"

"Yeah, shit!" He echoed and pushed me inside. "You're in a world of trouble, young lady."

Yeah, how wonderful it was to be a high school teenager again…

(To be continued…)

A/N: I've rewritten large parts of this chapter at least four times and, although I'm still not pleased with it, I guess this is it. To be honest, I don't really know how to write Bree. From what I gathered, had Damon not murdered Lexi, she would probably still be on his side, but I'm just not sure. Either way both him and Katherine are out so chaos possibly ensues.

Annddd... Any ideas where bonnie is at, or what might have happened to her? I'd love to hear all of your thoughts!

Like always leave a review.