'Gran, I have to tell you something.'

It was the night of the dance; we were eating dinner.

'I have something I need to tell you as well.' she looked up from her book.

What could she possibly have to tell me?

'What is it?'

'You go first.'

'Your news probably isn't as hectic as mine.'

'When we moved here, I contacted Isobel's mother.'

'What?'

'After Isobel's death, her cognitive health deteriorated; the two were already estranged before due to her parents' divorce. She's- well, she's not doing well; they fear she's not long for this world.'

'What's- what about Isobel's father?'

'He left town after the divorce; he visits on her birthday and death day. Isobel- Isobel's mother wants to meet you. I understand-'

'I want to meet her.'

Gran nodded. 'Ok.'

It was silent for a long time before I asked, 'Does she know about Elena?'

'I don't know.'

'Could I invite her to come?'

She is entitled to meet her, too; besides, it could help alleviate the anxiety between us.

'Of course.' it was silent again, and she returned to her book.

'I have to tell you something.'

'What did you want to say?'

'Oh, boy.'

'What is it, Bella?'

'Vampires are real.'

Gran put down her book and examined me. 'What?'

She sounded more exhausted than stunned.

'I know how I sound, but hear me out.'

'Alright.'

'First off, Isobel... She killed herself.'

'What?!' This did surprise her.

'She died the day we saw her.'

'When did you find out?'

'Yesterday, Elena screamed it out at me.'

'She knew all this time?!'

'Caroline said she killed herself in front of Elena.'

'Oh my god, but what does this have to do with vampires?'

'Isobel was a vampire.'

'So she ran off to join some vampire cult.'

'A vampire attacked me.'

'What? When?'

'The night I was attacked-'

'Was it her?'

'No.'

'Did John tell you about this?' she returns to her book. 'Vampires, compulsion,' she points to the bracelet, 'vervain, that drivel nearly drove Beau insane.'

'Ok.' so she knew how to protect herself if necessary. I went back to my meal. 'I'll text Caroline.'

Bella, it's Caroline.

Oh, I've been meaning to text you. What's up?

Damon mentioned that he saw you talking to Mr. Saltzman.

Yeah... But that's not important because I need you to tell Elena something.

Did Mr. Saltzman say or do anything to you?

Like what?

Did he threaten you?

Caroline, what's going on?

Klaus.

What about him?

He knows about you and Elena.

What? How the heck does he know that?

Well, Elena kinda spilled the beans.

She kinda spilled the beans?

No, it's not like that.

Why is it not?

Klaus possessed Alaric's body.What?!We think that's how he found out, or maybe Katherine told him first.

Elena's evil twin.

Maybe Isobel told her.

But we know for sure that Elena directly told Klaus about me.

Maybe Alaric did, we don't know.

Has Klaus possessed him this whole time?

Probably since Isobel's death.

So Mr. Saltzman himself could not have even known about Elena and me being sisters, right?

Yes.

And I doubt this Katherine woman knows me by name. If she's as dangerous as everyone claims, I'd probably be dead.

You are an immediate relative of the doppelganger; that's probably why you're not lunch.

And this Katerine is intelligent, right?

You don't live 500 hundred years being a dummy.

Don't you think she'd keep that in her back pocket for as long as possible?

I'm not going to help you with your smear campaign against Elena! I'm just texting a warning.

Message received.

Don't be like that! Why were you meaning to text me?

My Gran told me that Isobel's mother was dying. I thought she would like to meet her.

Ok. I'll ask her.

'Ok, besides Elena being the center of this curse,' Jenna demanded, 'what else am I missing?'

'Bella and I are sisters.' I said as I handed her some tea.

Alaric turned to me, stunned, but Jenna looked away. 'Because of her, Isobel.' she looked at me. 'Is John her father too?'

'You knew about Bella?'

'Not about the sister thing, but yes.'

'When?'

'When the Swans left town, John told me.'

'He told you?!' Alaric choked. 'Why?'

'Where is Bella?' Jenna asked. 'Shouldn't she be here?'

'Her scent is very strong to vampires; she'd be in just as much danger here.'

'Does she know about vampires?'

'Yes.'

'Why did John tell you?' asked Alaric.

'She should be here.' Jenna ignores him again. 'We don't even know what this guy really looks like. He could be killing her as we speak.'

'Why did John tell you?'

'And her grandmother, she should be told something-'

'Jenna, why?' Alaric pressed.

'Not so hot being on the other side, now, is it?' Jenna's reply stung.

'Jenna,' Stefan pressed quietly, 'it could help save Elena.'

'That's the thing, Bella's secret, and it doesn't involve any of this.' Jenna sighed. 'The Swan left to protect their daughter. If she decides to come to me and ask, I will tell her.

The three of us sighed as Jenna looked away.

'Did you speak to Caroline?' Klaus heard an older woman say.

'I texted her a few days ago.'

That was the girl, Isabella Swan.

Klaus looked around the grill and saw her talking to a senior, the same woman from the other day.

The woman wore a green floral dress, and the girl wore something blue, she did look fetching in blue.

'I don't know if she told Elena.'

'I told John.' said the woman. 'Despite how she feels about you and Isobel, she should meet that woman.'

'Should I tell Isobel's little husband?'

'He'll probably hear it from John or Elena. Can we talk about something other than... this?'

'I haven't seen much of John. Do you think he's angry about the test?'

'I'd say he's more disappointed.'

'Why?'

'You actually want him in your life.'

'He hasn't really spoken to me...'

'What about that Stefan boy?'

'Elena's boyfriend?!'

'Has he contracted you?'

'No, he hasn't.'

'Have you-'

'I'm not the kind of person who goes after someone's boyfriend.'

'I meant, have you tried telling him?' the old woman said with laughter. ' He could probably talk her into coming.'

'No.' Isabella gumbled as she shifted away and looked in at the bar and turned away red-faced. Klaus looked and saw the teacher, Alaric, watching her.

'The little husband is watching me.'

'The husband?'

'Mr. Saltzman.'

'We should leave; we haven't ordered anything. You can wait in the truck, and I'll order you something. Who knows what kind of craziness Isobel and John told him about you.'

'Let's just ignore him.' Isabella looked at her menu.

'I don't much care for another man of questionable morals fixated on you lurking around. John, to a certain extent, is understandable, but we don't know him. He could just nutty as Isobel.'

The little Swan shuttered, then nodded. 'Then we'll go.'

'You head outside, and I will talk to Matt.'

The woman went to the bar as Isabella stumbled out the door; the pedagogue watched the girl walk out the door, then veered around to the woman.

'Is something wrong? Is Isabella alright?'

'She's fine.'

'I heard that she's my wife's daughter-'

'She's nothing like her!'

The teacher hesitated, then said, 'Yes, I know. Ma'am-'

'You stay away from my granddaughter.'

I paced around the truck, waiting for Gran; I noticed an attractive young man, about 19, sauntering out of the grill and standing near the exit/entrance. He had dark, curly blond hair and pearl-white skin. He wasn't facing me; he wore a black suit.

I snapped a photo; something about him made my skin crawl.

When Gran came outside, the man walked her over to the truck, looking back every so often. I stumbled over to them, and he swung around to me and breathed, ' Il cantante.'

He had dark blue-green eyes.

Gran and I stared at him; he cleared his throat and held out the takeout bag. 'I noticed that those men at the bar made you uncomfortable, so I decided-'

'Who are you?' I pointedly asked.

He paused, then smiled. 'Call me Nik.' he watched me with fascination. ' And who might you be? I heard that man say the name Isabella; could that be it?'

'Thank you for assisting my grandma out,' I took her by the arm and led her away quickly, ' nice meeting you, Nik.'

I had Gran in the truck, ready to leave, when she said, 'Bella, our food.'

I turned to see Nik holding our food, smiling at me. I slowly ambled over to him and cautiously took the bag; his finger caressed my knuckles, making me drop the bag.

He caught it before I could blink; my skin crawled again as he stared into my eyes.

'You must forgive me; I'm new in town.'

'We should be going.'

'See you around, Isabella.'

After Gran and I got home, my phone rang crazy like crazy.

It was an unknown number, so I didn't answer; after it eventually stopped, its vibrations made me jump.

Isabella?

Who's this?

Its Alaric.

I don't know where Elena is.

Damon coming is coming to get you and your grandmother.

Excuse me?! I'm not going anywhere with him!

Klaus has Elena, but Damon...

What did he do now?

The ritual will fail, and Klaus will be angry. You're a blood sibling to Elena. We can't let Klaus get you too.

What's going on?

Caroline is coming with him. She will explain when they get there.