[*Chapter Nine*]

Darcy glared at the ceiling and reached over to her bedside table, picking up her alarm clock and hurled it across the bedroom, striking the bathroom door. Yet, the annoying piece of plastic with its relentless beeping would not shut up! After another night of not sleeping because of a pesky vampire who can't keep his teeth away from human's throats, and his depressive Bambi munching brother was defiantly something she did not need at 6 am. The grating noise would not give up, causing her to toss her blanket, and stomp away over to the connected bathroom.

Vicky Donovan was another thing she did not need in her bathroom. She had the urge to flush the dusty brunettes head down the toilet when she saw a familiar-looking toothbrush occupying the girl's mouth.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm almost done." Vicky said.

Yeah, you will be when I drown you.

"Uh, whatever. Chuck the toothbrush when you're done. I don't know where you've put your mouth." Slamming the door, she stomped her way into her brother's room, causing him to tumble from the bed when she slammed open the door. She would have laughed if she wasn't pissed.

"What the hell?" Jeremy cursed, massaging his stinging arse.

"Why do I have Sticky Vicky in our bathroom, using my toothbrush of all things? Isn't that like a sacred rule? Don't touch the sister's things?" Darcy ranted, throwing her arms around to express her frustration.

Her brother cringed, rubbing his neck, "Uh-I erm said she could use ours since Elena was in the shower."

"Right...next time, ask me. You almost had a drowned rat as a girlfriend." She didn't bother sticking around to hear his reply; she was already walking downstairs following the glorious smell wafting from the kitchen.

Her blue eyes lit up, seeing the magnificent sight steaming on the kitchen counter, she wasted no time running over practically hugging the mug, inhaling the bitter smell of black coffee. She may not have moaned when she took a big gulp, feeling the richness reach the darkest parts of her soul.

The two women sitting out the island breathed out a sigh of relief, knowing what a sleep-deprived Darcy was like, even worse without coffee first thing in the morning.

"I take it you seen our new house guest?" Elena said, stifling her laugh at her sister's rapidly changing features, from pure bliss to disgust.

"Uh-huh, I had the pleasure of witnessing the not so pleasant sight."

"Jeremy could be craftier about it. At least make an effort to sneak her in and out. Oh, and just so you know. I won't be home for dinner," Jenna said, writing down notes in her book.

"Ohhh, does Jenna have a hot date?" Darcy teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

"So you're actually going to do it? You're gonna go out with Logan?" Elena probed, learning forward.

"Woah? I thought you were done with Scum bucket?" Darcy asked, confused. The last she heard, Jenna said she wouldn't touch Logan Fell again.

"I'm gonna show up and torture him, and yes Darce there's no more Scum bucket," Jenna stated, almost like she was trying to convince herself.

"Uh-huh, if ya say so." Not all believing her.

"Have you heard from Stefan?" Jenna asked, changing the subject. Darcy watched her sister closely, observing the change of emotions flashing across her face. Sadness, frustration melting into growing anger.

"Not since he left that vague message three days ago," Ouch, Sexy-ass-back. "Hi. Um, Elena, I um... have something I have to do. I'll, uh get back to you in a few days," Elena said mimicking Stefan. Darcy snorted into her mug, Oh Steffy, we've got to work on your talking skills. She froze when her sister pinned her with an expectant look, "What?"

"I said, have you heard from Stefan? You two seem close." There goes the jealousy raising its ugly head.

"Oh, uh, nope. He just said he'll call me in a few days," Liar.

She's actually heard off him every day, hence the lack of sleep, and his insistent need to call her every time Damon was an ass. "Have you called him?" She diverted the questioning back onto Elena.

"Nope. Not going to either," Elena said, annoyed.

"And you're okay with everything?" Jenna asked, meet her eldest nieces gaze, as the girl rolled her eyes.

"No! I'm not okay with any of it, but I'm not going to cry about it either," Elena said, slamming the milk down.

Pretty sure that's what you're doing now, but okay. Darcy silent said. She's fed up of the pathetic whining, and doesn't understand; if her sister wants something... so bad, she should go after it and speak her mind, instead of sitting back and letting the world decide for her.

Darcy scrapes back her chair, not wanting to hear the crying fest, dropping her mug in the sink, she kissed Jenna on the cheek and jogged up the stairs. She has two vampires to see.

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Darcy's combat boots sound on the gravel as she locks her car and makes her way over to the Salvatore Boarding House. As always she's taken away of the beauty the property holds, there's a calming aura around the building, despite it being occupied by vampires.

She doesn't bother knocking the door, just walking in like she owns her place. Besides after the numerous times, she's come over the last few days she is practically part of the furniture. Not seeing the green-eyed boy in the lounge, she continues towards the basement, where she can hear the older Salvatore's voice.

"Where's my ring?" Damon asked his voice, sounding scratchy.

"Won't be needing it anymore," Stefan said. He was standing in front of the basement door; he turns to nod in her direction, "Hello, Darcy."

"Stef. Hello Dickmon, how's captivity treating you?"

"Oh, I'm having such a ball! Why don't you join me?" Damon asked sarcastically, causing Darcy to snort, "Not a chance darling."

"How long have I been here?" Damon asked in a weak voice.

"Three days," Darcy replied coming to stand next to Stefan, peering through the bars at Damon's slowly desiccated form.

"What are you doing?" Damon asked coughing.

"During the dark ages, when a vampire's actions threatened to expose or bring harm upon the entire race, they would face judgement. They sought to re-educate them rather than to punish them," Stefan said, answering his question.

"Y-you know what will happen if I don't...feed on blood." Damon rasped.

"You'll grow weaker and weaker. Eventually, you won't be able to move or speak. In a week, your skin will desiccate, and you'll mummify. A living corpse. Unable to hurt anyone, ever." Stefan said.

"So what, you're just gonna leave me in the basement, forever?" Damon asked, continuing to cough and splutter.

"We've injected you with enough vervain to keep you weak. Once your circulation stops, you'll be moved to your family crypt, and in 50 years, Stefan will reevaluate the situation," Darcy answered as Stefan turned to leave. She hopes it wouldn't come to that. After all, Damon is a vampire, and it Is in his nature to survive on blood, he just needs to be wise and try not to eat all of Mystic Falls residents.

"I'm stronger than you think," Damon said before Stefan could leave. Darcy remained at the locked door, engaging in a staredown, neither of them attempted to remove their gazes.

"You always have been, but you're not stronger than the vervain. And we both know it. I'm sorry, it didn't have to be this way," Stefan said as he walked away.

"Why are you doing this? Why get involved at all?" Damon asked. He doesn't know why this girl has come into his and his brother's life. He's confused by her involvement.

"I'm doing what I've been trained to do. I'm a hunter. I hunt vampires who don't know how to keep their sharp teeth away from humans arteries. Look...Damon, I understand it is in your nature to feed on blood to survive, and I'm not telling you to change your ways, but when you hurt someone, I love that is a different story. Use this time to think about your actions before you go too far, and then I'll have no choice but to put a stake through your heart." Darcy said before casting him a look and followed after Stefan.

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(Third POV)

Meanwhile Bonnie was sitting on Caroline's bed with a candle focusing on trying to get it to set alight. Caroline was talking about the party, while Darcy was on the speakerphone, listening to their conversation, as she drove herself to school. Stefan had already gone ahead, wanting to sort out his drama with Elena.

"I remember the party. Damon came up behind me, and he was kissing my neck or biting my neck. I passed out. It's like there are holes in my memory lately. It's just weird. Maybe I let him bite me."

Vampires and their abilities of compulsion, Darcy thought to herself.

"Why would you do that?" Bonnie asked, surprised, seeming confused. Why would you let someone bite you? Unless they're into that sort of thing?

"Can we just not talk about it, okay? I don't want to talk about Damon. I don't want to talk about it anymore, just want to go back to normal."

"Hey, Care, it's okay, take deep breaths. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, alright?" Darcy soothed over the phone.

Caroline did what her best friend said and took in a deep breath, then slowly exhaling. "Thank you, Darce." Opening her eyes, the blonde saw Bonnie fiddling with the candle. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"Uh...Nothing. What's this?" Bonnie asked, putting down the candle on the bedside table, reaching over to pick up a necklace.

"Damon gave it to me." Darcy perked up, wondering what they were talking about. "Or he was going to give it to me. All I know is, it's mine now," Caroline said.

"It's ugly," Bonnie said, wrinkling her nose.

"Well get your hands off it." She said, yanking it out of the brunette's hands. Bonnie sat in shock before shaking her head at her friend's strange behaviour. She picked up her bag, and together they left for school.

"I'll see you guys at school," Darcy said, reminding herself to ask Caroline about the necklace.

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Darcy and Caroline were walking down the hallways of Mystic Falls High School. They approached Elena and Stefan, who are talking by the lockers. Stefan meets Darcy's twirling blue eyes, silently asking her to help get back on her sister's good books, he received a shake of her head.

He's on his own with this one.

"Stefan, where's Damon?" Caroline asked him.

Darcy shot her a look of disbelief, briefly glancing towards her sister wondering if their best friend has lost some brain cells. Elena shrugged, thinking the same thing.

"He's gone, Caroline," Stefan replied, looking between the three girls.

Before arriving at school, Darcy and Stefan discussed what they would say about Damon's sudden disappearance; they decided to say he's left Mystic Falls.

"When is coming back?" Caroline asked

"He's not coming back. I'm sorry." Stefan said, looking pitifully at Caroline.

"That's a good thing," Elena said, rubbing her shoulder in comfort.

"I know that." She said avoiding the sad looks the three cast her way.

Before they parted ways, Elena told Darcy she was meeting up with Stefan at Grill and wouldn't be home until later. The ebony-head nodded and kissed her sister's forehead and waved goodbye to Stefan.

Stefan watched the girl who had become his best friend in a short time of meeting each other, walk away with a smile on his face, for the genuine affection she carried towards her siblings. Sadness kicks him in the gut, remembering once upon a time he and Damon were once best of friends before a girl tore them apart.

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Darcy ended up going to the Grill bored out of mind and fed up of Jeremy drooling over Vicky. She walked inside, seeing Elena and Matt playing pool. Walking over, she grabbed a pool stick and nudged the blue-eyed boy.

"Well, well, well look who it is. If it isn't the boy who's supposed to be my best friend," She teased.

Matt whirled around with a broad grin on his face, completely forgetting about Elena as she watched their interaction. He held his hand to his chest, pouting "Oh, how will you ever forgive me, Miss Darcella?"

Darcy tapped a black varnished fingernail on her chin, contemplating before a smirk graced her red-matt lips, "You can challenge me to a game and let me beat your ass."

The blonde boy laughed mockingly "Yeah, you can dream on, no one beats me at pool, and you know it."

"Aww, I don't know Matty. I sure do believe beating you that one time," She said, raising an eyebrow, daring him to deny. He smirked, pointing his pool stick at her then rounded the table racking up.

"Alright, then spicey, game on."

Elena watched from the sidelines, watching the interaction, how comfortable they are around one another, effortless laughs and grins, boisterous banter. She thinks back to her relationship with the boy; they never had this kind of connection. An odd sort of feeling sinks in her stomach; envy. Her sister doesn't have to try and gets affection, boys falling at her feet, yet she never tried or replicated their feelings. Darcy doesn't do boys, not after her abusive childhood. Abuse does that to you, it burns you on the inside, rots you and ruins any chance of future relationships. Still, that doesn't help the jealousy that descends.

Darcy saw Stefan approaching and pushed Elena is his direction, still not finished playing the game. One thing about Darcy is that she's highly competitive and won't give up without a fight.

Once her sister moved away, Matt stopped and faced his best friend with a curious look, taking her the dark bags she attempted to cover, the healing cut and bruise under her eye, the fatigue that coats her blue eyes. Sympathy washes over him as he walks around the pool table and wraps his arms around her, knowing despite her strong front, really she's a teenage girl barely holding it all together.

Darcy freezes not expecting the hug, but wraps her arms around him and squeezes, grateful, despite their lack of time with each other, after all the madness that has happened, she can still rely on her best friend. Sure, she has Caroline, Bonnie even Stefan, but Matt has a special way of pealing away her layers, letting her be herself.

"Thank you," Darcy whispers, pulling away.

"Of course. Anything for Miss Darcella," Matt joked with a smile.

Darcy catches her sisters displeased face over her shoulder. She gives him another hug telling him they will have a proper catch up soon and then is making her way over, being the saviour, once again.

"No, Stefan, don't you get it? Every question gets a vague non-answer. What's so awful that you're afraid to tell me?" Elena asked Darcy looked between them, noticing their awkward shift.

"I know you, My God." An older man said, looking over at Stefan.

"I'm sorry?" Stefan asked perplexed.

"I know you. How can it be?" The man repeated peering closer to get a better look.

"I think you have the wrong person, sir," Stefan said, sending Darcy a pleading look, that doesn't go unmissed by Elena, she narrows her eyes. What are they hiding? Her own sister is in on this.

"Are you okay, sir?" Darcy asked in a kind voice.

"Yes, dear. I'm sure I've seen this young gentleman before. He hasn't aged a day," The man said.

"I'm sorry. Excuse us." Stefan said, stearin Elena away from the man. "Hey, can I take you home and we can talk about it? Is that okay?"

"Wait. What was that?" Elena probed as Darcy stayed behind talking to the man.

"I-I don't know. Uh, nothing," He said, barely looking her in the eye. Instead, he was listening in on her sister's conversation.

"Right. Nothing. Okay, um. I'm gonna go, Stefan. Excuse me," Elena said, walking away, having enough of his constant lies.

Darcy walked up to him and patted him on the back, "You messed up, buddy. I think it's time you came clean before you mess things up for real," She said, walking away, leaving him standing cursing his existence. She paused at the door, "Oh, tell Damon I hope he's a good boy, he wouldn't want to make acquaintance with my stake, would he?"

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Part two coming soon.