BOOKS IN THE VAMPIREDIARIES SERIESTHE VAMPIRE DIARIES:VOL. I: THE AWAKENING

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:VOL. II: THE STRUGGLE

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:VOL. III: THE FURY

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:VOL. IV: DARK REUNION

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:THE RETURN VOL. 1: NIGHTFALL

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:THE RETURN VOL. 2: SHADOW SOULS

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:THE RETURN VOL. 3: MIDNIGHT

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:THE HUNTERS VOL. 1: PHANTOM

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:THE HUNTERS VOL. 2: MOONSONG

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:THE HUNTERS VOL. 3: DESTINY RISING

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:THE SALVATION VOL. 1: UNSEEN

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:THE SALVATION VOL. 2: UNSPOKEN

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:STEFANS DIARIES VOL. 1: ORIGINS

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:STEFANS DIARIES VOL. 2: BLOODLUST

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:STEFANS DIARIES VOL. 3: THE CRAVING

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:

STEFANS DIARIES VOL. 4: THE RIPPER

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:STEFANS DIARIES VOL. 5: THE ASYLUM

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:STEFANS DIARIES VOL. 6: THE COMPELLED

All characters appearing in this work arefictitious. Any resemblance to real persons,living or dead, is purely coincidental.

The Vampire Diaries: The Salvation:Unmasked 2014 by L.J. SmithAll rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any means,electronic, mechanical, photocopying,recording, or otherwise, without priorwritten permission of Alloy Entertainment.If you would like to use material from thebook (other than for review purposes),write topermission@alloyentertainment.com.

The publisher does not have any control

over and does not assume anyresponsibility for author or third-partywebsites or their content.

Produced by Alloy Entertainment1700 BroadwayNew York, NY 10019www.alloyentertainment.com

Library of Congress Catalog Number:2013958185

First edition May 2014

Published by 47North, Seattlewww.apub.com

ISBN 10: 1477823352ISBN 13: 9781477823354

Cover design by Liz Dresner

Contents

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3233About the Author

A Note About the Hashtags inThis Book

Elenas diary may be private, but this bookdoesnt have to be.

Everyones talking about the biggestshockers, twists, and swoon-worthy

moments.

Look for the hashtags throughout this bookand share your own reactions on Twitter. To

connect with other readers right now, tagyour tweets with #TVD13.

Im going to plant the herb garden rightthere, Bonnie told Zander, gazing out acrosstheir new yard. Green grass spread out infront of her, running right to the edge of awinding country road. There was a littlespace, half in sun and half in shade, thatwould be perfect for growing herbs for herspells and charms. Beyond the road rose

white-topped mountainsreal mountains,much higher than the rolling hills of Virginia.

Behind her, Zander wrapped his armsaround her waist and tucked his chin againsther shoulder. Bonnie leaned backcomfortably against his warm bulk. Taking adeep, satisfied breath of the crisp Coloradoair, she told him, Its absolutely gorgeoushere.

Theyd only been here for a few days, andeach morning when Bonnie opened her eyes,she was startled by her own happiness.Shed moved here because she couldnt bearto lose Zander, but she had never consideredthat she might actually like it.

Even on the plane flying here, shed hadan anxious pit in her stomach. Bonnie hadnever lived so far away from her family

before, never spent more than a few monthssome place where she couldnt drive to hermom or one of her sisters if she needed them.And shed always had her other sisters, theones shed chosen, Elena and Meredith, byher side.

Bonnie had felt like a traitor leaving Elenaand Meredith. Theyd assured her that theyunderstood and reminded her she was only aphone call away. But that didnt relieveBonnies guilt. Stefan, Elenas true love, haddied. Meredith had been turned into avampire. Surely it was wrong for Bonnie toabandon them, especially now.

But being here felt right. The Coloradosky stretched bright and blue overhead, soclear and deep that Bonnie almost thoughtshe could hold her arms above her head and

fly straight up into its limitless space.There was something about that endless

sky, something about the open country andnature all around her that made Bonnie feellike she was bursting with Power.

Im getting stronger every day, she said,twining her fingers with Zanders and pullinghis arms tighter around her.

Mmhmm, Zander agreed, kissing herneck softly. This place is really alive. Jaredtold me he ran for miles last night in themountains as a wolf, and there was nothingto avoid, no cars or towns in his way. Prettycool.

He tugged her around by the hand, andBonnie followed him into the house. Ourhouse. How awesome is that? she thought.Shed liked their old apartments, she

guessed, but this little white ranch house hadno neighbors to complain about noise, nolandlord laying down rules. It was theirs.

We can do anything we want here, shetold Zander.

He grinned down at her with his slow,devastating smile. And what is it that youwant to do, Miss Bonnie?

Bonnies face widened in a mischievousgrin. Oh, Ive got a few ideas, she saidlightly, and went up on her tiptoes to kisshim, her eyes fluttering closed.

The same familiar zing that Zanderskisses always gave her was there, but withsomething extra: They were married now.Till death do us part. He was hers.

She opened her eyes and looked up intoZanders warm, ocean-blue ones. A thrill of

happiness shot through her. Channeling ashred of Zanders energy into herself, Bonnieconcentrated for a moment. Joy shot throughher as she felt the essence of her sweet,cheerful husband. In the fireplace, violet andgreen sparks flew, filling the space with lightand color.

Beautiful, Zander said. Like tinyfireworks.

Bonnie was about to say something cheesybut honest, something like, Thats how I feelwith you all the timefireworks. But beforeshe could, her phone rang.

Meredith. Her friend no doubt wanted toknow how the honeymoon had been and whatColorado was like. Bonnie answered, stillsmiling, Hey! Whats up?

There was a pause. Then, Merediths

voice, thin and ragged. Bonnie?Meredith? Bonnie stiffened. Her friend

sounded broken.Its Elena, Meredith said, almost too

quietly for Bonnie to hear. Can you comehome?

Sitting on the edge of Elenas bed, Damonclosed his eyes, just for a moment. He wasso tired, a bone-deep exhaustion worse thanany he could remember feeling before. Hedsat by Elenas bedside for hours, her hand inhis, silently willing her to keep breathing,and her heart to keep pounding.

Willing Elena to wake up.And shed kept breathing, somehow,

although each slow, rattling breath seemed

like it would be her last. All the way acrossthe Atlantic from Paris, back to her homehere in Virginia, shed kept breathing. Hecould hear her heart beating, but weakly andirregularly.

But still, she was unconscious. It didntmatter how hard Damon willed her to wakeup. It didnt matter if he pleaded with Elenaherself, or if he pulled out all the half-forgotten prayers of his childhood andbegged a god who he was sure had turnedaway from him long ago.

Nothing Damon did mattered.Gently, he brushed back a long strand of

Elenas hair from her cheek. The once brightgold was duller now, tangled and matted,and her cheeks were sallow. She looked soclose to death that Damons heart clenched.

Lifting his hand away from Elenas face,Damon pressed his fist briefly against hischest. There was a dull empty ache there,where he was used to feeling Elenasemotions running bright and strong throughthe bond between them. He hadnt feltanything from their bond since Elena hadfallen unconscious.

Come as fast as you can, he heardMeredith say in the living room. On the otherend of the phone line, he could hear Bonniesdistressed voice promising to dropeverything, to catch the first plane out. WhenMeredith finally hung up, there was amoment of pure silence before she gave atearful sniff.

She was pinning her hopes on the littleredbirds magic, he knew. Damon couldnt

help a traitorous little spark of hope himselfBonnie was so Powerful nowbut, deepinside, he knew that even Bonnie wouldntbe able to help. The Guardians had made uptheir minds, and Elena was doomed.

Damon stood and paced across thebedroom to stare out of the open window.Outside, the sun was setting. The bedroomswalls pressed in around him. He wasachingly conscious of Elena, lying silent andstill behind him.

Enough. He could sit by her bedside aslong as he liked, but he wasnt helping her.Damon was useless. He had to get out ofhere, away from Elenas shallow breaths andthe faint, dreadful scent of death that wasslowly filling the room.

Damon concentrated and felt his body

compact, his bones twisting and hollowing.Shining black feathers sprang from his newform. After a few moments, a sleek blackcrow spread his wings wide and flewthrough the window and out into the night.

Angling his wings to catch the eveningbreeze, Damon turned toward the river.Above him, dark gray clouds gathered,mirroring his emotions.

Without consciously directing his flight, hesoon found himself above Stefans grave onthe riverbank. Landing and transforminggracefully back to his natural form, Damonlooked around. It had only been a few weekssince theyd buried Stefan, but grass hadalready grown over the earth where hisyounger brother lay. As Damon gazed at it,the ache in his chest intensified.

He bent and laid one hand against theground over Stefans grave. The earth wasdry and crumbled under his fingers. Imsorry, little brother, he said. I failed you.Ive failed Elena.

Straightening, he wondered what he wasdoing. Dead was dead. Stefan couldntforgive him now, as much as it painedDamon to want him to.

Theyd spent so much time hating eachother. Damon could admit now that it was hisfault. Hed resented his younger brother for ahost of reasons, beginning with the fact thattheir father had loved Stefan best. His hatredhad intensified after that dreadful day thattheyd killed each other, and throughcenturies of watching from a distance asStefan suffered through his vampirism and

refrained from killing humans, Damon hadgrown more and more bitter. Even as amonster, Stefan had been more virtuous thanDamon had been as a man, and Damon hadloathed him for it.

But by the time Jack came along, Damondidnt hate Stefan anymore. Jack. Damonsjaw tightened with hatred, and overhead,thunder rumbled in response.

Jack Daltry had pretended to be a humanhunting a vicious, ancient vampire. It had allbeen a lie: Jack was a scientist who hadcreated a new faster, stronger vampire race,who was on a mission to destroy oldervampires. Including Stefan, Katherine, andDamon himself.

Damon hadnt even been on the samecontinent when Stefan was killed. Hed come

home in time for Stefans funeral, in time tohelplessly witness Elenas devastation.Damon rubbed at his chest with one hand,wincing at the memory of how Elenas painhad resonated through the magical bondbetween them, drawing him home. That painwas how he had known Stefan was dead.Nothing else could have hurt Elena so much.

Damon and Elenas bond was at the rootof what had happened to Elena now. TheGuardians had linked them to keep Damonunder control. Theyd rightly decided that ifDamon and Elena were connected, it wouldprevent Damon from following his worstimpulses. Theyd spelled it out for him: If hefed on the unwilling, Elena would suffer. Ifhe killed a human, Elena would die.

Fat raindrops were beginning to fall, the

light brown earth of the riverbank turning asplotchy brown. Shoving his hands into hispockets, Damon spoke again, staring down athis brothers grave. I didnt know, he saidquietly.

All they had wanted, what had consumedhim and Elena both, was vengeance. Andthey had succeeded. They had tracked Jackdown and Damon had killed him, hadavenged Stefans death.

After Jack died, Elena had finally felt atpeace about Stefan. Shed turned to Damon,and for the first time they could love eachother, without feeling that they werebetraying Stefan. Damon knew he didntdeserve her. Whatever soul hed once had, ithad been corrupted long ago. But Elena hadwanted him anyway.

Theyd had two glorious weeks travelingtogether, enraptured with each other. ThenElena had collapsed, writhing in pain, andMylea, the cold-faced Guardian who hadbound them, arrived.

Damon had assumed it was safe to killJack Daltry because Jack was a vampire. Itwas humans who were forbidden; monsterswere fair game to Damon. Hed been a fool.Jack had made himself a vampire, usedscience to replicate the strength and ferocityof the vampire while getting rid of avampires traditional vulnerabilities towood, fire, sunlight.

He had changed himself through mortalmeans. He had never died; his human life hadnever ended. Jack wasnt a real vampire, justan imitation. There wasnt a drop of magic in

him. As far as the Guardians wereconcerned, Damon had broken their bargain.And now was paying the price.

Dying.Damon had brought her back to Dalcrest.

Something in him had made him sure that shewould want to be here, among the people sheloved.

Theyd battled unkillable monsters, savedthe world together. Part of him, maybefoolishly, hoped that, together, they could allhelp him save her.

But, now that they were here and nothinghad changed, he was terrified that theycouldnt. Maybe Elena was beyond theirreach. Damon shuddered at the thought,hunching his shoulders against the poundingrain.

Stefan, he whispered, looking at therain-soaked dirt of his brothers grave,what can I do? He had tried forcing hisblood down her throatshe wouldnt havewanted it, but better a vampire than gonebut when hed finally succeeded in makingher swallow, it had done nothing.

Rage rose in him, and thunder crackedoverhead. Damon turned his face up towardthe sky, streams of water running through hishair, soaking his clothes. Mylea! heshouted, his own voice sounding raw andbroken beneath the steady pounding of thestorm. I surrender! Punish me, I dont care.Anything. Just tell me what to do! Hepaused and held his breath, listening andwatching for some sign that the Guardianswere prepared to bargain. He could feel

tears running down his face, a little warmerthan the raindrops. Please, he whispered.Save her.

There was no response, nothing but thesounds of the river and the rain. If theGuardian could hear him, she clearly didntcare.

Meredith smoothed her hand across Elenasforehead. It was cold and clammy, and therewere dark circles beneath Elenas eyes,startling against her pale skin. Meredithcouldnt pull her eyes away from Elenassleeping face, hoping against hope thatsomething would happen, that she wouldsuddenly crinkle her face in the half-annoyed

way she always did in the mornings.Stiffening, Meredith stared. Had there

been a flicker of motion beneath Elenasclosed eyelids?

Elena? Meredith said, keeping her voicesoft and calm. Can you hear me?

There was no response. Of course therewasnt. Theyd been trying for days, firstDamon in Paris and then, once hed gottenElena home, Meredith had tried to wake herevery way she could think of.

In all that time, nothing had changed. Elenahad lain as still and passive as a mannequin,with only a shallow, steady breathing toshow that she still lived.

Damon had said that, before she fell intothis coma, Elena had been in terrible pain.Meredith was glad she had missed that, glad

that Elena wasnt suffering now. But thisthis silent, pale creatureterrified Meredith.It couldnt be Elena. Not clever, quick Elenawho had survived so much, who had beencloser than a sister to Meredith since theywere kids.

Meredith rose from her chair next to thebig white bed, unable to bring herself to lookat Elena anymore. Instead, she moved aroundthe bedroom, efficiently tidying: books offthe nightstand and back onto the shelves,shoes neatly straightened on the closet floor.She kept her eyes fixed on what she wasdoing. She was not going to think about thestill figure in the bed.

Merediths teeth gave a hollow throb, andshe rubbed absently at her gums with onefinger. She would need to slip out to the

woods soon to feed, but she couldnt leaveElena alone.

Alone. Their ranks were dwindling. Stefanwas dead. Elena was dying. Alaric, Bonnie,and Matt were all still on their way: Bonniefrom her new home, Alaric from anacademic conference, Matt from visiting hisgirlfriend, Jasmines, parents. Who knewwhere Damon was? He had disappearedhours ago.

Meredith picked up a thin, silver-patterned scarf and folded it neatly. Elenahad been wearing this the last time Meredithhad seen her. I finally know, shed toldMeredith, her face so full of joy it hurt toremember. Stefan wants me to live. Hewants me to be happy. I can love Damonnow its okay.

Meredith blinked hard, pushing her tearsaway. Elena had been wrong. Everythingwas far from okay.

Clutching the scarf, Meredith jerked opena drawer. As she was about to stuff it inside,her hands faltered at the sight of the maroonbook inside. Who would have guessed thatpoised, grown-up Elena Gilbert kept a highschool yearbook in the nightstand next to herbed?

Gingerly, she pulled the book out of thedrawer and flipped through its pages. Junioryear. Their last real yearbook, the one beforeeverything changed. There had been twoyearbooks for senior year. The first, the onefrom the senior year Meredith remembered,had a memorial page for Elena Gilbert andSue Carson. The other, for the changed

world the Guardians had created, showednothing but teams, classes, and clubs. Neitherfelt true now. But there was only one versionof their junior year.

Her own face, years younger, smiled upfrom a picture of Homecoming Court. Elenahad been class Princess, of course. Juniordance committee. She, Elena, and Bonniehad quit debate team after about a month, butthey were in the picture, grinning like goons.An action shot of Matt on the football field,his face set as he powered past a tackle. Itall seemed so normal.

She turned to the back, and her ownhandwriting stood out at her.

Elena,What can I say? My best friend and

sister, youre always there for me. But Illremember the picnics up at Hot Springs,driving to the fraternity party at UVA, Mattand the guys crashing your birthdaysleepover. All the times getting ready for adance togetheryou, me, Bonnie, andCarolinewas even better than the danceitself.

Have a super-fabu time in Paris thissummer, you lucky girl, and remember this!Only one more year till FREEDOM!!!

XOXOMeredith

Such an ordinary yearbook message,between two ordinary girls. Before Elenasparents had died. Before the Salvatorebrothers had come to Fells Church, and

nothing had ever been ordinary again. Elenaand Meredith hadnt gotten that freedom themessage promised, the freedom to grow upand be normal, to determine their owndestinies. Neither had Bonnie nor Matt, norhad the people theyd fallen in love with asthey got older.

Instead, theyd all been dragged under bythe supernatural: vampires and werewolves,demons and Guardians. The responsibilitiesof saving everyone, of standing guardbetween everyday life and the darknessoutside had pulled them all in, held themhostage.

Elena most of all, Meredith thought, andsnuck a look back at the bed. Elenas chestmoved almost imperceptibly as she breathed,her rattling, slow breaths loud in the quiet

room. Elena had never really had a chance,not once shed fallen for Stefan Salvatore.

The bedroom door creaked open, andDamon came in, silent and graceful. Helooked to the bed first, a quick, worriedglance, and then leaned against the doorjambas if he was suddenly too tired to stand. Hiseyes, red-rimmed, met Merediths, and shewondered if hed been crying. Damon mightrage or let himself be consumed withbitterness, but he never cried.

But maybe now, at the end of everything,he did.

Matt parked crookedly, one wheel up on thecurb, and bolted out of the car, slamming thedoor behind him. I knew this would happen

someday, he gritted out, teeth clenched, ashe stormed down the sidewalk towardElenas apartment building. I knew Stefanand Damon would get her killed.

Jasmine followed more slowly, hergolden-brown eyes serious. Dont say that,she told him, laying a hand on his arm as theywaited for the elevator. Elenas not dead.We cant give up on her.

Matt bit his lip and stayed silent for theelevator ride up to Elenas apartment. Thehall was quiet, and he hesitated a momentbefore knocking heavily on the apartmentdoor.

Take the worst possible thing you canimagine, he muttered, his voice hoarse withrage, and thats it, thats the truth. Always.Beside him, Jasmine sucked in a breath and

raised a hand to touch him again, just as thedoor swung open.

Damon was in the doorway, his pale facepinched, his dark hair messy. He lookedmore human than Matt had ever seen him.Before anyone could speak, Matt balled uphis fist and punched Damon in the face ashard as he could.

Damons head rocked back slightly and heblinked in surprise, a red mark on his whitecheek.

Didnt think you had it in you, he saidwith a thin, joyless smile. He touched hischeek lightly, and then let his hand drop, thesmile disappearing. I probably deservedthat.

Yeah, I figured, Matt said, shoulderingpast him into the apartment.

He stopped in the doorway of Elenasbedroom. His heart sank at the sight of her.

When he was little, there had been anamusement park up on Route 40 that had afairytale theme to it. Matts dad used to takehim up there on Saturdays sometimes. Hehadnt thought of it for years. But now itcame rushing back. Silent and still, Elenareminded him of the Sleeping Beauty in theHall of Fairies. The blonde princess, laid outlike a sacrifice, not even a hint of movement.Pale and pretty and never changing.

Matt had always thought shed lookeddead.

Jasmine moved past him into the bedroomand felt Elenas throat for a pulse, then liftedone eyelid to look at her pupils. She bit herlip and looked back toward Matt. He could

read the regret in her face.The doctors in Paris were baffled,

Damon said from behind him. Theyd neverseen anything like this. I tried the hospitalthere before booking a plane home, just incase. But it was useless.

Yeah, that makes sense, Matt said. Hismouth felt too dry, and his words soundedthick to his own ears. The Guardianswouldnt mess around with any kind ofhuman illness. If they gave this to her, theyrethe only ones who can fix it. We just need tomake them do it.

Even as he said it, a cold rush ofhopelessness spread through him. What didthey have to offer the Guardians? What couldpossibly entice those clear-eyed,emotionless judges to give back Elena?

Well, how did you get the Guardians tocome when Elena made the original bargainwith them? Meredith asked. Maybe we canconvince them Her voice trailed off, asshe clearly tried and failed to imagine theGuardians of the Celestial Court beingmoved by anything they had to say. They hadonly listened to Elena because she was

valuable to them.Damon gritted his teeth and tried to keep

his temper. They were wasting time, he wassure of it. The Celestial Guardians had nointerest in helping them.

The little Guardian, Andrs, went into atrance and told them Elena was ready to killme, he said flatly. That brought Mylea fastenough. Unfortunately, weve got a shortageof Earthly Guardians around here now.

They saved you. Funny, isnt it, howeveryone dies except you, Damon? Mattsaid, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.Andrs. Stefan. And now His wordsbroke off, and his mouth closed in a thin,miserable line.

A hot ball of hate burned in Damonschest, and he momentarily imagined breaking

Matts neck. He could easily envision theshocked expression in the boys blue eyes,the crisp snap of his spine. Then hisshoulders slumped as he let the anger drainout of him. He deserved Matts scorn.Everything Matt had said was true. The thingDamon was best at was survival, and nowhed outlived everyonealmostwhodever managed, despite everything, to lovehim. If Elena died, there would be no one.

He didnt want to think about it.As footsteps approached the apartment

door, he straightened, then rose from his seat.He thought he recognized the quick, lightsteps pattering down the hall, and the steady,heavier tread that followed. The dooropened, and Bonnie burst in.

We got here as fast as we could, she

said rapidly. The airport was a zoo, andthen the traffic coming down from Richmondwas She broke off. Oh, Meredith. Sheflung herself across the room and into thetaller girls arms.

They clung to each other for a minute,Bonnies face buried in Merediths shoulder,and then she raised her head and held it high,sticking out her chin bravely. So, Im gonefor a couple of weeks and everything fallsapart? she said. Tears glimmered in hereyes, but her tone was casual, even joking.

Good girl. Damon knew the little redbirdwould stay brave, even though she was asscared as they all were.

Zander was leaning in the doorway,watching them all patiently. His longishwhite-blond hair fell over his forehead, and

his eyes were solemn.Letting go of Meredith, Bonnie took a

deep breath. So, what can I do?Well, Meredith said, we think youre

probably our best chance of getting in touchwith Mylea or the other Celestial Guardians.If you can go into a trance and reach them,maybe we can convince them to save Elena.

Bonnie grimaced. Ive been trying, shesaid. Ever since you called me. But nothing. If they can hear me, theyre notresponding.

Its not going to work, Damon said,unable to stop himself. Why would theGuardians listen to them? If they were lettingthis happen to Elena, the Guardians hadwritten her and her Powers off. Theyd neverhad the slightest interest in the rest of them,

other than planning to kill Damon himself.You have a better idea? Matt sneered.Try to contact Elena instead, Damon

said quickly, the idea coming to him as hespoke. You did it when Klaus had her, andwe didnt have anything, not even a bodythen. Now weve still got Elena, shes just We cant reach her. His chest feltuncomfortably tight as he finished thesentence.

Whatever Bonnie heard in his voice, herface softened. Ill try, she said and madeher way to where Elena laid.

The way Elenas hands were foldedacross her chest was too much like a corpse,and Damon grimaced.

Oh, Elena, Bonnie said, her brown eyesshining with tears. Standing at the bedside,

she touched Elenas forehead gently, just fora moment.

The others trailed in after her. Jasmine andMatt stood on the other side of the bed, Mattonly glancing at Elena briefly before fixinghis gaze on the wall. Jasmine took his handand squeezed it hard. Zander leaned againstthe wall, holding a bag of Bonnies supplies,while Meredith hovered at the foot of thebed, her fingers twisting nervously. Damonstood in the doorway.

Bonnie took Elenas limp hands in hersand shut her eyes, her forehead crinkling inconcentration. Then she opened her eyesagain and shook her head, letting go of Elena.Im going to need to focus, she said. Canyou guys wait outside?

Damon stepped farther into the room,

crossing his arms across his chest. Imstaying.

Bonnie sighed. Is it any use arguing withyou about this? she asked. When Damonstayed silent, she gave him a rueful halfsmile. Then I wont bother. But everybodyelse out. I need quiet.

Matt looked like he wanted to object, buthe filed out with the others. As Zander left,he handed the bag he was holding to Bonnie,brushing his fingers against hers as he passedit over.

Okay, Bonnie said, businesslike, whenthe others were all gone and the door wasclosed behind them. If you want to stay, youhave to help. She handed him the bag. Pullout the purple and blue candles, and put themon the nightstand near her head. Theyre

good for deep healing. I dont know if theyllhelp, but they cant hurt.

Damon followed her directions. He kepthis eyes fixed on the candles as he arrangedand lit them.

Once the candles were in place, Bonnietook out a bronze bowl and set it on thepadded bench at the foot of Elenas bed.Pulling out an assortment of little bags, shestarted adding pinches of dried herbs to thebowl. Anise for dreams, she told Damonabsently, and tipped in some limp dry flowerpetals. Chrysanthemum petals for healingand protection. Mugwort, thats for psychicpowers and traveling. I just have to reachher. She added a splash of oil from a smallbottle, then pulled out a silver lighter and,with a flick of her finger, set fire to the small

pile of herbs in the bowl. They smolderedslowly, a trickle of black smoke rising uptoward the ceiling.

Since when do you need anything to lighta flame, redbird? Damon asked, and Bonnietilted her chin in acknowledgment of hispoint.

I figure I should save my energy, shesaid, and dug a thin silver dagger out of thebag. Cut me a piece of Elenas hair,please.

Damon hesitated before moving back tothe head of the bed. Elenas mouth wasrelaxed, a tiny bit open, and her thick goldenlashes brushed her cheekbones. Thin, bluishcapillaries ran across her eyelids, and herbrow was smooth, untroubled. She lookedlike a doll or an empty image. As if there

were no Elena left in there at all.Her hair slid silkily across his fingers as

he lifted a lock, and he could smell the citrusscent of her shampoo. Cutting through thehair, he winced as he accidentally pulled ittight, but Elena didnt react.

Okay, Bonnie said, taking the lock ofhair from him and dropping it into the bowl.The sickening smell of burning hair filled theroom. Now, cut her arm.

Damons gaze shot up to meet hers.Bonnie looked at him squarely, her mouthset. We need her blood, she said.

Of course. It always has to be blood. Ifanyone ought to know that, it was a vampire.Blood and hair, intimate and primal, wouldlead Bonnie to Elena if anything would. Helifted Elenas arm, and Bonnie slid the bowl

beneath it as Damon used the silver knife tomake a thin, shallow scratch on the undersideof Elenas forearm. He half hoped for atwitch of pain as he cut, but again, Elenadidnt react. A few drops of blood drippedinto the bowl before Bonnie pulled it away.There was a soft, sizzling noise.

Damon could smell the richness of Elenasblood, and his canines ached and sharpenedin response, but he barely noticed. Taking atissue from the box by the bed, he pressed itagainst the spreading red line on Elenas armfor a few moments until the bleeding hadstopped.

Now what? he began to say, but hisvoice died as he turned back to Bonnie. Asensation of Power rose and filled the room,making Damons skin tingle. Bonnie had

already slipped into a trance, her eyes wideand blank. Her pupils dilated as she stareddown into the flames in the brass bowl.

Her hands rested lightly on the end ofElenas bed. Her breathing slowed anddeepened. As Damon watched, Bonnieseyes flickered, tracking something that onlyshe could see.

Crossing the room, Damon let himselflounge against the windowsill, gazing out.Bonnie could be in a trance for a very longtime. Outside the window, it was still pitch-black, although it must be the early hours ofthe morning by now. He unloosed aquestioning tendril of his own Power,searching into the darkness.

There wasnt much out there. The sharp,predatory mind of an owl swooping silently

through the sky. A wily fox slipped throughthe bushes near the apartment building.Farther away, he could sense the quietconsciousness of the humans asleep throughthe town.

Behind him, Bonnies mind was questing,gently but determined. He could feel theothers, too, each ones mind churningrestlessly as they waited outside thebedroom.

But, even though she was right behind him,lying in that white-draped bed, he could feelnothing of Elena. Damon felt as if somethinginside him had been ripped apart. His Elena,just one last breath away from leaving himforever.

And then he thought he saw one slendergolden eyebrow twitch, just a millimeter.

Bonnie, he said, his throat constricting.But the little witch, deep in her trance, didnthear him. He came closer to the bed again,close enough that he could feel the heat of thecandles burning all around Elena.

Nothing. She could have been a statue. Hesent his Power out desperately, but there wasno glimmer of consciousness from her.

He must have imagined it.Damon crouched down and brought his

face closer to Elenas, watching hercarefully. Time passed and he stayed still,his gaze intent on Elenas face. He was apredator; he could keep his mind clear andhis eyes sharp for hours. But there wasnothing.

He couldnt leave here, not while therewas still that cruel drop of hope. But if Elena

died, then it would be time to take off thering that had let him walk in sunlight all theseyears. He could step into the sun and let go atlast.

His jaw tightened. He wasnt going to giveup yet. After all, Elena had survived so muchbefore this.

Dawn was breaking, sending long swathesof pink and gold across the sky, by the timeBonnie finally stirred. She blinked at Damon,seemingly confused. There were darkshadows under her eyes, and her usuallycreamy skin looked pale and wan.

Oh, she said, her voice small. Oh,Damon. She pressed one slim hand againsther mouth, as if holding back her own words.

Damon straightened, feeling as if he werestepping in front of the firing line. Maybe,

just maybe, he was wrong. The tiny spark ofhope in his chest flickered and began to burnagain. Well? he asked.

Bonnies eyes reddened, then overflowed,tears tracking down her cheeks. I dontknow, she said, shaking her head. I canteven begin to tell whats wrong. I couldntreach her. It was likelike shes alreadygone.

Damon jerked backward, and Bonniereached out a trembling hand toward him. Ithink, she sobbed, I think it might be timeto start saying good-bye. Whatever theCelestial Guardians did to her, I dont thinkElenas coming back.

No. Damon heard his own voice, sharpas a whipcrack, and he strode forward,straight past Bonnie, and flung open the

bedroom door. The others were out there, allof them, but he ignored their babble ofquestions as he shouldered past them. He hada brief impression of Merediths face,anxious and strained, before he left theapartment.

He didnt know where he was going. Butthere had to be something Damon could do,somewhere he could go to help Elena. Hedlost everyone. Everyone hed ever trulycared for was dead. He wasnt going to saygood-bye to Elenanot now, not ever. Hewasnt going to lose her.

I love you, Damon, Elena whispered.He couldnt hear her. None of them could

hear her. Most of the time she couldnt hearthem, either, just enough to get the fleetingimpression of tears and whispers andarguments. She couldnt understand morethan a word or two, sometimes just enough torecognize a voice.

She thought shed heard Damon. But shehad to admit there was the possibility shedimagined it, that she was imagining all thefamiliar distant voices, just to keep herselfcompany.

She was dying. She must be. There hadbeen that terrible pain, Mylea had appeared,and then Elena had found herself in this placeof emptiness.

Elena had hoped for a while that she mightfind Stefan. Shed seen his ghost, she knewhis consciousness still lingered somewhere,but the place she was in now didnt feel likeany kind of spectral realm. Shed given uplooking for Stefan when it became clear thatthere was no one here except Elena.

A soft gray light shone all around her, justenough to illuminate what seemed like a fog.

It felt like a fog, too. She was surrounded bya damp chill.

Shed walked for miles, but nothingchanged. She might not have believed shewas moving at all, except for the ache in herfeet. When she stopped and stood still, thefog was just the same.

Elena clenched her fists and glared intothe gray nothingness. She wasnt going to letthis happen. She wasnt going to lie downand die, just because the Celestial Guardianswanted her to.

Hey! she shouted. Hey! Im still here!Her words sounded muffled to her own ears,as if she was wrapped in a thick layer ofcotton. Let me out! she shouted, trying toget louder, fiercer. Somebody had to be incharge here, and she would get their attention

and make them let her go.Elenas stomach jolted nervously. What if

no one ever responded? She couldnt stayhere forever. The moment she thought this,finally, something changed. The fog drewback, and a sunlit road appeared.

Elena recognized the street. If she ignoredthe banks of gray nothingness on either side,it was the road that led to the house she hadgrown up in, back in Fells Church. Sherecognized a long crack in the asphalt, theshort grass growing at the edge of the road.But she hadnt lived there for years, not sincethat final year of high school. Stefan hadbought it for her before he died, but she hadbeen able to bring herself to visit only once.

Elena had a sudden, almost physicallonging to walk down the path, to feel the

sunlight on her shoulders, smell the summerscent of just-cut grass. As she watched, thesunshine intensified at the far end of the road,glowing so brightly Elena had to squint.

It was pulling her toward it, a steady,warm tug somewhere in the middle of herchest. There was peace down that road, sheknew.

No. She stepped back, away from theroad. They werent going to trap her soeasily.

Walk into the light? she shouted,suddenly furious. Youve got to bekidding!

The longing only increased. At the end ofthat road, she was sure, was almosteverything she had ever wanted. Stefan, aliveagain, his leaf-green eyes shining with

excitement at seeing her. Her parents, just asyoung and happy as theyd been when theydied. Elena could almost see theirwelcoming faces, and it made her ache withlove and loneliness.

Unwillingly, she raised a foot, ready tostep forward, and then forced herself still.

No, she said, her voice cracking. Sheswallowed hard and steadied it, then spokeagain more firmly. No. I refuse. I am ElenaGilbert, and I am a Guardian. I still have apart to play in the living world. Send meback.

The road stretched farther in front of her,sunlit and tempting. Grinding her teeth, Elenaswung around and turned her back on it.

When she turned, she could see the sameformless fog. But now there was a dark

shape moving through it. A person, Elenarealized. Her heart began to pound harder,and her mouth went dry. Was it someonecoming in response to her call? For apanicky moment, she imagined a GrimReaper, silent in black, come to collect her.

But no. As the figure came closer, Elenawas able to make out that it was Mylea, theCelestial Guardian who had been overseeingElenas life for years. When she finallyhalted in front of Elena, Mylea looked asserene and unruffled as ever, her golden hairpulled back into a bun, her ice-blue gazelevel and cool.

Elena, you made a bargain, she saidfirmly. Damon killed a human, and so youhave to die. You agreed to this, years ago.

Thats not fair, Elena said, scowling.

She sounded like a child, she realized, andshe made an effort to temper her voice sothat she sounded more reasonable. Damonwas working under the assumption that JackDaltry was a vampire, and so he could bekilled without breaking our agreement. Jackwas a vampire. He drank blood, and he hadall the strengths of a vampire. He was amonster.

Mylea sighed. As Ive already explainedto you, the fact that Jack Daltry chose to usehis scientific gifts to mutilate himself did notmake him less human. Her face softened,just a fraction. He might have been amonster, but he was a human one.

But we didnt know that, Elena told her,exasperated.

You knew that he had never died, that he

had never gone through the transformationsevery vampire suffers through. You knewthat he and his creations did not have theflaws that weaken true vampires. Myleaspread her hands. If anyone should havebeen able to recognize a true vampire, itwould be you and Damon Salvatore.

Jack was dangerous, Elena snapped.The Guardians ought to be thanking us. Imsupposed to protect people.

Mylea shrugged, a graceful tilt of hershoulders. You were warned that he wasnot your concern.

It was true; the Guardians had warned her.But in such a roundabout way that shed hadno idea of the possible consequences ofhunting Jack. Fear ran through Elena, and sheswallowed hard. This was real. She hadnt

quite believed that the Guardians would killher, but it was true. They would let her die.

Please, she said impulsively, reachingout for Myleas arm. There must besomething I can do. Isnt there any way tochange this? Ive served the Guardians for along time.

Myleas expression remained asemotionless as ever, but Elena thought shesaw a flash of sympathy deep in her eyes.

There must be something, Elena saiddesperately.

Mylea frowned, a tiny crease appearingbetween her slim eyebrows. There is oneway you can change your future, sheadmitted.

Please, Elena begged again. Anything.If you can go back and change the course

of things, prove that you and the Salvatorebrothers can live without destroying oneanother or other people, you can have yourlife back. Mylea tilted her head a little,watching Elena closely. Obviously, shethought that she had made herself clear.

What do you mean? Elena asked,startled. Destroying one another? Theyloved one another.

Mylea shook her head. You and theSalvatore brothers have been in a dangerouscycle for years. You were the one whobrought them back together after theyd beenapart for centuries, Elena, and their rivalryover you led to everything thats gone wronghere since then. The destruction of FellsChurch was a direct effect of yourrelationship.

Elena gasped, stricken.Eyes narrowing, Mylea went on. The

vampire Katherines jealousy over bothSalvatore brothers obsession with you ledto the beginnings of death and violence inFells Church. Her death as a result of heractions there led to the vampire Klaussattacks on the town. Damon Salvatores rageover your choosing his brother over himresulted in the kitsune demons gaining afoothold there and destroying Fells Churchat last.

But the Guardians brought Fells Churchback, Elena objected.

And yet the death continued, Mylea toldher. The students at Dalcrest College,Klauss victims, the Guardian Andrsallhad their roots in the damaged love between

the three of you. Everything hasconsequences, Elena.

Elena pressed a hand to her forehead,feeling dizzy and sickened. It wasnt true,was it? She and Damon and Stefan wereresponsible for all the horror that hadsurrounded them. What do you mean goback?

I can send you back to when it all began,Mylea said. Her eyes, a lighter blue thanElenas own, held Elenas gaze. WilliamTanners death was the first time DamonSalvatore had killed in years, and it was thefirst link in the chain of violence. If you canprevent it from happening and keep Damonfrom giving in to the darkness within him,perhaps you can turn the course of events thatwill, in the present timeline, eventually kill

you all.Damon hadnt killed for years? Elena

said slowly. She hadnt known that. Neitherhad Stefan, she was sure of it.

Shed thought her love had saved him.Had saved both Damon and Stefan. TheGuardians twist the truth, she remindedherself, and swallowed hard, pushing awaythe tears that prickled at the back of her eyes.She wanted to argue with Mylea, but insteadshe asked, You can send me back in time?

Mylea nodded briskly. Youll be back inyour old body, in your old life, she said.This is an opportunity to relive those daysand change things. Her eyes seemed tosoften slightly, and she went on, Dont takethis challenge lightly, Elena. What youchange in the past will affect your future.

Once you return, everything will be different.You might not be able to be with either of theSalvatore brothers.

The gray mist seemed to swirl beforeElenas eyes. She could lose Damon, too?But their love was strong, she remindedherself. Even when she had been determinedto only love Stefan, fate had pulled her andDamon together.

Ill do it, she said, trying to feelconfident. She didnt know what she coulddo, not yet, but she would stop Damon fromkilling, somehow fix the hatred between thebrothers before it could blossom intosomething that would affect more than thetwo of them. But how?

Myleas lips quirked up in an almosttender smile. Love is a very powerful

force, she said quietly, and raised one handto press against Elenas forehead. Elena hada moment to feel the cool strength of thatslender hand, and then everything faded toblack.

Dear Diary,I cant believe it.

Here I am in my old home at 5:30 inthe morning, just a few hours beforemy senior year of high school begins.

Again.

I remember this morning vividly, the lastmorning of my life before I met StefanSalvatore. The Elena I was thenthe onewho should be here nowwas so lost. Ididnt feel like I belonged here, or like Ibelonged anywhere. I was searching forsomething that was just out of reach.

My bedroom looks just the way it alwaysdid, warm and cozy. My bay window givesme a view onto the quince tree outside.Down the hall are dear Aunt Judith and mydarling baby sister, Margaret, whos onlyfour and tucked up tight in bed, not half-grown and miles away.

Everything feels as if I might break it,its so fragile. This moment has been gonefor years.

Elena stopped writing and stared at herlast line, shaking her head. Soon, shed seeeveryone, everything, unchanged. Theydbeen so navein a good wayfocused onpopularity and high school romances, andunaware of the darkness that hovered justoutside their pleasant lives. Shed neverappreciated what she had then. This time,shed know to savor those moments ofinnocence.

But she wasnt just here to revisit her past.Tapping her pen against the pages of the

small book with the blue velvet cover, shethought for a moment, and then bent her headand began writing again.

Stefan is alive here. When I think aboutbeing with him, my hands start to shake and

I can hardly breathe. Part of me died withhim, and now Im going to see him again.Whatever happens next, at least Ill havethat.

If Im going to save Damon, stop thedestruction Mylea outlined, I cant be withStefan this time. It hurts. It hurts a lot. Butif I want Damon to listen to me, I have to bewith him, not Stefan. I already know howthings turn out if I pursue Stefan now.

I love them both. So much. I always have.But Ive learned my lesson about trying

to have them both. If I want them both in mylife, things fall apart. They always fallapart, no matter what we do. I have tochoose. And, if I can keep Damon fromkilling Mr. Tanner, maybe I can save us all.

With a click and a buzz, Elenas alarmclock went off. Closing her journal, she gotup. Soon, it would be time to go to school.Would she remember enough about who shehad been then? She worried that somehow,everyone would see that she was the wrongElena, in the wrong time.

A hot bath and some coffee, and Ill calmdown, she thought. She had time.

After a leisurely bath, she took her timegetting dressed. The clothesall thegorgeous new outfits shed gotten in Parislooked outdated to her now, but she still sortof loved them. She remembered what shedworn on this day, the first day of her senioryear. A pale rose top and white linen shorts.She pulled them on again. They made herlook tempting, as sweet and refreshing as a

raspberry sundae, she thought as she lookedcritically into the mirror, pulling back herhair with a deep rose ribbon.

Elena! Youre going to be late forschool! Aunt Judiths voice drifted up frombelow. Glancing in the mirror one last timeher face was a trifle grim, as if she wereheaded into battle, but that couldnt behelpedElena grabbed her backpack andheaded for the stairs.

Downstairs, Aunt Judith was burningsomething on the stove, and Margaret waseating cereal at the kitchen table. The sight ofthem stopped Elena in her tracks for asecond. Shed forgotten how little Margaretwas then. And Aunt Judith had still beenwearing her flyaway hair long.

Elena pushed herself back into motion and

kissed Aunt Judith quickly on the cheek.Good morning, she said lightly. Sorry, Idont have time for breakfast.

But, Elena, you cant just go off withouteating. You need your protein

It was all coming back to her. She felt likean actress, mouthing familiar lines shed saida hundred times before. Ill get a doughnutbefore school, she said, dropping a kiss onthe top of Margarets silky head and turningto go.

But, ElenaDont worry, Aunt Judith, Elena said

cheerfully. Itll all be fine. At the frontdoor, she spun to take one last quick look atthem. Margaret, still half-asleep, licked herspoon. Aunt Judith, her eyes full of love,gave Elena a small, worried smile.

Elenas heart ached a little. Part of herwanted to go back, forget school and thefuture, and sit down at the table with them.So much had happened since this moment,and shed never believed she would be backhere like this again. But she couldnt stay.Margaret wiggled her fingers in a wave, andElena, spurring herself into movement,winked at the little girl as she went throughthe door.

Elena, Aunt Judith said. I really think

She closed the door behind her, cutting offAunt Judiths protests, and stepped out ontothe front porch.

And stopped.The world outside was silent, the street

deserted. The tall, pretty Victorian houses

seemed to loom above her. Overhead, thesky was milky and opaque, and the air feltoppressively heavy.

It was as if the whole street were holdingits breath, waiting for something to happen.

Out of the corner of her eye, Elena sawsomething move. Something was watchingher.

She turned and caught sight of a huge blackcrow, the biggest crow she had ever seen,sitting in the quince tree in her front yard. Itwas completely still, and its glittering blackeyes were fixed on her with an intent, almosthuman gaze.

Elena bit back a laugh and turned away,letting her eyes slide over the crow as if shehadnt noticed it.

Damon. She had almost forgotten that this

was the first time shed seen him, that hedwatched herfrightened heras a crow thisfirst morning. There was a glad little bubbleof joy rising in her chest, but she suppressedthe urge to call out to him. It wasnt the time,not yet.

Instead, she took a deep breath, hopped offthe porch, and strode confidently down thestreet. Behind her, she heard a harsh croakand the flapping of wings, and she smiled toherself. Damon couldnt stand being ignored.She didnt turn back around.

It was only a few blocks to the highschool, and Elena spent the walkreminiscing. There was the coffee shop sheand Matt had gone to on their first date junioryear; there was the little health food shopwhere Aunt Judith had insisted on buying her

special organic cereal. There was the houseof the terrible Kline twins, who Elena hadbabysat during her sophomore year ofschool.

In her real life, it hadnt been that longsince Elena had been to Fells Church, butthings had changed since she was in highschool. Stores had closed and opened,houses were remodeled. This was the way ithad been when shed lived here, the way itwas supposed to be.

At the school, a crowd of her friends hadgathered in the parking lot, chattering andshowing off their new clothes. It waseveryone who mattered, plus four or fivegirls who had hung around them in the hopesof gathering some scraps of popularity.

Elena winced. Everyone who mattered.

The nasty thought had slotted right into hermind. The Elena who belonged here hadthought that.

One by one, her best friends hugged her inwelcome. They looked so young, Elenathought, her heart aching. They all thoughtthey were so sophisticated, but theirseventeen- and eighteen-year-old faces stillhad childish curves, and their eyes werewide with thinly veiled excitement at the firstday of their senior year.

Caroline, her green eyes narrow, laid onecool cheek against Elenas for a second andthen stepped back. Welcome home, Elena,she said dryly. It must feel like thebackwoods for you after Paris.

Her expression was stiff and resentful, andElena wondered at how she had managed to

not notice then how much the other girl hatedher.

Elena shrugged and laughed a little,feeling awkward. Paris was nice, buttheres no place like home.

For a moment, she tried to focus in onCaroline, to read her aura, but it washopeless. Elena wasnt a Guardian here, andso she didnt have those powers anymore. Itwas a strange, helpless feeling to lose them.

Then Bonnie flung her arms around Elena,her red curls tickling the taller girls chin,and Elena relaxed.

Do you like my hair? I think it makes melook taller. Bonnie fluffed up her bangs andsmiled.

Gorgeous, Elena said, laughing. Butmaybe not tall.

Once Bonnie let go, Meredith movedforward for a warm hug. Raising one eleganteyebrow, she considered Elena. Well, yourhair is two shades lighter from the sun butwheres your tan? I thought you were livingit up on the French Riviera.

Wait. Elena remembered this. She liftedher own pale hands and said, You know Inever tan.

Just a minute, that reminds me! Bonniegrabbed one of Elenas hands. Guess what Ilearned from my cousin this summer? Palmreading!

There were a few groans, and someonelaughed. Elenas breath rushed out of her. Ofcourse; she had almost forgotten. This wasthe first time Bonnie had shown her Power.Shed seen the future in Elenas palm.

Slowly, Elena flattened out her hand,opening it to Bonnies gaze.

Laugh while you can, Bonnie saidserenely, peering into Elenas palm. Mycousin told me Im psychic.

There was something Elena had said then,the first time this happened, but she couldntremember exactly what. It didnt matteranyway. What had mattered here was whatBonnie had seen in her hand: Stefan.

Okay, Bonnie said, frowning as shetraced the lines on Elenas palm with onefinger. Now, this is your life lineor is ityour heart line? In the crowd around them,someone snickered. Quiet. Im reaching intothe void. I see I see Bonnie frowned.I dont get this. It says you have two loves,Elena.

Elenas chest tightened. This wasnt right.Bonnie touched one end of the line running

across the center of Elenas palm. The lineforked there, splitting into two lineswrapping around the side of Elenas hand.See? Your heart line divides into two.

Greedy, Caroline said, not quitejokingly.

Elena blinked, bewildered. Bonnie shouldhave started talking about Stefan. She wassupposed to say he was dark and handsome,and he had been tall once. But insteadBonnie must be seeing something of what hadhappened in the time after this, the truths ofElena herself, the one who didnt belonghere.

I can see the two loves, Bonnie went on.But theres something else here. Her

eyes widened, and, with a quick, suddenmovement, she dropped Elenas hand as if ithad burned her.

Whats wrong? Elena asked, suddenlyfrightened. She reached out to her, butBonnie backed away, tucking her own handsbehind her back.

Its nothing, she said. Palm readingssilly anyway.

Elena was having trouble catching herbreath. Bonnies Power was incrediblystrong, although in this time she didnt knowhow to use it. If there was something inElenas future that frightened Bonnie thisbadly, then Elena should be frightened, too.Bonnie? Elena asked anxiously, reachingtoward her again. Tell me.

There was something panicked in the

smaller girls face, and she shook her head.I dont want to talk about it anymore. Its adumb game.

Unsure of what to do, Elena wavered. Shecouldnt make Bonnie tell her anything. Butif what Bonnie saw in her palm had changed,maybe it was a clue to how her plan wasgoing to work, how things would turn outdifferently. It might be important.

But maybe it was just showing all theawful things that had already happened toElena after this momentthe future thathadnt yet appeared for Elena of the past.The future she was going to change.

Elena swallowed hard. That was it, itmust be, she reassured herself. Bonnie wasseeing things she didnt understand,frightening things. But it wasnt Elenas

future, not now.We should head into class, Meredith

said, sounding slightly irritated as sheglanced at her watch.

They were turning toward the schoolbuilding when the roar of a finely tunedmotor stopped them in their tracks. Thegroup of girls swung around to look.

Well, now, Caroline said, her greeneyes speculative. Quite a car.

Quite a Porsche, Meredith correcteddryly.

Elena didnt look; she kept her gaze firmlyfixed on the brick faade of the school. Butshe could hear it, the purring of the sleekblack Porsches engine as its driver searchedfor a spot, and her heart pounded wildly inher chest.

A new student had arrived, one shed beenwaiting for despite herself.

Stefan.

Elenas heart clenched. She had to look.She couldnt help herself.

Talking to Stefan, touching Stefan, wasntan option. But she was going to take thischance to at least see him, a chance she hadthought would never come again.

The purr of the engine died, and she heardthe car door open before she glanced up.

Oh my God, Caroline whispered.You can say that again, breathed

Bonnie.Oh, Stefan.He was alive. He was here. He looked

just as he had that last night theyd beentogether. Elena wanted to run to him andwrap herself around his lean body, run herfingers through his wavy dark hair, kiss thesad curve of his mouth. Sunglasses shieldedhis face like a mask, but Elena knew Stefanwell enough to see through the protectionthey provided. She could sense the miserythat had driven him to enroll in school, hadmade him try to act like a teenage boy so thathe could have some brief human contact.

Everything in her pulled toward him. Butif she ran to him, everything would lead

straight to where she had come from. Stefandead, Elena dying, Damon broken.

Elena bit her lip so hard she tasted blood,and stayed where she was.

Who is that masked man? Meredithasked, and everyone giggled.

Do you see that jacket? one of thehangers-on asked. Thats Italian, as inRoma.

How would you know? Youve neverbeen farther than Rome, New York, in yourlife! her friend answered.

Stefan was heading toward the school, afew rows of cars between him and the groupof girls. The rhythm of his steps hitched andpaused for just a moment. Elena felt a jolt.He had caught sight of her, she knew. Therewas a moment when he just stared from

behind his sunglasses, his gaze burning intoElena. What was he seeing, she wondered?Her uncanny resemblance to Katherine,certainly, but Elena couldnt help hopingthere was more to it than that. Even thisearly, could Stefan sense something more inher than the looks of his lost love?

After a moment, Stefan began to walkagain, continuing smoothly on. Elena staredafter him, feeling raw and exposed.

Uh-oh, another hanger-on said, a touchof envy in her voice. Elenas got that lookagain. The hunting look.

New Boy had better be careful.Elena pulled herself together and slapped

on an expression of disdain. Tossing herhead, she began to walk toward the school.Hardly, she said. Ive got big plans for

this year. And they dont include somerandom boy, no matter how nice his car is.

The other girls crowded behind her in aclose-knit pack.

What kind of plans?Surely you can fit in Mr. Cute-Dark-and-

Mysterious.Without replying, Elena led them through

the front door of the school. A long corridorstretched before them, and Stefans leanfigure was disappearing through the officedoorway just ahead. Some of the other girlswere already drifting toward the officewindow, eagerly craning their necks. Nicerear view, someone said, giggling. Carolinewas with them, but she wasnt lookingthrough the window at Stefan. Instead, shewas watching Elena speculatively.

Deliberately, Elena avoided her gaze. Doyou have my schedule? she asked Meredith.

Sure, Meredith said after a pause,handing it to her. Elena remembered that herfriend had picked it up for her when Elenahad skipped orientation. Weve got trig onthe second floor in five minutes.

A few of the girls who had been watchingStefan had turned away from the windowsnow, discouraged by Elenas lack of interest.Good, Elena thought. She couldnt have him,she knew, but somehow she didnt wantanyone else going after him.

Lets go, she said to Meredith.Meredith and Bonnie exchanged a look,

and Meredith followed Elena upstairs. Justas they reached the classroom, Meredith laida cool hand on Elenas arm, stopping her.

Did something happen in France? sheasked quietly.

Elena frowned. What do you mean?Nothing, Meredith said slowly, her calm

gray eyes scanning over Elena. You justseem different, thats all. Distracted.

A semi-hysterical giggle rose up inElenas chestWell, you see, Meredith,Ive been sent back from the future to stopone of the vampires Im in love with fromkilling someone, or Ill dieand she chokedit back and smiled at Meredith instead. Imfine.

All through trig, Elena shut out theteachers droning voice, taking the textbookthat was handed to her without glancing at it.She knew for a fact that she was never againgoing to use trigonometry. Tapping her

fingers idly against her desk, she tried toplan instead.

She needed to meet Damon. But how? Thefirst time theyd met, it had been partlybecause she looked like Katherine, butmostly because she was with Stefan, and theDamon shed met then would be damned ifhe let his baby brother have her. But shecouldnt wrap herself around Stefan and waitfor Damon to come.

If Damon accepted that he was the one shewanted, if she could get him to love her nowthe way he would in the future, she couldkeep him from killing anyone. He wouldntbe so angry. He wouldnt be ready to strikeout.

Can anyone tell me what the sine functionis? the teacher asked, breaking in on

Elenas thoughts. Mrs. Halperns eyes sweptover the class, and Elena instinctivelyhunched a little, avoiding the teachers gaze.

Meredith began to answer the question.She was so beautiful, Elena thought, with herolive skin and heavy black lashes. More thanthat, Meredith looked happy. And human.

Shed had troubles in her life at this pointalready, Elena knew. A vampire hadattacked her grandfather, stolen her brother.But this confident high school Meredith wasbarely aware of the horrors in her familyspast. She was already moving on.

Here, in this classroom, Elena could seeexactly how miserable Meredith was in thefuture Elena had come from. Elena hadknown, of course, that Meredith hated beinga vampire. But Elena hadnt seen this

contentment in years.Elena sighed and thoughtfully curled a

long, silky strand of hair around her finger.Could she fix Meredith, too, if she couldkeep Damon from killing Mr. Tanner? Theroad that had led to Meredithstransformation was a long and twisting one,but it had started here. If Meredith was keptclear of the supernatural, if she neversuspected the dangers beginning to descendon Fells Church, maybe she would leave.Go to an Ivy League college as shedplanned, have a successful, human life.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur.Stefan was in none of her early classes, thankGod, although she knew shed see him inhistory that afternoon. She couldnt stopherself from looking for him in the halls. She

didnt see him, but she had a constant,exultant awareness that he was hereandalive.

She tried to make plans, but she wasconstantly distracted. Everyone wantedElenas attention: Boys flirted with her; girlscurried her favor with scraps of gossip. Shehad forgotten what it was like to be the queenof school. Matt was in one of her morningclasses, and she met his smile with quietpanic. She didnt know what to do with Mattyet. Her friend was going to have to get hisheart broken again.

By lunchtime, she was sick of acting likeshe cared about the popularity, and sheslipped down toward the cafeteria alone.Caroline was outside, posed casually againsta wall in a models slouch. The two boys she

was talking to nudged each other as Elenacame toward them.

Elena wanted to just walk on by. Sheremembered this, too, and all the awfulthings Caroline had done later. She hadplotted to destroy Elena, for no reason, out ofjealousy and pure spite.

But Carolines chin was tilted up, and hereyes staring deliberately past Elena, as if theother girl was beneath her notice. Every lineof her body broadcast pure hostility. Herhatred would only increase. If Elena didntdeal with her now, it was bound to be worselater.

Hi, Elena said briefly to the boys. ToCaroline she asked, Want to get lunch?

Caroline barely glanced at Elena as shepushed her glossy auburn hair back. What,

at the royal table? she asked scathingly.Elena suppressed an urge to roll her eyes

and instead forced a smile. Please come,she said gently. I want to hear about yoursummer. I missed you. It was true, sort of.Shed known Caroline since kindergarten;theyd been good friends until this moment.Maybe she could change things here, too.Maybe this was a chance to fix everythingshe regretted.

Elena kept going into the cafeteria, notgiving Caroline a chance to snap back ananswer. Caroline followed but, a few stepsin, her fingers fastened hard on Elenas arm.A lot of things changed while you weregone this summer, Elena, she hissedwarningly. And just maybe your time on thethrone is running out.

Youd make a better queen than I do.Take it, Elena said agreeably, scanning thecrowd as Caroline stood dumfounded. Areyou getting hot lunch? It was a relief to seeMeredith and Bonnie already sitting at theirtable. Caroline, temporarily silenced,followed as Elena got her lunch and went tojoin them.

That new boy is in my biology class,Bonnie announced. I sit right across fromhim. And his name is StefanStefanSalvatoreand hes from Italy. Hesboarding with old Mrs. Flowers on the edgeof town. He picked up your books when youdropped them, didnt he, Caroline? Did hesay anything?

Not much, said Caroline shortly. Shewas still watching Elena from the corner of

her eyes, her forehead slightly creased.There he is, Meredith said, looking

across the lunchroom.Elenas head shot up. There Stefan was,

hesitating at the door of the cafeteria, andthen crossing it with long, smooth strides,heading for the hall that led toward the otherside of the school. He wouldnt eat, ofcourse. He had probably fed on the blood ofa bird or small animal before school.

Stefan glanced toward their table, andElena felt his eyes slide over her asviscerally as if hed touched her. And then hepassed by, his jaw tight. Elena swallowedand looked away.

Caroline was still watching him. She hadthe slightest hint of a smirk on her lovelyface.

Caroline wanted Stefan, Elena knew. Afew days after this, theyd started hanging outduring lunch, had gone to Homecomingtogether. And then Elena and Stefan hadcome together, and hed forgotten Carolinecompletely. No wonder shed hated Elenamore and more.

On an impulse, Elena nudged her. Youshould talk to him, she said.

It was the last thing she wanted, really.But Carolines fury over Elena taking Stefanhad led to so much horror. And if Stefan wasout of the way, in Carolines orbit, it wouldbe easier for Elena to focus on Damon.

Besides, Stefan would never loveCaroline. Hed be perfectly safe with her.

Caroline flicked a glance at Elena. Whosays I want to talk to him? she said cooly.

But a moment later, Caroline was staringat the door Stefan had gone through. Elenatook a long drink of her water. Shed setsomething in motion.

It might be necessary, but that didnt meanshe had to like it.

Aunt Judith wants me home right afterschool today, Elena lied. I have to hear allabout Margarets first day of nursery school,I guess. She was leaning against her locker,Matt looking down at her with his honestblue eyes. They ignored the people streamingpast, all eager to get home now that the firstday was over.

I can give you a ride home at least, Mattsaid, reaching for her hand.

Thats okay, I want to walk, Elena said,gently disentangling her fingers from his.Ive got some thinking to do. And youvegot to get ready for practice, dont you? Shekissed him gently on the cheek, like a sistermight instead of a girlfriend, and walkedaway.

Matt didnt object, but Elena could feelhis puzzled gaze following her all the waydown the hall toward the school doors.

Poor Matt, she thought, sighing. Theydbeen good friends for so long. Junior year,shed hoped that he was the boy for her. Theone who could be more to her than a trophyor an accessory. And he had been in so manywaysbut she hadnt been in love with him,

and she hadnt been able to see then howmuch he loved her.

It had taken Matt a long time to get overher the first time. Maybe that was somethingelse she could fix while she was back here,Elena thought, resisting the urge to turnaround and look at him again. If she handledtheir breakup better

She pushed through the front doors of theschool and set off. Crossing the parking lot,she tilted her face up toward the warmth ofthe late afternoon sun and hesitated for amoment.

Her biggest problem right now was howto approach Damon in the right way. If shewas going to get him to fall in love with herbefore Halloween, she had better get started.

Tucking a stray hair back behind her ear,

Elena turned down the sidewalk towardhome and began to go over her firstmemories of him, ignoring the chatter of theother students leaving school all around her.Hed come to her in the school gymnasiumonce, while she and her friends wereplanning the Haunted House, but that wasafter she knew Stefan. She didnt know ifDamon would have come after her at schoolif not for Stefan. It wasnt really Damonskind of place.

Shed met him at Alarics house at theparty Alaric had thrown looking for evidenceof vampires. But Alaric wasnt here,wouldnt be here if she accomplished hermission, because he had come after Mr.Tanner was murdered.

Shed sat through history class today,

watched as Mr. Tanner mocked Bonnie forher lack of knowledge of history, as Stefancooly put him in his place. She was struck byhow young Mr. Tanner wasabout the sameage as Elena and her friends were in her realpresent. He was inexperienced and desperateto keep the attention and respect of a class ofkids only a few years younger than he was.But despite all that, hed known a lot aboutthe Renaissance and spoken well about it.Maybe in a few years, hed be a goodteacher. If he lived.

With renewed purpose, Elena walkedfaster, thinking hard. Damon had come toBonnies house. But that was when he waslooking for Elena, after shed already gottenhis attention.

A caw came overhead. Elena stopped

short and craned her head back to catch aglimpse of a fat black crow in the maple treeoverhead. It wasnt Damon, she sawimmediately. This bird was plumper,smaller. Probably just a bird, she told herselfas it cawed again and then spread its wingsand flew off, low, past the house behind her.

But the sight prompted the memory of adark shape winging its way up from the oaktrees at the edge of the cemetery, when shehad gone there to visit her parents, beforeshe had known Damon. Hed been keepingan eye on her, hadnt he?

Elena stopped dead. The cemetery.The horrors of her senior year hadnt

begun with Mr. Tanners death onHalloween. Theyd begun todaywhenStefan had fed from an old vagrant sheltering

under Wickery Bridge. And it had happenedbecause Stefan had watched Elena in thecemetery, then been caught by a wave ofangry Power, leaving him dazed andravenous.

Katherines Power, which she hadunleashed after witnessing Stefans interestin Elena, driving Elena out of the churchyard.

The man hadnt died, but his injuries hadbeen the first sign to the people of FellsChurch that danger lurked in their idylliclittle town.

Hesitantly, Elena took a few steps towardhome. If she didnt go to her parents graves,the attack wouldnt happen. The old manwould be fine, the townwide panic wouldntbegin.

And yet Elena stopped again and

rocked back on her heels, thinking.She hadnt been talking to Stefan, hadnt

shown any interest in him this time. Hewouldnt be following her, would he? Andthe graveyard would be a good place to tryto find Damon. That was the most importantthing.

A cloud passed over the sun, and Elenafelt a little colder, a little sadder. It had beena long time since she had visited her parents.Now that she lived a few hours away, shehardly ever made it back to Fells Church.She could see them now, she thoughtlongingly. The cemetery would be isolatedand peaceful after her long day. She could bealone there, and Damon would be morelikely to come to her when she was alone.Making up her mind, Elena hitched her

backpack higher on her shoulders, andheaded toward the cemetery, her stepssounding loud and firm in her own ears.

It was a fairly long walk, almost to theedge of town. Coming close to WickeryBridge, another rusty caw grabbed herattention. Wings spread wide, the huge crowglided to land on the bridges parapet.Turning its head, it fixed one bright eye onElena. It seemed to be waiting.

Elena smiled. Challenge accepted,Damon.

She had expected to be a little shakycrossing Wickery Bridge, the place whereKatherine had pursued her, and Elena haddriven off this bridge and drowned. Shecould still remember the horrible rendingsound as the hood of Matts car had smashed

through the old bridges side. She couldalmost feel how icy-cold the water had beenas she struggled.

But with Damon here, she could be brave.Hello, bird, she said casually. The crow

stayed very still, its shining dark gaze fixedon Elena. She glanced up at the blue sky, andback at the crow. Then, slowly anddeliberately, holding the crows gaze, Elenasmiled, a smile full of secrets. And then shewalked on, straight past him, her head high.The bird watched as she passed.

As she entered the cemetery, Elenas gazefell on the ruined church, and she felt atremor of foreboding deep inside her.Katherine was down there in the darkpassages of the crypts already, watchingthem all.

At the thought of Katherine, Elenas handsautomatically clenched into fists, anxietyrunning through her. Katherine had beenfurious when Stefan and Elena had fallen inlove, and had attacked them both, had goneafter the whole town. It had been thebeginning of everything terrible.

Elenas fingernails bit into her palms.How would Katherine feel when Elena wentafter Damon? Katherine considered both theSalvatores her property, Elena knew, but shehad always thought the vampire girl wasmore possessive of Stefan. Shed evenoffered to let him live, if he left Damon andElena to die. But Elena couldnt let herselfforget that Katherine was a threat, whicheverSalvatore brother Elena pursued.

Crossing past the old church, Elena lifted

her chin defiantly. Shed have to solve theKatherine problem when she got to it.

Reaching the newer, well-kept part of thecemetery, Elena rested a hand on the bigmarble headstone with GILBERT carved intothe front.

Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad, she whispered. Imsorry its been such a long time.

She missed them so much, not as sharplyor painfully as when shed been in highschool the first time, but with a powerfullywistful longing. If her beautiful, artisticmother had lived, she could have guidedElena through those first rocky days of beingan Earthly Guardian. If her funny, warmfather had been there, she could have leanedon him through all the hard times. Theywould have liked Stefan, she thought, and

they would have seen how Damonsstubborn, fiery nature complemented Elenasown.

She wished that she could have gone evenfurther back, that the Guardians had sent herback to Fells Church when she was twelve.She could have saved her parents. She couldhave kept them out of the car that terrible daythat had ended their lives and changed hersand Margarets forever.

With a powerful rush of longing, Elenaremembered her mother laughing as shechased her through the house when Elena hadbeen very small, catching her and sweepingher up into her arms for a hug.

I still miss you, she whispered, brushingher hand across her parents names.

A sudden wind caught her hair, whipping

it across her face. Looking up, Elena saw thetops of the oak trees at the edge of thecemetery tossing violently. Dark clouds weremassing above her, and there was a sharpchill in the air. She shivered.

The sky grew darker still. This wasnt anatural storm, surely. It had been clear andsunny only a moment before.

Damon? He could change the weatherwhen he wanted to. Or Katherine? She wasfar more powerful than Damon right now.

Elena shuddered. If it was Katherine, shemight kill Elena without even thinking aboutit. She remembered how easily Katherinehad torn Damons chest apart with her longtalonlike nails, as her fangs ripped throughhis throat. There had been so much blood.

Elena steeled herself. Running wouldnt

make any difference; she knew that this time.Shed tried that, and Katherine had caught upwith her eventually. Again, she rememberedthe cold of the water under Wickery Bridgeand shivered.

Im not afraid, she said stubbornly.Whatevers out there, Im ready for you.

The wind stopped. Everything grew still,the leaves hanging motionless from the trees.All around Elena was silence, without eventhe chirp of a bird or the sound of a car in thedistance.

Something stirred in the shadows underthe oak trees. Elena squinted, trying to see. Adark figure moved toward her. The dimsunlight caught pale skin and sleek, night-dark hair. Black boots, black jeans, blackshirt, black leather jacket. An arrogant lift to

his chin, as if hed seen everything in theworld and didnt think much of it. Damon.

Thunder crashed overhead and Elena,despite herself, jumped.

Nervous? Damon was smiling faintly,his dark eyes amused. He was so beautiful,she thought absently. That was always true,always had been true. Sculpted cheekbonesand clean, fine features. But there wassomething unfamiliar in that smile. Therewas none of the affection, none of thetenderness she was used to.

Elena reached for the bond between themautomatically, wanting to check on Damonsthoughts and emotions, and to reaffirm theirconstant connection. But there was nothing.The Guardians bond didnt exist here.

Damon moved closer, his eyes fixed on

her face. Theres a storm coming, he said,his voice low and intimate, as if he wastelling her a secret. The thunder grumbledagain. A bad day for a walk.

Elena felt her own smile rise to meet hischallenging one. Im not afraid of a littlerain, she said.

No, I imagine youre not afraid of much.Damon lifted a hand to brush Elenas cheek,tracing a finger lightly down her throat. Hewas far too close, and something twisteduneasily inside Elena.

This was Damon. She had no reason tofear him. Damon loved her.

Only not this Damon. Not yet. ThisDamon was a hunter, and he was looking atElena as if she were prey. Despite herself,she stepped backward.

His eyes narrowed and his smile spread.Elena jutted her chin out stubbornly. She wasnot going to flinch away from Damon. Shewouldnt give him the satisfaction.

Someone could be watching you,Damon went on, moving closer still. Ayoung girl, alone in a graveyard, when nightis beginning to fall. His voice was soothing,hypnotic almost, and he moved toward heronce more, so close that she could feel hisbreath on her skin.

Elenas chest ached. This wasnt herDamon, this Damon with the cruel set to hismouth and the malicious gleam in his eyes.He was dangerous, even to her.

But, after all, he was Damon, wasnt he?He didnt know her, not yet, but Elena knewhim, inside and out. She felt a smile

blossoming on her own face and hershoulders, which had lifted as if she wasexpecting a blow, dropped.

Its all right, she said. I know youdnever hurt me.

Damon frowned and took a step backaway from her. He hesitated for a splitsecond, then opened his mouth to speak.

Elena? Startled, Elena turned to seeBonnie and Meredith approaching from theother end of the graveyard. Elena? Bonniecalled again.

A light breeze broke the stillness of theair, lifting Elenas hair. The sun came outfrom behind the dark clouds, and amockingbird sang an insistent trill from anearby tree. A cool finger brushed across thenape of Elenas neck. She gasped and

whipped back around, but Damon was gone.The green grass over the graves behind herwas as smooth and empty as if he had neverbeen there.

Elena, Bonnie said as they reachedElena, sometimes I worry about you. Ireally do.

Was somebody here? Meredith said,confusion on her face. I thought HadDamon Influenced them to forget him? Elenawondered. Or had he simply moved soquickly they werent sure what they hadseen?

Its just me, Elena said slowly, her eyesstill searching the graveyard. There were nodark figures among the trees. No black birdrose toward the sky. I didnt expect youguys to follow me.

You can tell us to go away, Meredithsuggested, glancing at the gray stone aboveElenas parents graves.

Elena shook her head. Its okay, shesaid. I wanted to hang out with you guysanyway. She sat down in the sun-warmedgrass beside the headstone, pulling the othersdown next to her. The three girls sat quietlyfor a while, watching the soft white cloudsblow across the sky.

Bonnie ran her fingers through Elenasponytail, taking the ribbon out and twining itinto little braids. The gentle pulls on her hairfelt good, and Elena relaxed, leaning backagainst her friends leg.

So, Bonnie started, her hands notpausing in their braiding, are you going totell us why youve been acting so funny

today?Elena opened her mouth, a denial

springing to her lips, and caught Meredithsknowing gaze.

I know I said you seemed distracted thismorning, Meredith told her, but its morethan that.

Youve been getting the strangest look onyour face when you look at people, even us,Bonnie said thoughtfully, tucking a straypiece of hair into one of Elenas braids.Like were strangers.

Elena turned at that, her hair slippingthrough Bonnies fingers, and looked at herfriend. Bonnie stared back at her, browneyes wide and a little hurt.

Its not like that. Elena said. But it didfeel, a little bit, like they were different

people from the ones she knew. Bonnie andMeredith had been through so much with hertheyd even traveled to a differentdimension togetherbut not yet, not thisBonnie and Meredith.

If Elena managed to change whathappened now, if she could keep Damonfrom killing Mr. Tanner and setting the futureshe already knew in motion, would herfriendship with Bonnie and Meredith change,too? She ached with sorrow at the idea.

If somethings wrong, we want to help,Meredith said softly.

Warmth ran through Elena, soothing awaythat sorrowful ache, and she reached for herfriends hands. Im fine, she said, grippingBonnies square, small hand and Meredithslong cool one. Only everythings

changing, isnt it? Its our senior year, ourlast year together.

Nothings going to change, Bonnie saiduncomfortably. Nothing important. Justschool and stuff.

Elenas right, Meredith said, turning herhand to thread her fingers through Elenas.Next year at this time, who knows wherewell all be?

Youve both been such good friends tome, Elena said in a rush. When my parentsdied I couldnt have gotten through thatbad time without you. I dont want to loseyou guys, not ever.

Bonnie sniffed and pulled away fromElena to wipe at her eyes. Dont make mecry, she said, half laughing. My mascarawill run, and then Ill look like a raccoon.

Lets swear an oath. Elena saiddeterminedly. An oath that well always betrue friends.

Theyd sworn a blood oath in thisgraveyard the first time shed lived this.Bonnie and Meredith had sworn that theywould do anything Elena asked in relation toStefan. And Elena had sworn not to rest untilStefan belonged to her. Not even if it killedher.

And, well, it had killed her in the end,hadnt it? It had killed both of them. An oathlike thatsworn in blood in a graveyardhad true Power.

Wait a minute, Meredith said, as Elenahad known she would. She let go of Elenashand and unfastened a pin from her blouse,then jabbed it quickly into her thumb.

Bonnie, give me your hand.Why? Bonnie asked, frowning

suspiciously at the pin.Because I want to marry you, Meredith

said sarcastically, and Elena smiled a little.Why do you think?

ButbutOh, all right. Ow!Now you, Elena. Meredith hesitated and

then jabbed at Elenas finger, their eyesmeeting for a moment. She held out her ownthumb, a plump drop of blood swelling on itspad, and Bonnie and Elena pressed theirthumbs against hers. Bonnies eyes were stillshining with tears and Meredith looked paleand earnest. Affection for them both swelledinside Elena. These were her sisters.

I swear that Ill always be there for bothof you, Meredith said steadily. Ill be on

your side and do everything I can for you, nomatter what happens.

No matter what, Bonnie said, closingher eyes. I swear.

Elena, pressing her thumb hard against theother girls, ignoring the twinge of pain, saidsoftly, I swear, I will always be there foryou, no matter what. She felt breathless andexpectant. This was sacred.

A gust of cold wind blew through thecemetery, lifting the girls hair, and sending aflurry of dry leaves across the ground.Bonnie gasped and pulled back, and they allgiggled. A flush of satisfaction filled Elena.Whatever happened, however the worldchanged now, at least she knew shed haveBonnie and Meredith.

Elena rested her head in her hands, staringdown at the scratched surface of her desk asher classmates settled into their seats fortrigonometry class. Ignoring their chatter, shewent back over her meeting with Damon inthe graveyard the day before. Was theresomething she should have done differently?

She knew shed intrigued him. She had

seen his pupils widen when he leaned intoward her, his eyes curious and hungry.Shed half expected him to appear at herwindow that night. But he hadnt.

Although that morning shed heard thecaw of a crow and whipped around just toolate to see the bird. All the way to school,shed had the disquieting feeling that she wasbeing watched.

Halloween was coming. The night Damonhad killed Mr. Tanner. Shifting uneasily inher seat, Elena remembered how Mr.Tanners head had flopped lifelesslybackward against the altar in the Halloweenhouse of horrors. His throat had been cakedwith blood. Elena squeezed her eyes shuttight, trying to block out the memories.

Damon had been at the Hau