The Noble Diaries

by SSJ Lone Wolf

Finding himself back in time to the early twenty-first century, Six thought that attending Highschool would be a breeze compared to fighting the Covenant and Insurrectionists. But between Vampires, Werewolves, doublegangers, and countless other supernatural creatures and who knows what else, he finds that his troubles are just starting.

12. Chapter 12

The Noble Diaries

Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or Halo. They are the property of their respective owners.

Krieger Techpriest: Sucks to be a witch. At the moment, she is. Indeed he is; vamps preying on humanity and traitors won't be tolerated. Yes, he will; unlike the show, he doesn't have plot armour protecting him. And yes, Six did troll Matt. They had been working together for a few weeks and spending time with someone for hours rather than just at school, so I thought I'd show the effect his time with Matt had on him.

Grudgematch: Someone needs to bring it up.

David Daniel B: Six might leave, but I doubt he would leave Mystic Falls unprotected in his absence.

MrCarter48: Is Elena really that bad? If anyone's going to die, then it'll be Damon. Elena is an innocent teenage girl dragged into the supernatural world because Stefan "had to know her." And I'm unsure if she would plead for Damon's life since they don't know each other in this story/universe.

CrimsonN7: Thank you! I hope this was worth the wait!

techdud227: I couldn't resist!

jmknz777: Thanks! Hopefully, this was worth the wait.

Deviantpervert: Unfortunately, that won't be happening in this chapter.

Qrious writ3r: Glad you're liking the story so far. And yeah, but it adds some drama for Six and Elena rather than having everything going swimmingly for them. In the show, Stefan and Elena get together within a few days of knowing each other. It's incredibly rushed, in my opinion. Personally, I like the books better where Stefan is in town to start a new life and happens to meet Elena, who bares a strong resemblance to Katherine due to them being half-sisters rather than doppelgangers, rather than Stefan staying in Mystic Falls because of Elena as he does in the show.

And what's GFL?

Valerious Lake: Thanks! And I'm doing well!

Auzoraz: Team Bonix!

BeginnersEnd: You have Julie Plec to thank for that and all the die-hard Delena fans.

J-076: Not yet, but once the Huragoks build him a new armour to replace his current Mark V, everything will be enhanced, including his energy shields.

savitarsurffer: Things are not going well for Elena right now, but Six is keeping her out of it, unlike Stefan. And Stefan is just desperate to save his brother's life and is willing to say or do anything to keep him alive. It doesn't matter what Damon does; Stefan will defend him. He murdered Lexi, his best friend, on his birthday, and even then, he refused to kill him.

Jebest4781: Glad you liked it!

Blackdragon3665: Awesome quote!

Guest: Thanks!

Sci-Fi Guy 22: Just when everything was starting to go right for Elena, too.

DeathCrawler: Hopefully, this chapter was worth the wait.

Morgriff: Yeah, it was, as was this chapter; nothing I can do but apologise for the delays between updates. Thanks for pointing it out.

Master of the Underworld: Bonnie never experienced any memories associated with Noble Team. She might mention Kurt, Mendez, Deep Winter, or Donna and Jonah, the five she's heard mentioned by name, but not Noble Team.

Edboy4926: Glad you liked it! There's a significant change to this chapter than I originally planned, so the costume idea is out. Also, this is 2009, so characters from God of War 2018 won't exist yet, so no Freya cosplay.

Dylan. lucky: For me, Elena's characterisation went downhill after season 3 when she got with Damon. Before then, she had a backbone and not just some plot device for Damon to be good. In season 1, when she found out that Damon was abusing Caroline, she threatened him to his face that she would go to the Sheriff if he didn't stay away from Caroline.

Guest: At this point, the only compulsion that Damon has done to Elena is to forget that she ever met him. But even then, that whole scene was between Damon and Bonnie in the books, not to mention out of character for him at the point since he wasn't kind or friendly then; his sole priority was getting Katherine out of the tomb. And when it comes to Damon, there are no lengths that Stefan won't go to keep his brother alive.

Marlastiano: You're welcome!

NightEternity: This chapter will include multiple POVs instead of just Six's. The idea about the Tricker is intriguing; it could make Elena regret her choices once she realises how much happier her life could have been. And for Rebekah to get with him, Six's opinion on vampires will have to change. At the moment, he sees them as parasites that prey on humanity. And that's true about Bonnie.

ayerdehoy: Thanks! And it'll happen soon. Right now, Six isn't attacking the same places. He goes all around the globe hunting vampires. Still, eventually, the word will get out with vampires and other supernatural creatures, realising that it's the same person hunting them down. I've only seen clips of Yellowstone, I'm not sure how I would include Six into the show if I did write a crossover.

Nato: It is, but duty comes first, and his duty is to protect humanity. But not all is lost. Six and Elena might still get together. And the second that Damon becomes a threat, Six will eliminate him and the other vampires that threaten Mystic Falls. Also, Six already has a weakness for vampires: UV rounds. The only ones that it won't kill are Klaus and the other Originals. However, they will disintegrate Elijah, Rebekah, Finn, Kol, and Mikael, but they'll just come back. For Klaus, due to being a hybrid, it'll just work like any other bullet.

Nagiten: Most likely, yes. I'm not sure which verses I will include since Fairy Tail Magic feels too anime for the semi-realistic setting of the story. Six will have to get along with Elijah since Dot and Elijah are getting together. Although Six may not show it, he cares deeply about Dot and wants her to be happy. And while Klaus had an abusive childhood, he's had a thousand years to work out his issues and hasn't. After season 4, it became the Damon Diaries.

Azai Jin: You're welcome! Six and Elena's relationship is not in the best place right now, but there's still a chance they might get together. While that's true with Jeremy and Jenna, I think they would still side with Elena, even if they like Dot and Jericho, since Elena is family and they're not.

Sixfan29: You're welcome. That is true about Zach, but there is also Alaric when he arrives in Mystic Falls. It's the only reason that he managed to get an arm in the first place. And there will be a little surprise for Damon in the future regarding his brand-new arm. I wouldn't call it a pet name, just a nickname that he's heard people call Bonnie and is merely repeating it. Stefan is willing to say or do whatever it takes to save his brother, unable or unwilling to live in a world without him in it, hence why he forced Damon to become a vampire in the first place when Damon was going to let himself die when he believed that Katherine was dead.

Forget Six; I'm curious about what female werewolves would think of a Brute, considering both species are ruled by the strongest. Caroline might, but she would be more flirty than sluttish. Six's new armour will be crafted by the Huragok, whose understanding of technology surpasses even Doctor Halsey's, so they might even make a suit that could surpass the Gen-3.

Just killing them would be more straightforward. It depends on whether Anna proves that she only wants her mom and isn't a threat to Mystic Falls, maybe even letting herself become human if it means she gets her mother back after over a century of being without her. Six wants to keep Elena out of it, and her getting dragged into the supernatural world is on Stefan, not him. Unlike the show, Damon won't have that plot armour to protect him. Dot x Elijah, two immortal beings, as long as Dot has the power to keep running, seems like a good match.

I doubt that Katherine would be concerned about Damon but more about the ramifications of Six's cure blood. But I can see her trying to use it on Klaus, curing him of his vampirism, making him human so that she can kill him and finally be free.

Bookishten8: Blame the doppelgänger bond for that. Stefan and Elena, and Stefan and Katherine are naturally drawn to each other.

Code Viper: It seems to be so far. Six and Elena might get together, but at the moment, Six is keeping his distance and focusing on eliminating vampires that prey on humanity rather than the drama in Mystic Falls and the Salvatores, who are constantly a thorn in his side. First, Damon attacks him, and then Stefan opens his mouth about things he shouldn't. They're not doing themselves any favours.

The doppelgänger bond is influencing things, but the main issue is that Stefan spends all his time with Elena. Meanwhile, Six has become distant from her because he has been hunting vampires worldwide for weeks. You're correct that it's hypocritical for Six to be with Rebekah and Halie now. However, since Rebekah tells Stefan that she wishes she could be human again, there's a possibility that she might use his blood to regain her humanity and then pursue a relationship with Six as a witch instead of as a vampire.

I've watched and loved Dog Soldiers, but I'm unsure how it would work since the werewolves in the movie are so different from the ones in the series. I suppose I could change it around a bit; we'll see.

linx007: There is still a chance this might be a Six x Elena x Caroline x Bonnie pairing; you'll have to wait and see. Don't worry; unlike the series, Damon will not be protected by Plot Armor.

Pawn22: Yes, it will.

War Sage: I'm glad to hear it. Don't worry; there will be more Six x Bonnie moments. Really? More than Damon? Zach hasn't hit Damon because he fears how Stefan will react. And he hasn't said anything because he never knows if Stefan is listening with his super hearing. Six needs a regular friend outside the military, and Matt could use a little attention. It seems that everywhere I look online, people dislike him for surviving and because he hates vampires, as if he doesn't have a valid reason to feel that way.

Caroline does seem to have a way with Six. Damon believes that with the cybernetic arm and once Katherine turns him into a vampire again, he'll be able to take down Six now that he knows what he's capable of. And not all; Damon won't get any more chances with Six. Once he endangers Mystic Falls and humanity, he's as good as dead. My Christmas was fine, thank you.

The Lone VA: He might for Christmas.

KuroganeH: You can blame Stefan for their separation. Unfortunately, the interactions between Six and the girls will be limited in this chapter. Exactly, and if Damon used his head, he would realise that it was too easy.

aljericho2001: Anna wants her mom out of the tomb; she won't waste time getting the money when she can compel someone from the company to hand it over to her and get a surgeon to attach it to Damon. Six could take them in armour, but out of Mjolnir, Six will struggle against vampires over five hundred years old like Anna, Pearl, Lexi, and Katherine.

U.N.S: When I return to my Furious Wolf story, I plan to use Battle: Los Angeles for the five-year time skip between the second and fourth movies, so I probably won't incorporate it into this particular story. Instead, I might use the Crysis games.

LeodredAQW: I wouldn't say that Six has romantic feelings for them, but he enjoys their company. Unlike Emile, who was angry and hateful, Six is emotionally stunted and has had limited human interaction over the last eight years.

Guest: I did think about doing a Halo x Game of Thrones crossover where Six is Aegon VI, who escaped the sacking of Kings Landing via a Forerunner teleportation device and arrived on Jericho VII, where he eventually becomes Spartan-B312 and after the fall of Reach, he steals a ship and finds himself back on Westeros.

jasdragon: After this chapter, she might.

TheOneWhoWalksThroughFire: Thank you for the review! There haven't been many interactions, but Team Bonix is a possibility for this story. Anna would have a better chance of talking with Dot than Six, especially since Six would likely deem it too risky to allow Pearl out of that tomb. I plan to add more Dot POVs or even a Dot-centric chapter. Oh, definitely. Dot is vastly superior to Six regarding social norms. Lexi will still be there, but the birthday will only be mentioned due to her not being killed by Damon to cover his tracks.

Austin: It's not just loyalty; it's more about the fear of losing his brother. The supernatural world will soon start noticing that the deaths are connected, and a new player has entered the game. And I think when it comes to modern firearms, unless something like a 50cal blows out their heart, nothing can kill a vampire.

Guest: Exactly!

Mhkmasterofodst: I know very little about Warhammer 40K, apart from the two Space Marine games and the clips I've seen; I wouldn't be able to do a crossover justice.

Brainstorm Sorcerer: Thanks! And that's true, but I'm glad you liked it. Like I've said countless times now, Stefan will say and do anything to keep his brother alive. Damon murdered Lexi, and he still forgave him. I regret not ripping his leg off like I originally planned when Damon tried to escape, but I thought losing an arm and an eye was enough. And if you do the maths, if Damon murdered three people a week for a hundred and forty-five years, even if he definitely killed more than three a week, he would have killed over twenty thousand people. Not a victim at all!

Hopefully, Six will begin to live for Noble Team and his brothers and sisters. Perhaps Alaric and Sheila will be the ones who encourage him to do so. At this point, Caroline counts, sure. And since I'm not planning on having her become a vampire in this story, she will remain one of his more normal relationships. So many people defend Damon, but he was fully aware of what Katherine was before he became a vampire, even helping her set up traps to catch humans for her to feed off.

It depends on when they meet him and know if he's the super hunter that they've been hearing of. I'm sure Katherine and Rebekah will be attracted to him as soon as they see him. Perhaps he meets Hayley on the road, and they go monster hunting together. Not sure about Freya and Nadia. Six will keep his armoured persona a secret for as long as possible, but when he kills Damon, it's not like Damon will be able to tell anyone that it's Jericho in the armour.

And it'll be when he tries to free Katherine from the tomb. Once Six catches Damon in action, it's game over for him. Yes, the amulet will come into play. But with Six there, Emily might not intervene, and when Damon, Anna, and Ben use it to open the tomb, Six follows them inside and proceeds to kill all the vampires inside since the seal wouldn't stop him from passing through since he's human.

After this chapter, Six will need to begin adding upgrades to the house to protect against vampires and other supernatural creatures. I also think that either Lexi or Elijah might be the ones to show Six that not all vampires are evil. I considered comparing Six to Bruce Wayne, but I'm holding off on that in case I introduce some Batman villains, such as the Court of Owls.

I believe Bonnie would respect Six's privacy and would only enter his mind if he gave her permission. In contrast, Katherine, Rebekah, and Klaus might try to invade his thoughts to learn more about the Spartan forcibly, but I can't see Bonnie doing that. As for Vicki, there's always a possibility that Ben, Anna's lover, could feed off her or turn her into a vampire to increase their numbers.

I haven't determined whether Six's blood provides a permanent cure or if a cured vampire can revert to being a vampire if they're turned again. If an Original is killed, they can't be turned into a vampire again, but regular vampires might be able to.

Regarding Damon, Stefan will do anything to keep him alive. Just look at when Mason came to town, and Stefan was there in a heartbeat, warning him that it was two versus one. Remember, this is season 1/pre vampire Caroline, who was highly bossy and jealous of Elena. And it's not like Six is just blurting out that he's hunting vampires; she thinks he was working at his company and ignoring her messages.

Before he dies, Six will likely show Damon that Katherine was never in the tomb by revealing her surveillance footage. Destroyer is not bad. Zach hasn't informed the Council about Six and his blood. Dot has been managing the company, and they probably believe the vampire threat has ended. It has been over a month since any new bodies have appeared.

Gnormann: It's called responding to reviews like I'm doing now.

---

Chapter 12.

---

Venice had come alive to celebrate Halloween. In Piazza San Marco, three vampires relaxed around one of the tables outside the bar. Enjoying their free drinks, they observed the humans parading through the square in their Halloween costumes.

"Dibs on Little Red," one of the vampires murmured, casting a hungry glance at the girl dressed as the sexy Little Red Riding Hood as she strolled through the Piazza with her friends.

Pausing mid-drink, the second vampire looked at him. "Seriamente (Seriously), we just got here."

"Si (Yeah), well, I'm in the mood for something a bit richer...and red," He said, chuckling at his joke. Grabbing his drink, he quickly downed what remained before setting it down and wiping his lips with the back of his hand.

With a small sigh, the second vampire nodded and finished the last of his beer. He placed the glass on the table, the sound of it clinking as he did, then rose to his feet and followed his friends as they walked away. They blended into the crowd, drawing no attention to themselves, trailing behind them at a distance.

The vampires left the piazza and followed the girls down a narrow cobblestone street. Instead of feeding immediately, they stalked them from a distance and waited until their prey was alone before striking. Watching the girls turn and disappear around another corner, they tracked them by their heartbeats. Closing the gap, they rounded the corner and stepped beneath the streetlight, which began flickering the moment they did.

Lifting his head when the bulb went out, the vampire's eyes adapted to the darkness. Meanwhile, the other two vampires continued to stalk their prey from a distance, oblivious to it going out behind them. Moments later, it flickered back to life. With the first flash of light, his immortal eyes widened at the giant figure on the rooftop, gazing down at him.

"Luca, Emilio!" he called out in terror. Ripping his frightened gaze away from the figure, he turned to his friends, who halted and glanced back. He pointed to the rooftop as they did, only to discover the giant gone.

Fuming at having revealed their presence to the humans, Emilio scowled. "What?!" he demanded furiously.

"T-There was this...thing."

Luca arched an eyebrow and inquired, "A thing?"

"Non sono sicuro (I'm not sure)," the vampire admitted candidly to the others, "but it was huge and perched on that rooftop just now."

Luca smirked, "Quanto hai bevuto? (How much did you drink?)"

"I'm not drunk! I'm telling you, something was up there. We need to get out of here before..."

Groaning, Emilio seized him by the front of his jacket, "Would you get a grip!? We're vampires, the apex predators. We're the ones who instil fear, not the other way around. We fear nothing. Not now, not ever." The second he finished, a bang rang out. Blood squirting from his head, he erupted in flames right like he had walked into direct sunlight.

Confused about what was happening, Luca turned, baring his fangs and hissed in challenge towards the direction of the gunshot. Unsure where it came from, another sounded off, causing his head to snap back as he ignited in flames. The putrid smell of burning flesh filled the air; the last vampire gagged as friends burned away until only smouldering embers and ash remained of them.

Determined not to be the next victim, the last surviving vampire fled. With a burst of vampiric speed, he raced down the cobbled street, passing the screaming teenage girls who were fleeing from the gunfire. Rushing across the city, he finally stopped when he found an empty street. Pressing his back against the wall, he panted, more from adrenaline and fear than from exertion after escaping the figure that had murdered his friends.

A cold chill ran up his spine when, just like before, the streetlight at the end of the street began flickering before going out, along with the lights in the building, plunging that section into total darkness. With each passing second, more of the street was consumed, engulfing whole chunks of light and advancing towards him as if the shadows were alive and coming for him.

His throat tightening with fear, he pushed himself away from the wall and attempted to flee for a second time, only for the lights in the opposite direction to extinguish, leaving only the streetlight above him illuminated. Cut off by the living shadows, the last light finally extinguished, leaving him in darkness. As his eyes adjusted, he looked around and jumped when his phone played the Halloween theme.

Freaking out, knowing he hadn't downloaded that song, the vampire slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone, only to find that no one was ringing him, but rather, the theme song was playing through the speakers. His immortal heartbeat quickened in fear and confusion, and a bang suddenly shattered the stillness of the night as a hot, searing pain pierced the crown of his skull.

Dropping to the ground, he ignited in flames. The vile, foul stench of charred flesh and scorched fabric suffocated the night air as he burned away, just like his friends had minutes ago before all that remained were glowing embers that drifted away and a hot pile of smoking ash alongside a partly melted phone that continued to play a broken and garbled Halloween theme.

As power returned to the street, curtains and blinds shifted within the house, and the occupants cautiously peered out to investigate the gunshot and the fire for those who had been close enough to see it. After a few minutes, doors opened, and people bravely stepped outside. Following the distorted music, many gathered around the burning pile of burning ash to see the melting phone beside it, unsure what to make of it.

---

Across the Atlantic Ocean and back in America, it was only two o'clock in the afternoon instead of eight at night, like in Venice. Inside the Grill, Bonnie, Caroline, and Elena sat around their usual table and discussed tonight's Halloween party.

"What do you mean you're not going?!" Caroline exclaimed, looking over at Elena.

Returning a slight, half-hearted shrug, Elena replied. "I'm just not feeling it this year."

"Not good enough!"

Before Elena could reply, Bonnie intervened. "If she doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to."

"You, hush!" Caroline shushed Bonnie before turning back to Elena. "You have to come tonight. The three of us haven't been to a party together since the back-to-school party, which ended early because Vicki was attacked," she said, while Elena tried her best not to shift uncomfortably, fearing she might give something away. "There was also my party, but someone left without saying a word."

Still feeling guilty about leaving, Bonnie sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm sorry?"

"A few more times couldn't hurt," Caroline quipped playfully before shifting her attention back to Elena. "Plus, unlike my party, there will be plenty of alcohol. And if you go, I bet Stefan will be there."

Unable to restrain herself, Elena inquired, "Will Jericho?"

"Of course," Caroline confirmed, even if she was peeved that Elena still showed interest after spending the last few weeks with Stefan. "And I can't wait to see him in his Spartan costume," she added, praying that it would come without a chest piece so that she could openly admire that work of art he called a body.

Surprised, Bonnie looked at Caroline, "Jericho's dressing as a Spartan?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Bonnie played it off, "Nothing, I'm just surprised, is all." But if Jericho, a Spartan from the future, was going to dress as a Spartan, then she, a witch, dressing as a witch for Halloween didn't feel so embarrassing

"What's surprising about that? Have you seen his body?" Caroline asked.

Thinking quickly, Bonnie replied, "Yeah, but Spartans tend to show quite a bit of skin, whereas Jericho is always covered up."

"Don't remind me."

While Caroline pouted, Bonnie turned to Elena, "I take it you and Jericho still aren't speaking?"

"Not like we did," Elena said with a sigh, glancing over at Bonnie. "He brought Jeremy home last night but never came to the house."

Pulled from her funk, Caroline looked at Elena, "Can you blame him? You have been spending most of your time with Stefan."

"She has a point," Bonnie awkwardly concurred to Caroline. "And it's no secret that Jericho and Stefan don't see eye to eye. You'd have to be blind not to notice the unspoken tension between them," she added, and unlike what many at school thought, it had nothing to do with Elena.

The blonde snorted, "Not that you can blame Jericho. You go on a date with him and even share a bed, and then the next day, you're off having dinner with another guy. If he did that to you, I bet you would keep your distance, too."

"Not this again," Bonnie groaned that they were back on this subject again. "We're supposed to be talking about tonight, not Jericho and Stefan."

Casting Bonnie a glance, Caroline promptly reminded her, "You brought it up. Besides, I'm just stating facts." She then turned to Elena, "And unlike you, I won't play with Jericho's feelings and to see if something better comes along. I know what I want. And tonight, I'm going to make him mine."

"I haven't been playing with his feelings," Elena shot back fiercely. "I care about Jericho," she insisted, meaning every word. She still cared about Jericho; that hadn't changed over the last few weeks.

Before Caroline could retort, Bonnie said, "Get in line; I saw him first."

"Well, I spoke to him first." Caroline countered.

The brunette interjected, "Actually, I did, on both counts."

"You bumped into him in the hallway and said a few words; I spoke to him in the library and got to know him before either of you did, " Caroline informed Bonnie and Elena, then focused on the latter. "Plus, you lost any chance of getting with Jericho when you agreed to have dinner with Stefan. And speaking of, would you look who it is," she gasped in mock surprise, nodding towards the centre of the room where Stefan was making his way through the Grill and over to them.

Stopping by their table, Stefan offered a smile. "Hey," he greeted the three of them, though his eyes lingered on Elena.

"Hey," Bonnie managed a thin smile. Although he had never wronged her, he was a vampire, and Grams had warned that they weren't to be trusted. Furthermore, his brother had attacked Jericho and lied to Caroline, and rather than waiting to hear his side of the story, she told Elena, causing her to doubt him. "We didn't see you at practice today."

"I had a family emergency."

From her seat, Caroline muttered, "Seems everyone does these days."

As Bonnie shot the blonde a sharp look, aware that it was directed at her, Stefan intervened, "Could I borrow Elena for a moment?"

"I doubt she'd mind."

Ignoring Caroline's remark, Elena rose to her feet. "Sure," the brunette told Stefan. She left Bonnie and Caroline at the table and followed him through the Grill. Spotting Tyler and Matt playing pool, the latter not working with Jericho today as he had been for the last few weeks, she walked out the door and stepped outside with Stefan. Moving from the entrance, she finally spoke, "Is everything okay?"

"Not really," Stefan admitted to her. "Have you seen Dot or Jericho today?"

Thrown off by the question, Elena quickly shook off her stupor, "I saw Dot this morning."

"Where?"

"...Why are you asking?"

"I need to talk to her."

"About what?"

Frustrated with the questions, Stefan sighed deeply, "I just need to talk to her, Elena."

"But why?" Elena persisted, undeterred by his tone. "No offence, but you're the last person she would want to speak with. Your brother tried to kill Jericho."

Reluctantly, Stefan relented, "Damon didn't come home yesterday."

"And you think that Dot and Jericho are to blame?" Elena stated, realising what he was implying. "People have stayed out longer than a day before."

Unconvinced, Stefan shook his head. "I know my brother, Elena. He wouldn't have just left without saying a word, especially not that he's human and has nowhere else to go. Something has happened to him,"

"That doesn't mean that they're responsible."

Still unconvinced, Stefan asked, "Have you seen Jericho today?"

"..No," Elena mumbled softly.

"Meaning that he's away again," Stefan said, putting emphasis on again. "You said it yourself; you have no idea what Jericho had been doing this month to keep him from school. They both could have been planning to..."

Stopping him, Elena was blunt, "Do you know how crazy you sound?"

"I know how I sound, Elena, but what other explanation is there? Damon just happens to disappear at the same time that Jericho is away?" Stefan questioned, his tone filled with scepticism. "Dot already said that she thinks he should die, and Jericho wasn't at school yesterday."

Elena interjected, "But he was at his auto shop last night. I know because he brought Jeremy home last night."

"Did he stay?"

"...No."

While relieved to hear that, Stefan was more concerned for Damon at the minute. "Then he could..."

"Don't you think Jericho has more important matters to attend to than worry about Damon? You know, like focusing on his company?" Elena asked, interrupting him. "It's been nearly two months since Damon tried to kill him. If Jericho were going to do anything, don't you think he would've done it by now?"

Despite her words, Stefan remained unconvinced, "Or he's been biding his time, waiting for Damon to let his guard down," he suggested to Elena, who sighed under her breath. "Do you have any idea where he might be? Before coming here, I checked the auto shop, but it was closed."

"Probably at home," Elena answered with a slight shrug. "Or Richmond, I have no idea. It's not like he would tell me," she added, her relationship with Jericho drastically different from what it had been a month ago.

"And where does he live?"

Caught off guard by the question, Elena slowly shook her head, "You know I can't tell you that."

"I just want to talk to him."

With difficulty, Elena remained resolute, "I'm sorry, Stefan, but I can't."

"Please, Elena," Stefan implored. "I know I'm asking a lot, but you're the only person who can help me. No one else knows where he lives. The last thing I want is to involve you in this, but I have no other choice," he explained his reasoning to her. "If you can't tell me, just point me in the right direction."

"I can't just tell you where he lives," Elena stated quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

Stefan interjected, emphasising the seriousness of the situation, "Elena, this is my brother's life we're talking about."

"Who tried to kill him," Elena reminded him.

Frustrated by the stalling when his brother's life was in danger, Stefan interrupted, "Elena, I swear, Damon is different now. There hasn't been a single person that's gone missing or been attacked since he became human again."

"And that justifies everything he's done?" Elena fired back incredulously. "The people that he murdered?" She added, keeping her voice down so no one would overhear them.

"Of course not."

Beginning to doubt his sincerity, Elena remarked, "Yet you're still protecting him."

"He's my brother, Elena. I can't just turn my back on him," Stefan declared softly yet firmly. "And assuming he's still alive, I need to find him before Dot or Jericho kill him."

Feeling as though they were going around in circles, Elena repeated, "You don't even know they're responsible."

"Who else could it be?"

"The friends and families of all his victims?" Elena said, sounding exasperated.

"In Mystic Falls," Stefan clarified for her.

"The friends and families of his victims," Elena repeated, this time more forcefully to emphasise her point.

Doubtful and still convinced that Dot and Jericho were behind Damon's disappearance, Stefan shook his head, "You said it yourself; it's been nearly two months, Elena. The trail would have gone cold by now, leaving only them," He said, stating his belief to Elena. "Which is why I need you to tell me where they live."

"I can't."

Gently taking hold of her arms and giving them a tender squeeze, Stefan gazed deeply into her beautiful brown eyes. "Please, Elena. You're the only person that can help me find my brother."

"Can't you just give it a few more hours?" Elena questioned, hating that he was asking her this. "Jericho is coming to the party tonight; you can ask him..."

Stefan softly interjected without tearing his gaze from hers, "By then, Damon could be dead if he isn't already."

"Stefan,"

Hearing the conflict in her gentle voice, Stefan implored, "If you won't do it for Damon, would you at least do it for me?" He despised that he was taking advantage of their developing relationship, yet he felt he had no other choice. "I can't lose my brother, Elena. Not now, he's changed."

"...Okay."

---

With tears streaming down her cheeks, a woman in a risqué vampire costume ran down an alley in Venice to escape the men pursuing her. Casting a cautious glance over her shoulder to check that she had evaded them, she turned back, only to jump when one of them blocked her path, dressed as a stereotypical jock for Halloween.

"Where are you going, bambina? (Baby)" The Jock grinned.

Screaming, she stumbled away, nearly losing her footing and tripping over her own feet as she made a sharp turn down the dimly lit alley. She screamed again when another man appeared before her as if out of thin air, dressed as a werewolf. "Facci una schiaffa (Give us a suck)"

With her heart racing, she scrambled away, stumbling and snapping one of her heels. Making a sharp turn, each step felt uncoordinated and clumsy due to her uneven footing as she fled deeper into the alleyway. As she ran, her breath hitched when, out of nowhere, another man dressed as a killer clown appeared, brandishing a fake bloody knife with a crazed smile behind his painted face.

Utterly terrified, she grasped the handle of one of the large industrial dumpsters and, with all her strength, tried to pull it in front of the clown to block their path but failed miserably when it refused to budge. She screamed when the clown snatched it back and, defying what should have been possible, ripped it off the ground and hurled it through the air, sending it crashing into the wall.

Her eyes wide with fear and disbelief, she hyperventilated and, without thinking, attempted to run past him, only to cry out in pain when the clown roughly grabbed a clump of thick black hair and snatched her back. She shivered when she felt him press his nose into her hair and inhale her scent. "I love the smell of fear," he growled huskily. Holding her in place, he gave her ass a hard slap, earning a horrified gasp from the woman.

"Per favore (Please)," she pleaded, tears welling in her dark brown eyes as the other two men arrived.

As the clown restrained her, the jock cupped her chin, tilting her head up to meet his gaze. "That's right, beg," he encouraged with a smirk, his eyes darkening before he compelled her to obey. "I said, beg."

"Per favore," she begged him, submitting immediately to the vampire's desire.

The jock smirked at the obedient little human. "Dressed like that, you want to be fucked don't you, puttana (whore)," he compelled, peering into her eyes, watching as she nodded submissively.

"Si," the woman purred, a lustful glint in her dark, puffy eyes.

"What are you waiting for then?"

With an eager, lustful smile, the woman reached behind her back and, seizing the clown by the groin, searched and, when she found it, vigorously stroked his manhood through the costume. With a sultry smile, she revelled in the clown's moans, gasping in delight as the jock excitedly grabbed the top of her costume. Just as he went to tear it off her body to get to her tits, a bang went off, followed by the clown's head snapping back before he ignited in flames.

Another bang echoed through the night sky as the werewolf-themed vampire recoiled, his chest pierced. Blood oozing out, he screamed, combusting into flames like the clown moments ago. As they both ignited, the jock spun round, only for his breath to be stolen when something impaled his chest and grabbed his beating heart. His eyes widened in horror when he was lifted off the ground by the unknown entity, and he watched as his blood rolled down to take the shape of an arm.

The air shimmered and took shape beneath him, and all he could do was watch as a massive armoured creature emerged right before his eyes, its golden eye reflecting his impaled image before the hand crushed his heart and tore it out. Tossed aside, he hit the ground with a thump, and as he died, he felt the creature ripping his jacket from his body.

---

After telling Bonnie and Caroline she would see them tonight, Elena drove out of Mystic Falls with Stefan. Pulling outside the closed gate, she took a nervous breath and gripped the wheel tightly.

"This is the place?"

With a slow, hesitant nod, Elena confirmed it was. "Yeah," she spoke softly, her voice scarcely above a whisper. Feeling sick, fully aware that she had betrayed Jericho by bringing Stefan there...but knew there was no backing out.

"Very him," Stefan muttered. As he gazed beyond the gate, a sliver of anger grew upon witnessing the place where Damon had suffered at Jericho's hands firsthand. Regardless of what he had done, Damon was still his brother. Jericho hadn't just fought him; he had brutally mutilated and crippled his brother, almost killed him, a thought that only served to further his resentment for him.

The other part arose from his efforts to turn Elena against him, but fortunately, those attempts had failed. And because of that, he had spent the last few weeks getting to know her now that their relationship had deteriorated. "Thanks, Elena."

"Wait, what are you doing?" Elena asked, confused as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "The gate's closed; you can see they're not here."

Opening the door, Stefan turned to her, "Just because the gate is closed doesn't mean he's not in," he said before climbing out with a sense of purpose, determined to discover whether Jericho was in or not, but more importantly, whether his brother was there.

"No, no, no! You can't!" Elena exclaimed, unfastening her seatbelt and jumping out of her SUV. "You can't just break into..." she desperately tried to stop him, realising what he was about to do. Her plea was ignored as he showcased his vampire abilities and leapt over the gate in a single bound, landing on the other side.

Stefan looked at her through the bars from the other side of the gate. "I need to know for certain that Damon isn't here," he told her before racing to the house.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Elena berated herself over the stupid, idiotic decision to bring Stefan there. She should have said no; she did, but then, like the idiot, she went back on her word instead of sticking to her guns. Jericho was going to find out and hate her for it. Everything kept spiralling out of control, and it was all her fault. Looking around, she looked for a way into the property to try to stop Stefan and make him see reason but found none. The gate was too high to climb, and even if he could, the spikes on top would impale her if she tried.

---

After leaving Elena by the gate, Stefan pounded on the frosted glass of the front door. He despised himself for dragging her into this, but what choice did he have? Damon had been missing for over twenty-four hours and knew Dot and Jericho were responsible. Thankfully, Elena had agreed to help him after some convincing. It wasn't his proudest moment, but finding Damon was all that mattered now.

With no answer, Stefan pounded on the door even harder. Fearing that Damon could be dead, he impulsively struck his palm against the door. The force ripped the bolt through the metal frame, forcing the door open and wrenching it off its hinges. The door then crashed into the house, sliding across the wooden floor of the long hallway.

"Jericho?!" Stefan shouted into the house, only to be met by the echo of his voice. Despite knowing it was pointless, he lifted his leg and braced himself to feel the barrier that kept uninvited vampires out. To his surprise, he felt no such thing as he stepped through the door and into the house. Since he had never been there before and hadn't been invited in, it confirmed his suspicion that Dot, who most likely owned the place, wasn't alive, so the magical barrier wasn't in place.

Without a moment to waste, he raced down the hallway with a burst of vampiric speed and began his search for Damon. Upon reaching the end, he arrived in a vast, open room that appeared to stretch the floor length. Unnecessarily big, in his opinion, not to mention overly pretentious, Stefan scanned the room before his eyes landed on the room in the back.

Dashing across the room and past the sofa and enormous television mounted on the wall, he entered the next room, which turned out to be a spacious kitchen filled with modern appliances and a large kitchen island. Finding it empty, he frowned deeply. Turning, Stefan raced back into the front room. Spotting a staircase at the back of the room, he rushed over to it, crossing it in the blink of an eye.

Rushing up the staircase, Stefan flung the door open to find a bedroom on the other side. However, unlike the front room, it was bland, utilitarian, and lacked personal items. With a frustrated sigh, he turned and descended the staircase, discovering a hidden floor beneath the house. Feeling like he was finally making progress, he resumed his search for Damon.

Throwing open every door he encountered, Stefan discovered guest bedrooms that were far more inviting than the one upstairs, a laundry room, an office, and a home gym, yet no sign of Damon anywhere. Reaching the last room, he opened the door to find a large basement but found nothing that stood out, making him throw his head back in frustration that his brother was nowhere to be seen.

Realising that Elena might have been right about Dot and Jericho having no involvement in Damon's disappearance and that he had broken into their home for nothing, Stefan turned and walked back down the underground hallway, a lost expression clouding his immortal features. He had been counting on Damon being there, but now, he had no idea where he was.

That said, just because Damon wasn't there didn't mean they weren't responsible for his disappearance. Jericho had been away constantly this month, and while his absence allowed him to grow closer to Elena, the whole reason for him staying in Mystic Falls in the first place, Jericho being away bothered him. He was up to something and wanted to know what, especially if it had anything to do with his brother's disappearance. And if he had any part in it, he would...

Shaking those thoughts aside, Stefan climbed the staircase and returned to the front room. As he did, he stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide, when he found Elena standing in the room, somehow getting past the gate.

"You broke into his house?"

Taking a step forward, Stefan frowned when Elena took a step back. "I had no choice; I had to know if Damon was here."

"You used me," Elena realised, feeling both angry and hurt at having been manipulated by Stefan. "This was your plan all along; that's why you needed me to bring you here and why you wouldn't take no for an answer."

Stefan shook his head and fervently explained, "I didn't have a choice, Elena."

"Yes, you did," Elena shot back angrily. "You lied to me about just wanting to talk to Jericho and how a vampire had to be invited into someone's house to enter. What else have you lied about?"

Not yet ready to tell her about Katherine, that he had saved her life in May, or that he had been watching her from a distance since she had been discharged from the hospital to ensure she wasn't Katherine, Stefan bypassed the final remark. "What I told you about vampires needing to be invited in is true...under normal circumstances," he informed her. "Look, we can talk about this later; right now, we need to get out of here before they return."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

Acknowledging that Elena had every right to be angry with him at that moment, Stefan stepped forward, "You can't stay here."

"I can, and I wasn't asking for your permission," Elena shot back at Stefan. "I'm going wait here and..."

Interjecting, Stefan was brutally honest with her, "What? Tell Dot and Jericho that I forced you to bring me here? I didn't compel you, Elena; you chose to bring me here."

"Because you lied to me!"

"I never lied to you; I never intended to break in, but I needed to know that Damon wasn't here," Stefan admitted to Elena, who glared at him. "And not that I did, but do you think they'll care even if I did? You brought me here."

"Because you lied to me and wouldn't take no for an answer!" Elena shouted at him. "I kept telling you that I didn't want to,"

"But you did," Stefan asserted matter-of-factly. "And I had no choice, Elena."

Hurt by his first remark, Elena angrily said, "Damon isn't a victim."

"But Jericho is?" Stefan retorted sharply.

Levelling him an incredulous look, Elena shot back, "Is that a serious question? Damon tried to kill him right here at his home. And it's only because he might be a super soldier that he managed to defend himself from your monster of a brother."

"We both know he did more than defend himself, Elena. He brutally mutilated and crippled my brother for life. You're always quick to point out all of Damon's faults yet conveniently leave out all of Jericho's."

"Faults? Is that what you call murdering innocent people?" Elena asked harshly. "And there's a difference between defending yourself, which is what Jericho did, and flat-out killing innocent people, not that you seem to care."

"Of course I care!"

"Yet you always conveniently sidestep the subject whenever Damon's victims are mentioned and instead play the victim card," Elena challenged. "How long are you going to keep using Katherine turning him into a vampire as an excuse to justify him killing people? You don't kill people, at least that's what you told me, but considering you lied and used me today, who can say if that's true."

Hurt by her remark, Stefan refuted, "All I've done is be honest with you, Elena. I never planned on breaking in today; it was an impulsive decision."

"I don't believe you."

Stung by her words, Stefan nodded tightly, bitterly. "And would you believe Jericho?" And when she said nothing, he got his answer. "Fine, stay here," he told her. All that mattered now was finding Damon, which he planned to do.

Watching Stefan disappear, Elena smiled painfully at yet another relationship she had ruined. An empty silence filled the room. Now a stranger, a home invader, rather than the guest she had been the last time she was there, she let out a depressed sigh as she crossed the room and sat on the couch. Not touching the remote, she just sat there in silence, waiting for either Dot or Jericho to come home...to find her in their home.

---

Almost twenty minutes later, Elena heard footsteps approaching from behind her. Standing up immediately, she turned just in time to see Dot walking into the front room. "I can explain..."

"There's no need for that, Elena," Dot replied calmly, walking over to her. "I heard everything from the security cameras," she told the brunette as she neared the couch.

"... security cameras?" Elena repeated, glancing around the room for them but seeing nothing.

Dot responded, "Yes, several are located inside and outside the house. A precaution after Damon attacked Jericho here, one that proved to be a wise decision considering that his brother broke into our home today."

"Then you know that I brought Stefan here."

Offering a slight nod, Dot confirmed that she knew. "I do."

"I never meant for any of this to happen."

"Regardless of your intentions, you brought a vampire here," Dot pointed out bluntly, voicing the seriousness of the situation. "You must know how this looks," she added, getting a tearful nod from Elena. "I welcomed you into my home, and how do you repay me? By bringing a vampire here – not just any vampire, but the brother of the one that tried to kill Jericho less than two months ago. I'm unsure if I should be angry or disappointed with you."

With tears threatening to escape her reddening eyes, Elena sniffed, "I-I'm sorry."

"I understand, but that doesn't excuse your actions," Dot replied frankly. "You should go home, Elena, before Jericho gets back."

Returning a tearful nod, Elena couldn't help but ask, "Are you going to tell Jericho..."

"The front door has been torn from the frame, Elena. Do you think Jericho won't notice when he returns?" Dot asked rhetorically, then added bluntly. "And he deserves to know that the house was broken into today."

"...And that I betrayed you both," Elena muttered shamefacedly, acknowledging the undeniable truth. "I'm sorry for everything," she apologised tearfully. Hurrying past Dot, she crossed the room and swiftly exited the house.

---

Spending the night eliminating vampires throughout Venice and Italy, Six arrived back at the ship. Piloting the Phantom through the energy barrier, he found Dot waiting inside the hangar bay, dressed in her Halloween costume. Landing, he climbed out of the chair and made his way through the metallic interior of the Covenant dropship. As he stepped off the ramp and onto the hangar floor, he approached Dot. "Do I want to know?"

"How's your mood?"

His black armour stained red, Six grunted, "Giddy."

"The house was broken into today," Dot informed him.

Looking down at Dot, Six inquired, "By?"

"Stefan," Dot revealed to the Spartan-III. "He thinks we're to blame for his brother's disappearance. It would seem that Damon failed to inform Stefan that he was getting his new arm attached yesterday in Virginia Beach. So, after convincing Elena to bring him here, he broke down the front door and searched for him here."

Six glanced at her and remained silent for a few moments before finally replying, "He thinks we're foolish enough to kill him here, the very first place he'd look?"

"Apparently so."

Though disgruntled, Six continued the conversation, "Did he damage anything other than the door?"

"No."

Offering a slight nod, Six walked past her. "I'd best get started," he muttered, reaching the door on the far side of the hangar bay to remove his Mjolnir in the armoury. After spending hours eliminating the vampires that preyed on humanity, returning to the ship to find that a vampire had damaged his home did little to improve his feelings about the race; that said, there was a silver lining to the destruction... he wouldn't have to attend the Halloween party tonight.

"And what about Elena?"

"She made her choice."

Dot succinctly stated, "She regrets what she did, Six. When Stefan tried to persuade her to leave with him, she refused. She even defended you when he brought up how you mutilated and crippled Damon. She was in tears when she left the house, fully aware that she had betrayed us."

"It changes nothing, Dot."

Disagreeing, Dot expressed her opinion, "Based on what I've observed from the security cameras, Stefan continued to harass her until she finally agreed. If anyone is to be held responsible for her bringing him here, it's him."

"..."

Despite his silence, Dot continued, "Before you judge her too harshly and treat her like a traitor, bear in mind that Elena is just a teenager who's been forced into the supernatural because of Stefan," she reminded Six, who remained silent. "Speaking of Stefan, what do you plan to do about him."

"I will handle both of them once Damon makes his move," Six said, walking towards the door and pressing the holographic symbol.

As the symbol faded, Dot asked, "What if he doesn't? Damon will escape with one of our cybernetic arms."

"He is far too arrogant not to," Six remarked as the door slid back into its frame. Damon had spent the last hundred and forty-five years doing as he pleased without worrying about or caring about the consequences of his actions. That wouldn't change now that he was human. Just like his former powers, his cybernetic arm would make him overconfident.

---

Arriving back at the Salvatore Boarding House, Stefan slowly approached the front door. It had been hours since he had left Elena behind at Jericho's home and continued his search for his brother, yet he found nothing.

He had ruined everything with Elena today but felt he had no choice but to involve her. He needed to know if Damon was there, and she was the only person who knew where he lived. In hindsight, he realised how stupid it was to think they would've taken Damon there. But at the time, he hadn't been thinking clearly. The only thing on his mind was finding his brother. Of course, just because Damon wasn't at their home didn't mean they had nothing to do with his disappearance.

Setting those thoughts aside, Stefan opened the front door and stepped into the manor. Closing the door, he took off his jacket and went to hang it up, only to pause, a flicker of hope filling his chest when he found Damon's leather jacket hanging on the peg. Without a moment to lose, he quickened his pace and headed into the parlour to find...

"Well, look who finally decided to turn up," Damon quipped from the couch. "And we were just about to send out a search party," he added playfully. Not far from where he was sitting, Zach stood with his arms crossed.

Stefan smiled, overjoyed and relieved to see his brother alive, "Damon, you're..." His smile faltered slightly at the sight of the cybernetic appendage he used to hold the bourbon glass. "...you have an arm."

"Observant as ever," Damon smirked before bringing the cybernetic arm around to admire it. "What do you think? Pretty cool, right?"

Zach commented, "How stupid and arrogant do you have to be to think that they don't know one of their cybernetic arms has been stolen?"

"Is that concern I hear, Zachery?"

"Not for you," Zach retorted coldly. "After everything you've done, you deserve to suffer, not to be rewarded with a new arm. How did you even steal it?"

With a smug smile, Damon replied, "I didn't steal it," he said to Zach matter-of-factly. "And if I were you, I would be careful how you speak to me now."

"I'm not afraid of you, Damon," Zach glared back, unfazed by his threat. "But go ahead, show everyone your true colours."

"Don't threaten me with a good time."

Swiftly intervening, Stefan positioned himself between them, "Would you both stop?" he asked them before turning to Damon. "And if you didn't steal it, then who did?" He asked him.

"That's for me to know and you to dot, dot, dot," Damon mocked cheekily.

Frustrated that breaking into Jericho's home could have been avoided had he shared what he was doing, Stefan expressed his annoyance, "This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, Damon! Why didn't you tell me what you were doing? You've been missing for over twenty-four hours!"

"Why would I do that?" Damon laughed, shooting him an incredulous look.

"Because I thought that..."

Letting out a loud groan, Damon rolled his eyes. "Let me guess; you thought that little Miss Holier-than-Thou and Scar-Face had something to do with my disappearance?" He finished knowingly. And when Stefan said nothing, he sighed, "What did you do?"

"I thought that..."

Damon just looked at him. "What. Did. You. Do?" He repeated slowly, drawing each word out.

"I broke into his home."

"Oh, you little housebreaker!"

Stefan retaliated, "I thought that they had abducted you!"

"First of all, you're giving them far too much credit. Secondly, do you think they'd be stupid enough to kidnap me and take me to their home?" Damon asked rhetorically.

"I wasn't thinking."

"Clearly."

Zach turned to Stefan, "Do they know it was you?"

"Probably," Stefan revealed, answering Zach. "Elena refused to leave,"

Taken aback, Zach questioned, "Elena? The girl you stayed in Mystic Falls for? You dragged her into this?"

"I didn't have a choice," Stefan explained, justifying his reasons for involving Elena. "She was the only person who knew where Dot and Jericho lived."

"And you couldn't have compelled Katherine-lite?"

Turning to Damon, Stefan glared. "I wouldn't do that to her. And even if I wanted to, I gave her a locket containing vervain; compulsion wouldn't work on her."

"You could've just ripped the locket off her," Damon told him dryly. "Better yet, you could have dragged her out of the house. But because you didn't and want to play Mr chivalrous Vampire and are madly in love with some pale imitation of Katherine,"

"Elena is better than Katherine in every way imaginable."

Damon continued, "They now know that you broke into their house. Great job," he mocked, giving him a thumbs up.

"If you had told me what you were doing, none of this would have happened!"

"Don't turn this around on me; you're the idiot who broke into his house!"

"ALL OF THIS is because of you, Damon. All of it!" Stefan shouted back angrily. "This began because you had to go and attack Jericho! And yet again, I'm the one who has to sort out your mess!"

"Nobody asked you to; I certainly didn't."

"You're my brother!"

Damon glanced at him, "Because I'm your brother... or is it because you feel guilty about what you did all those years ago?" He asked cryptically, unwilling to share in front of Zach that Stefan forced his transition. "And I'm not referring to Katherine's death."

"She never loved you,"

Visibly angered, Damon retaliated, "But let me guess, she loved you?"

"The only person Katherine ever truly loved was herself."

With an angry scoff, Damon retorted. "No, you just can't bear the idea that Katherine chose me over you."

"She didn't,"

"Keep telling yourself that, Stefan," Damon said coldly. Katherine loved him just as he loved her. Once he regained his full strength, he would retrieve the locket from the Lockwood estate, which should have already been in his possession. After that, he could free Katherine from the tomb, and they could finally be together. With Katherine, Pearl, Anna, her little lackey, and the other vampires in the tomb, they would end that freak and stop his cure blood from getting out.

---

The Halloween party pulsed with excitement. Standing in the car park, dressed in her chic witch costume, Caroline kept a lookout for Jericho and his Charger, hoping he would turn up soon.

"Perhaps he isn't coming."

Turning to Bonnie, who was dressed in her own witches' costume that she had chosen for her, Caroline responded, "Jericho told me he was."

"Weeks ago," the actual witch remarked. "Maybe it slipped his mind? Between working at the auto shop with Matt and whatever else he's been doing that's kept him from school, he probably forgot...or just wanted to stay home tonight."

Caroline shook her head, "He told me the other day he would be coming tonight," she informed Bonnie. "And have you heard anything from Elena?"

"Only that's she's not coming."

"WHAT?!" The blonde blurted out. "Why not?"

Bonnie shrugged her shoulders, "She just said she wasn't coming tonight," she told Caroline, and when the blonde opened her mouth to say something, she interjected quickly. "Cut her some slack, will you? It's only been a couple of months since her parents died. Parties are hardly a priority right now."

"...I guess that's true," Caroline murmured in agreement. Still, a thought appeared in her head. "You don't think that her and Jericho..."

Returning a small look, Bonnie interrupted, "Ignoring that they're still not talking, no, I don't think Jericho and Elena are with each other right now," she reassured Caroline, who looked relieved.

"Good."

Rolling her olive green eyes, Bonnie commented, "You could try not to look so pleased."

"But I am," Caroline declared unapologetically. "Elena can have Stefan; Jericho is mine."

Feeling a surge of jealousy, Bonnie retorted, "You mean mine," she corrected Caroline, who smirked back.

"You know, it's odd to hear you being so competitive. It's usually me and Elena fighting over the hottie," Caroline admitted to Bonnie, even if it had been a while since she and Elena were competing over a guy, given that she had been dating Matt.

Not denying it, Bonnie shrugged. "I like him, and he did say that I was an attractive female," he added, smiling at the Jericho-like compliment she still thought about.

"He said that to me, too," Caroline told Bonnie. "I suppose we could always ask Jericho when he gets

Behind them, another voice spoke up. "Unfortunately, Jericho won't be coming tonight." When they turned around, Bonnie and Caroline saw Dot and Jenna standing before them, dressed as Wonder Woman and Black Widow.

"You both look great!" Bonnie complimented.

Dressed as Wonder Woman, Dot smiled. "As do you. If I didn't know better, I would mistake you for a real witch," she said, with Bonnie doing her utmost not to shift uncomfortably and give anything away. Jericho was a Spartan, but she had no idea what Dot was other than from the future...at least, she was assuming she was, considering she was with Jericho. And if she was, did that mean she was a Spartan too? "You look lovely too, Caroline."

"Thanks," Caroline beamed, quickly moving the conversation along. "But how come Jericho isn't coming?" she asked, incredibly disappointed.

Dot explained the situation. "Our home was broken into today, with the front door torn off its hinges, leaving us without a door."

"Are you both okay?"

Turning to Bonnie, Dot nodded, "We're fine. Luckily, both Jericho and I were out at the time."

"It's strange they didn't take anything," Jenna murmured beside Dot.

"I said it looked like they didn't take anything," Dot informed her best and closest friend. "Once I've finished chaperoning with you and return home, I'll have to thoroughly search the house with Jericho to ensure nothing was stolen."

Bonnie chimed in, "Isn't that the second time it's happened now?"

"It's the first time anyone has broken into the house, but yes, it is the second time someone has trespassed on our property," Dot replied earnestly to Bonnie. "Fortunately, this time, no one tried to kill Jericho."

"Was it the same person as before?" Bonnie inquired, pondering whether Damon was behind the break-in.

Dot shook her head and replied, "I couldn't say, but whoever they were, they had left by the time I got home."

"If Jericho isn't coming tonight, would it be okay to go see him?" Caroline asked, her tone hopeful.

"Normally, I would say yes, but the house isn't safe at the moment, Caroline," Dot said, gently letting her down. "But once we're sure it's secure and the trespasser won't return, I have no problem with you going to the house. But we should get going," bidding them both goodbye, she left with Jenna and headed into the school.

Once they were gone, Caroline pouted cutely. "Stupid trespasser," she huffed, crossing her arms sulkily. "Do you know how much I've been looking forward to seeing Jericho dressed as a Spartan?"

"I can guess."

"Whoever it was, they better hope I never meet them!"

---

It was approaching eleven o'clock. Rather than going to the Halloween Party, Elena stayed at home, not wanting to do anyone or do anything after she had betrayed Dot and Jericho earlier today.

Even now, hours after she had done so, she hated herself for it. Stefan may have lied to her, but he was right about one thing: she was the one who brought him to Dot and Jericho's home. He didn't compel her, but rather, she chose to take him there, fully aware that by doing so, she was betraying them both. Even if Dot didn't seem angry when she returned, she knew she was.

Then there was Jericho. She had no idea how he would react once he discovered what she had done. Would he be angry, betrayed, resentful, or hate her for bringing a vampire to his home? There was no point in explaining her side of the story because he already knew it. She brought Stefan to his house, who then went and damaged it by smashing down the front door. She betrayed him, his trust, everything.

Startled by a sharp knock at the door, Elena glanced at it. Climbing off the couch, she moved around and walked to the front door to answer it despite the late hour. Pulling it open, she immediately slammed it in Stefan's face."

"Elena, if you would let me explain," Stefan pleaded from the other side of the door.

Not wanting to see him, "There's nothing to explain, Stefan. Now go before I call the cops." Elena threatened, even if she knew it would be pointless. He was a vampire; what could they do to him?

"Please, Elena."

"I said no, Stefan, and this time I mean it. Unless you're planning on breaking into my house as well?" Elena asked sharply.

Hearing a tiny bang on the other side of the door, Elena guessed that Stefan had pressed his head against it. "I never meant for any of that to happen."

"Yes, you did," Elena accused, not believing him. "You never went there to talk; you used me to find his home, knowing full well that you would break in. And then, rather than waiting, you left me there to fix your mistake."

"I was scared, Elena," Stefan admitted, his voice trembling slightly from the other side of the door. "All I could think about was saving my brother."

Elena leaned her forehead against the door, her eyes glistening with a mix of vulnerability and hurt. "So, you decided to use me?"

"No, I needed your help, Elena," Stefan swore to her. "I never intended to break into his house, but when I saw the locked gate, I was terrified that Damon might have been dead. I didn't even stop to think how ridiculous it was to think that Dot and Jericho would take him there; I just acted."

"And what about you yelling at me and making me feel even worse about betraying Jericho and Dot than I already did?" Elena questioned, her voice heavy with hurt and betrayal. "How you kept reminding me that you never compelled me and that I brought you there when you wouldn't take no for an answer. I told you repeatedly that I couldn't, but you just kept prodding and prodding until I finally agreed."

"I didn't have a choice," Stefan confessed from behind the door.

Feeling neither happy nor unhappy that he had admitted what he had done, Elena pleaded, "Please, Stefan. Just go" And when he didn't reply, she waited a few moments before slowly opening the door to see he was gone. Closing the door, she rested her head against it and shut her eyes in heartache.

---

Almost an hour later, Stefan returned to the manor. Despite it now being his birthday, he felt indifferent, preoccupied with thoughts about how he had ruined his relationship with Elena. She now wanted nothing to do with him, and he couldn't blame her; he had used her to locate Jericho's home, which could have been avoided if Damon had just told him what he was doing.

He couldn't blame Damon; it wasn't Damon who had manipulated Elena. He would completely understand if she chose to never speak to him again. He also thought about Dot and Jericho's reaction to his breaking into their home today and how they would respond when they learned that Damon had stolen one of their cybernetic arms. Even if Damon didn't steal it himself, he doubted they would care.

Although Damon believed Jericho didn't have the backbone to kill, considering him to be "all bark and no bite," he felt otherwise. Jericho's mercy would have limits, and after Damon tried to kill him, he went and told Elena what happened between Jericho and his brother. Then, to make matters worse, he broke into his home in the span of a day, and Damon stole one of his cybernetic arms.

They were only making their situation worse.

Brushing his thoughts aside, Stefan reached for the door. However, he paused when he heard a faint whisper behind him. He quickly turned around and frowned, searching for the source, but saw nothing. Taking a nervous breath, he turned back to the manor, locked the door, and felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him, unsure if it was Dot or Jericho.

Hurrying through the manor, he quickly closed each window and door to prevent anyone from entering. As he closed a window, he paused when he heard a sound behind him. Turning back, he secured the window and drew the curtains before moving through the empty parlour. There, he heard a thudding noise coming from another room, which put him further on edge. "Damon? Zach?" he called out. "Is that you?"

Hearing another sound, he abruptly turned, his immortal heart pounding faster with anticipation and fear, only to be tacked to the ground. Hitting the floor with a thump, he was thrown onto his back before he could defend himself. Expecting to find Dot and Jericho seeking revenge, he was taken aback when he saw a familiar vampire baring her fangs at him instead of them. "...Lexi?"

"Hi!" Lexi chirped, retracting her fangs before hoisting Stefan up off the ground. "I was beginning to think you would be brooding across town all night." She teased with a playful smile.

"...What are you doing?"

The blonde vampire shot him a look. "Have you forgotten what day it is, Birthday Boy?"

"No, I just...I've had a lot going on," Stefan admitted to her.

Arching a curious brow, Lexi inquired, "Do share."

"Well, if it isn't Stefan's life coach," Damon commented sarcastically. Turning to him, Stefan and Lexi found him leaning against the wall with his usual smug smirk.

Lexi opened her mouth to retort but stopped when she noticed the eyepatch and the cybernetic arm. "What happened to you? And please tell me it hurt as bad as it looks," she said, her expression hopeful. However, her eyes widened in surprise as she caught his scent. "Wait, are you...human?"

Before Damon could say anything, Stefan quickly interjected, "It's a long story."

"I have all the time in the world."

---

Sitting in the parlour, Lexi processed everything she had heard. Once she had, she turned to Stefan, "What the hell is wrong with you?!" she demanded.

"I..."

Not even allowing him to begin, Lexi continued, "So this Jericho, whose blood can cure vampirism and who is also apparently a super soldier capable of matching a vampire when it comes to strength, easily manhandling Damon,"

"Nobody mentioned anything about manhandling," Damon grumbled at her.

Lexi shot him a smug look. "Did he lose an arm? What about an eye?" When Damon remained unusually silent, she smirked and turned back to Stefan. "And even after leaving you alone after he tried to kill him," she voiced, nodding over to Damon, "Just remind me, what did you do today?"

"I already told you."

"I would like to hear it again," Lexi said sweetly.

Begrudgingly, Stefan murmured, "I broke into his home."

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Damon rolled his eye, "Please, he..."

"He tore off your arm," Lexi retorted sarcastically, giving him a dry look. "The only reason he likely hasn't killed you is that he doesn't consider you worth the effort, not after making you his little bitch."

"He got lucky," Damon insisted.

The blonde smirked back, "You mean you were lucky to escape. Oh, what I wouldn't have given to watch you get your ass handed to you. I can picture it now: you doing your whole stalker-in-the-shadows routine, trying to terrify some innocent human...only this time, it backfired on you."

"You mean I acted like a vampire."

Disagreeing with him, Lexi spoke up. "Vampirism has nothing to do with your behaviour over the last one hundred and forty-five years. You tormented innocent people and made them suffer simply because you enjoyed it." She added firmly, "But know this: if Jericho comes after Stefan because of you, he won't have the chance to kill you."

"Cute, that almost sounded like a threa-urk!" Damon gasped, his words violently cut off as a hand gripped his throat, and he found himself across the room, slammed into the wall.

With one hand tightening around his throat, Lexi used her other hand to intercept the cybernetic by the wrist when Damon tried to hit her. "A promise," she swore to him, squeezing her hand around the metal wrist. "And not even your fancy new toy will save you from me."

"Alright, alright, take it easy; I just got this thing," Damon exclaimed, fearing for his new arm.

Satisfied that he had received the message, Lexi released him before turning to Stefan. "Would you like to show me to my room?" she asked, receiving a slight nod from him before they both left, leaving Damon to nurse his sore throat.

"You didn't need to do that. Damon has already been through..."

Walking next to Stefan, Lexi rolled her eyes. "Right, because he looks like he's suffering. And birthday or not, if you so much as try and tell me that Damon is the victim in all this, I'll knock on your butt so hard that you'll think you're back in 1864," she warned him playfully, yet there was a serious edge to her voice. "Assuming that this Jericho doesn't try to take your head first. Honestly, breaking into his home and pissing him off further, what the hell were you thinking?"

"That Damon's life was in danger and..."

Lexi interrupted him, saying, "If it were, it would be his fault," she remarked indifferently, showing no concern for Damon. "Nobody forced Damon to attack this Jericho; he did it because human life means nothing to him. And honestly, becoming human again, I couldn't think of anything more fitting."

"Maybe you should tell Dot that," Stefan muttered.

Looking at him, Lex arched a brow, "Dot?"

"Dot Amita."

Wracking her brain, Lexi frowned, "Why does that name sound familiar?"

"She's the CEO of Noble Industries."

Closing her eyes, Lexi groaned, "You've got to be kidding me! Not only did you break into a super soldier's home, but also into the home of Dot Amita?" she asked incredulously. And in that moment, she wanted to slam his stupid, impulsive head into the wall. "Any other surprises you'd like to share?"

"...She's not human," Stefan informed her quietly. "And I have no idea what she is."

"Wonderful!" Lexi exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration. "Let's hope they don't discover it was you who broke into their home."

Stefan shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting away before he finally spoke. "They already know," he said, his voice laced with an awkward tension.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing I'm proud of," Stefan admitted softly, loathing himself for

With a sharp gaze, Lexi demanded, "What did you do, Stefan?"

---

It was Monday morning. Arriving at school earlier than usual, Elena turned into the parking lot. Looking around, she was torn between feeling relieved and anxious when she spotted Jericho's Charger parked there.

Finding a space, Elena quickly parked her SUV. After cutting the engine, she gathered her things and climbed out. Locking the Ford, she walked across the parking lot to the school entrance. All weekend, she had wanted to jump into her SUV and drive to his house to beg for his forgiveness, even though she didn't deserve it after betraying him and Dot by bringing Stefan to their home.

Their relationship had already been on shaky ground, but she knew there was no turning back after betraying him. Jericho would never trust her again; worse, he would likely hate her forever. And the thought of him hating her...

Burying her thoughts deep down, Elena entered the school. As she walked through the hallway, which a few students already populated, she passed them and headed toward the library, hoping to find Jericho. When she reached the end of the hallway, she turned the corner and collided with someone. Just as she was about to apologise, she noticed the familiar black hoodie. However, her eyes widened, and her heart sank when she saw the folder in his hand.

"W-Why do you have your folder?" Elena asked, her heart breaking as she looked up at Jericho's tanned features—a sharp contrast to his unnaturally pale complexion from when they first met two months ago. Her heart ached further when she noticed that, instead of the warmth that used to fill his piercing blue eyes, there was nothing but indifference when he looked at her.

Without a glance back, Jericho brushed past her, his silence heavier than words, and strode purposefully toward the exit.

"You don't have to do this," Elena cried softly, keeping her voice down so nobody could hear her. Yet the only response she got from Jericho was his boots hitting the ground with each step. Chasing after him, she quickly bridged the gap. "P-Please, can we just talk about this?" she pleaded, fighting back the tears upon realising that he had quit school.

As Jericho stepped out of the school, he finally responded, "There is nothing to discuss," he declared flatly, never breaking his stride as he headed toward the parking lot.

"You don't have to do this," Elena pleaded tearfully as she followed him. "I'm the one who made the mistake; you shouldn't have to give up your education because of me. I'll drop out of school, and you can keep..."

Jericho interjected, "That won't be necessary, Elena," he said as he walked down the path. Ignoring the stares from the students on the grass, he made his way to the parking lot. "My decision has been made."

"I know I betrayed you, and I hate myself for it, but you don't have to..."

Stopping suddenly, Jericho looked down at Elena. "I won't worry, Elena. I won't be staying in Mystic Falls much longer".

"...Y-Your leaving Mystic Falls?"

"Once I've taken care of everything," Jericho confirmed.

Elena stood frozen, shaking her head in disbelief as tears glistened in her dark brown eyes, tracing silent paths down her olive cheeks. "Is this because of what I did?" she asked, her voice trembling. "I-I didn't want to; I said no, but..."

"So Dot informed me."

"...and you don't believe her," Elena whispered tearfully.

"If you did it once, you'll do it again."

Furiously shaking her head, Elena insisted, "No, I won't! I'd never do it again or betray you, Jericho. You have to believe me!"

"I don't."

Elena's heart broke at his harsh words as she watched Jericho turn away, the distance between them growing with each step he took. In desperation, she reached out, her trembling fingers closing around his large, warm hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Please, I can make this right. You don't have to go," she begged, her voice trembling with raw emotion.

"I had been thinking about leaving Mystic Falls well before Saturday," Jericho told her.

"...But I made the decision easier," Elena muttered knowingly. She got her answer when, instead of answering, Jericho withdrew his hand from hers, their fingers slipping away like grains of sand and watched helplessly as he walked away. Rooted to the ground, she wrestled with the painful realisation that her actions on Saturday had driven Jericho away. He was leaving, and it was all her fault.

---

A couple of hours had passed. Sitting outside her favourite coffee shop in Richmond, Dot remained unfazed by the brisk November chill. With a book in hand, she enjoyed her lunch break while watching the people around her go about their lives without a worry or care in the world—something that the humans of her own time were unable to do.

Until a few months ago, she had been unable to enjoy such experiences and had little desire to do so. As a Dumb AI, her sole purpose was to serve Noble Team. However, now she was free to savour all the experiences many humans often take for granted. And she wanted to experience it all. Her only wish was that Six would learn to do the same one day.

However, given how things escalated over the weekend, she realised that her hopes were merely wishful thinking. He was a Spartan, trained from a young age to be the perfect warrior. After Elena's betrayal, he decided it would be best to sever ties with her and concentrate on protecting humanity, which is why he had chosen to drop out of school, deeming it a waste of his time.

The civilian life she wanted for him, the one where he wouldn't have to fight again and finally have some semblance of peace, ended the moment Damon came to their home and attacked him. Once Damon made his move and Six eliminated him along with the other vampires threatening the town, he would be leaving Mystic Falls. He had already told her she should stay, insisting that her life didn't need to change just because he planned to leave. Although he didn't say it outright, she understood that he intended to return to his Lone Wolf days again.

"Would you mind if I join you?"

With a curious glint in her eye, Dot looked up at the man who had addressed her. "Not at all," she replied, welcoming him. She gestured to the seat opposite her and watched as he offered a charming smile, pulled out the chair, and sat down. "So, what can I help you with, Mr. Mikaelson?"

"Curiosity," he replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. His calm confidence radiated through the air, unfazed that she already knew his name. "And please, call me Elijah."

---

And cut! Here is the next chapter of The Noble Diaries. I hope you all enjoyed it. Honestly, this chapter was a pain to write, which was why it took me so long to get it out.

Initially, I was going to have Six go to the Halloween Party, but without Damon turning Vicki into a vampire and Stefan staking her, nothing interesting happens except a few interactions with the characters. So, instead, I decided that Six would deal with vampires in Venice while Stefan has Elena show him where Dot and Six live, with him learning that no barrier keeps vampires out.

Since Damon isn't a vampire, he doesn't have to kill Lexi as a scapegoat for the attacks in Mystic Falls. Furthermore, he doesn't compel Caroline to throw a party at the Grill, which means the "162 Candles" episode doesn't occur as it did in the series. So, I decided to skip that episode entirely.

Let me know what you all think!