[*Chapter Eighteen*]

A super-duper-long chapter! Enjoy! I had so much fun writing this. Darcy's plot begins officially from now 💜

Darcy pushes through the school's main doors, the warm sun glimmers through her ebony curls, teasing them with a glint of midnight blue. Fluttering her eyes, she breathes in the crisp air, centring her core, and exhales gently, allowing her clustered mind clear of its garbled thoughts.

Where the hell did Alaric get the ring? The extremely reminiscent of her fathers and uncle John's. It cant be a coincidence, could it? He's certainly not family. She taps her chest—nimble digits caress the smooth band through her black tee. Another breath rushes out in relief.

Darcy flickers her orbs open, her gaze locks on the Bennett witch walking in haste towards the parking lot and a cocky 5 ft 10 blood-sucking-leech following in her wake. She pouts her ruby lips and stamps her foot like a child having a tantrum, knowing Damon Salvatore was up to no good.

Why? Why couldn't there be a normal day without pesky vampires sticking there big noses where they don't belong?

Yeah, right, like that would happen. Laughing at her own question, the protectress treads across the lush lawn leaves crinkling together with her graceful strides. She comes to a stop a few feet away, close enough to listen to their conversation, and from the look on Bonnie's face, she was none too pleased.

"I'm gonna scream," Bonnie said as she walks past him to her car.

"Oh, no, don't do that. Let's stay on point. I want my necklace." Damon drew out the word my, asserting it was his and not hers.

Darcy sighed, that damn necklace has been nothing but trouble. What's so important about an ugly piece of jewellery anyway? She recalls Damon saying it belonged to an old friend and he wanted it back.

"Well. You can't have it." She mimicked.

"I can't take it, but you can give it to me. I'm trying to help you here."

"I don't want your help." Bonnie stood her ground, and Darcy couldn't be more proud of her friend standing up for herself.

"You do want my help, and you don't even know it. You know why, little which?" Darcy stays alert, ready to intervene if things turn south. She watches his every move as he deliberately steps forward with each pace until he pushed Bonnie up against the car. "Cause you've stumbled into something you need to stumble out of."

"Just leave me alone, or I swear..." She cuts off seeing Darcy behind Damon's back, her baby blue flashing with mirth. "Darce.."

"Darcy will shove her other 6-inch heel up your arse. I suggest you let her go." She sang sweetly.

Damon groaned hanging his head, releasing the brunette he spun around pinning the lithe huntress with a mild glare. Does she have a Damon detector or something? How does she show up whenever he's about?

"Oh, no. No threats." Turning back to the witch. "A, you hurt me last time. B, I wish you no harm. Believe it or not Bonnie, I want to protect you. Let me help you get Emily off your back." He said as Darcy looked between them feeling confused. An odd sensation prickles in her abdomen, sending a ripple of alarm down her spine, hearing the woman's name.

"He knows about Emily?"

Bonnie returned her look and shrugged. "How do you know about her?"

Damon nodded. "The friend." He elaborated. Darcy hummed at the new information. "I know a lot of things, and I know more about that crystal than you do, and I know that she's using it to creep inside of you." Darcy sees the fearful expression on Bonnie's face and walks closer, wrapping her arm around her shoulders. She doesn't like this feeling, something dark is drawing nearer, and she has an inkling it has to do with Bonnie. Her instincts to protect her best friend rise and fester, crawling under her skin.

Damon caught on and smirked. "See how you scared you are? And you should be because I will get that crystal, even if I have to wait for Emily to give it to me herself. Next time she comes out to play, you tell her...that a deal is a deal." He said as Darcy shot him a dark look and spun Bonnie around.

"Go to Grams, okay? You go straight to you gram and tell her about the crystal. No, if's or but's, you do it. You got it?" Darcy holds Bonnie's shoulders staring deep into the girl's soul; they both could sense the lingering threat in Damon's voice.

Bonnie nodded scared, eyes suppressing the tears she so badly wanted to shed. "Thank you." She whispered, grateful to have someone along her side in this crazy mess.

Flashing her an assuring smile. "And you'll always have me. Now go BonBon." She stepped back, allowing Bonnie to get into her car and drive away. She sighed, turning to Damon only to see he has already vanished.

I need to get him a bell and a collar. And possibly a leash while I'm at it.

💜🖤💜

Later that day after school had finished, Bonnie had returned from her talk with Grams and was now in the car with Elena and Darcy, driving to the Gilberts house. The witch was informing Elena on her and Darcy's encounter with Damon earlier that day.

"He's bad news, Elena. He really scared me." Bonnie said as she looked over at her while driving.

"You need to stay as far away from Damon as possible," Elena said, worrying her brow.

Darcy snorted alerting the girls, Elena peered over her shoulder. "What?"

"It's not like Bon goes out of her way and puts herself in Damon's path. He just shows up."

"Yeah, like Darce said. I'm trying, but he just keeps showing up." Bonnie said, frustrated, clenching her hands around the wheel.

"I really need to get him a damn bell," Darcy mutters to herself, glaring out the window at the passing yellow landscape.

"I don't want you to be alone. You're sleeping at our place tonight." Elena glances and Darcy for confirmation but she's frowning, looking out of the window lost in thought. "Hey, Darce!"

Darcy jumped, startled. "Huh? Sorry I-uh, what's up?" She's been doing that a lot lately, randomly dazing in a day-dream state.

"I said Bonnie is staying at ours tonight. I don't want her to be alone. We can make a whole night out of it." The ebony-head opened her mouth, only to jolt forward bashing her face off Bonnie's seat when the witch slammed on the breaks. "Shit! Fuck!" She curses, rubbing her throbbing nose.

"Where are you going?" Elena yelled as Bonnie jumped out of the car, stalking over to the field. She yanked off the necklace and threw it into the meadow.

Darcy wipes her watery eyes, watching perplexed as their friend walked back and got into the car. "Bon? Are you okay?" Touching her shoulder around the headrest.

"Now, I am. All my problems were because of that thing. I can't believe I didn't do that sooner." Darcy's gut twists hearing those words, somethings not right here. If Damon were right about Emily, surely this would backfire?

"What's your Grams gonna say?" Elena asked, watching Bonnie worriedly as they drove away.

"Grams isn't the one being haunted by a hundred and fifty-year-old ghost, is she?" She said shrugging.

"Okay, then." Elena shrugged in return oblivious of the impending doom coming their way.

A mere ten minutes later, the three girls pulled into the driveway. Elena asked her sister to wait outside with her while Bonnie went inside the house.

"Why am I waiting here?" Darcy questioned curiously, as the brunette pulled out her phone from her bag and texted Stefan to come over so they could talk.

"So we can tell Stefan," Elena said as if it was evident.

"Yeah, but why do you need me? He's your boyfriend, not mine."

Elena rolled her eyes. "You seem to get through to him better than me." She said, avoiding Darcy's ear-splitting stare. They took a seat on the swing, Darcy swinging them back and forth as they waited.

"Where have you been lately, Darcy? And why were you late for school?" Elena blurted out, unable to keep her hidden thoughts from tumbling out.

The huntress sighed, knowing it was inescapable to avoid the impending interrogation. "I've been training with Jeremy. I wanted him prepared in case anything happens. That way I know if anything were to happen and we were not around, he'll be able to defend himself."

While the middle Gilbert disagrees with their brother being involved, Elena was also glad that they had someone like Darcy on their side. With her, she knows they will be safe, and does her utmost to protect her family. "What about this morning?"

Darcy ruffled her inky strands. "I may or may not have snapped Stefan's neck."

Elena shot up stunned and what she was hearing. "You snapped Stefan's neck?!"

A nod and a proud smile.

"Why the hell would you do that? I thought you were besties." Elena said, quoting with her fingers and emphasising 'besties'.

"Well, how would you like getting woken up by a voicemail saying he was leaving town with no explanation?"

Elena winced and tried stuffing down the raging jealousy. I mean it was her boyfriend, yet she was told last by himself he was leaving. "But that..." She cut off seeing the man of the minute walking over. She sighed with relief.

"Thanks for coming. I wouldn't have called if it wasn't important."

"I know that," Stefan said, roaming his gaze over the sisters. Elena flustered, huffing and puffing, while Darcy sat back on the swing and waved with her fingers in greeting.

"He threatened Bonnie, Stefan."

Darcy disliked one thing about her sister: her expectancy for Stefan to fix all their problems for her. "El, give the guy a break." She chastised, only to get ignored.

"What would Damon want with Bonnie?" Stefan asked, confused.

Darcy stood up and propped against the porch bannister. "It's not her he wants."

"What do you mean?" He asked, walking closer, leaving Elena staring at his broad back.

"Back at your birthday, I knew he was up to something and confronted him about it. Bonnie and Caroline fought over a necklace, that Damon gave to Caroline, only for her to give to Bonnie when she didn't want anything to remind her of him. Damon did his mind playing games, wanting Care to get the necklace back. When that failed, he kept showing up on Bonnie's trail, trying to scare her."

"Over a necklace?"

Darcy shook her head, cobalt eyes twinkling with knowledge. "No, it is not just any necklace. Apparently, it belonged to an old friend of Damon's."

"A friend?" Stefan asked baffled; since when did his brother have friends.

"Hmm. A woman by the name of Emily. Ring any bells?"

"It has to do with Bonnie's heritage. It belonged to one of her ancestors, who lived here during the civil war when you and Damon lived here." Elena said, cutting in.

Stefan stared at the girls wide-eyed, shocked. "As Darcy said, her name was Emily. She was Katherine's handmaid and a witch."

"You know? About Bonnie?" Elena asked, surprised.

"The first night that you invited me over for dinner, I made the connection."

"And now, Damon knows, and for some reason...he wants that necklace." Elena continued.

Darcy snapped her fingers, gaining their attention. "I don't think it's the necklace he wants. I think there's a hidden meaning behind it all."

"Why'd you think that?" Stefan quizzed, as Elena stared at her sister trying to undermine her thinking.

"I don't know. Damon doesn't seem the type to obsess over an ugly crystal. It has to be something important he's after. And he needs that necklace to get it."

Stefan pondered in silence, setting his gaze on the short girl. "What does it look like?"

"It's an antique iron setting with..." Elena answered.

"With an amber crystal. I know it, it belonged to Katherine. Emily gave it to her, which means that..."

"I knew it that sneaky little shit!" Darcy exclaimed.

"But what? What does it mean?" Elena fretted.

"I don't know, but I gonna find out. Let me talk to Damon." He said, stepping off the porch.

"Will he tell you?" Elena interrogated.

"Elena quit with the questions. You asked for his help, and he is complying, let him get on with it." Darcy huffed half-ass waving goodbye to the younger Salvatore brother and entered the house to see how Bonnie was getting on.

💜🖤💜

The trio had decided to invite Caroline to their sleepover. The huntress has missed the blonde, and since the dinner, things have been awkward. Who would have thought the two had been best of friends since their diaper days? Shows how much of an ass Darcy can be. Maybe tonight they can patch things and move forward.

They had decided to order in Chinese and were now finished, sitting in the kitchen. Elena folded towels, while Bonnie and Darcy were going though their make up kits. Caroline was standing the other side of Elena at the kitchen counter. Elena was trying to get Care to apologise to Bonnie for being bitchy.

She threw up her hands, exasperated. "I'm sorry. There, I said it. If you want the ugly-ass necklace, kept it. It's yours."

Bonnie and Darcy exchanged a wince, knowing their light-haired friend was going to erupt in a bitch-mode. "Will you hate me if I tell you I threw it away?" She asked, looking over at Caroline.

"You threw it away!" She screeched, causing Darcy to cringe and cover her ears from the harsh sound.

"I know it sounds crazy, but the necklace was giving me nightmares. I had to get rid of it."

"You could have just given it back to me," Caroline cried.

"Why? So you could give it back to Damon?" Elena butted in, ignoring her sister's sharp glare, making her slam her hands on the table.

"Why does every single argument revert to that ass-shat?" The three girls stared at her with wide eyes at her outburst. "I mean, can't we have one night without him ruining the fun?"

Caroline smiled, agreeing. "Screw Damon. Are we doing manicures or what? Who has their kit?" She said looking between the three girls.

"Here," Darcy said sliding Bonnie's bag over to the island she was resting against.

"So, Elena. How long do you think this fight with Stefan gonna last? Is it, like a permanent thing?" Caroline asked as she went through Bonnie's bag.

"Ugh! Really? Can we have no boy talk, tonight please?" Darcy whined banging her head on the island. Bonnie sniggered, while Elena huffed shoving a carrot in her mouth.

"I don't know Caroline."

"Why are you such a little liar, Bonnie?" Caroline shouted as her head shot up, Darcy shot up in her seat, heart beating rapidly, feeling the atmosphere turn stifling.

"What?" Bonnie asked, confused.

"Caroline!" Elena yelled, but the froze, seeing what was in her hand.

"What? How? What the actual fuck?" Darcy stammered standing up and backing away a little as the crystal spun in a sphere as if it was mocking them.

Bonnie's eyes bugged out and choked. "I'm not lying to you, Caroline. I swear." She declared not moving her scared glare away from the haunting necklace.

"It's true. Darcy and I watched her throw it into a field." Elena said just as confused as them all.

"Then explain it," Caroline demanded, throwing the chain on the counter, planting her hands on her hips.

"Emily." Darcy breathed out in a choppy whisper, Bonnie's and Elena's heads snapped over to her. What the hell was going on? How can a necklace magically appear when they have visibly seen it be thrown away...That's it magic! But how and who? The protectress held her throbbing head at the many possibilities frying her poor brain.

"Who's Emily?"

"The ghost," Bonnie answered, causing Darcy to snort and earn a sharp jab in her ribs. "Oww!"

"Oh, the ghost has a name now," Caroline said sarcastically.

"Caroline, please." Elena pleaded for their friend to listen.

"I wonder why she won't leave me alone," Bonnie murmured playing with her fingers.

"What is going on? Why am I not apart of this conversation?" Caroline said, feeling hurt she wasn't being included. Darcy got up, walking around the island to hug the distraught blonde. "Hey, it's not that we don't want to include you, we do. We, I just know you won't understand, and I know you don't have any belief in any of this."

"That's not true." Elena protested weakly.

"Yes, it is. I can't talk to you. You don't listen." Bonnie said, looking at Caroline.

"That's not true." Caroline frowned, feeling more and more hurt. She pulled out of Darcy's grasp as Bonnie walked over.

"I'm a witch."

"And don't we all know it." Caroline retorted childishly.

"See? That's what I'm talking about. I'm trying to tell you something. You don't want to hear it." Bonnie said as she stormed out of the room.

Caroline pouted looking between the sisters. "I listen. When do I not listen?"

Elena told the truth about Bonnie that she indeed a witch, and everything that was going on with the necklace. It was about time their friends knew the truth. The raven-head wanted to tell them both so they were both in the know and she could breathe easy knowing they were at least safer. But Elena was adamant Jeremy was enough, there was no need to bring their friends into danger. Blah, blah, blah.

When Elena finished her speech and wondered after Bonnie, Darcy pulled her friend aside and sent her a comforting smile, a smile that radiates all in her presence with lightness. "Care, when you go in there. I want you to go in there with an open mind. Don't jump to conclusions, be easy on Bon, she's struggling a lot to deal with this all. She could do with all of our support. I promise when everything has calmed down, I will tell you e v e r y t h i n g."

Stuff what her sister thinks, their friends and family need to know, she couldn't bear it if any of them got hurt because of their mistakes. So much can be prevented if everyone knew what was going on. Caroline nodded and smiled when Darcy kissed her forehead. She stood in the kitchen, not interested in eavesdropping, unlike her sister. When the two friends made up, she treaded back into the living room and took a seat next to Bonnie.

"There is just way too much drama in this room. So what do you guys wanna do?" Caroline asked, receiving shrugs in return. She sighed before her delicate feature lit up. "Why don't we have a seance?" She suggests.

Darcy and Bonnie shake their heads. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Come on. Let's summon some spirits. This Emily chick has some serious explaining to do." Carolines says and stands up moving towards to stairs. Darcy froze in her seat, feeling her insides turning into ice, something dark was lurking around the corner, she could sense it.

Ten minutes later, that actually felt like less. The four were in Elena's bedroom. No way was Darcy going to allow them to conjure a seance in her bedroom, nu-hu, no way! They were sitting on the carpeted floor in a circle. The lights were shut off, leaving the candle placed in the centre, reflecting an amber glow around the room.

"What are we doing?" Bonnie asked as she looked around the girls.

"I don't know," Elena replied, looking at her pale sister, and frowned wondering what's wrong with her. She's been acting odd all day, eyes restless glancing around, body poised, ready to attack.

"Be quiet and concentrate. Close your eyes. Now take a deep breath. Bonnie call to her." Caroline said as she got them all to link hands.

Darcy watched as they slowly, one by one closed their eyes, sucking in a deep breath and cursing Caroline in her head if anything goes wrong. She followed suit.

"Emily you there?" Bonnie asked.

Darcy snorted, opening her eyes, causing them all to the same.

"Really? Emily, you there? That's all you got? Come on." Caroline said mockingly as looked over to Bonnie, who sat opposite her. One each of their hands clasped in each of Darcy's.

"Fine. Jeez." Bonnie huffed. "Emily, I call on you. I know you have a message. I'm here to listen."

Darcy flinched, feeling as if something brushed along the back of her neck. Everything was silent, not even any laboured breathing was heard. They sat in tense silence, waiting for a sign of Emily. Darcy wasn't sure how they could not feel the temperature dropping in the room. Elena was about to say something when the candlelight flickered, causing them all to jump back.

"Did that just?"

"Yeah, it just happened," Caroline replied, breaking Elena off.

Darcy rolled her shoulders, trying to suppress the need to shiver at the gloomy setting. But it was no use the temperature dropped more, feeling as if icicles were trailing down her bare arms. Looking at Bonnie and Elena, she asked if they could feel it too, they both shook their heads in denial.

"It's just air conditioning," Bonnie said, attempting to make herself believe her own words.

"Ask her to show you a sign. Ask her." Caroline coached Bonnie. The witch couldn't do anything but sit and stare. The blonde took it upon herself and leaned forward for effect. "Emily, if you are among us, show us another sign."

"See? It's not working..." Bonnie said, and just as she said that the large window crashed open, the cold wind rushed in blowing out the candlelight, dousing them in darkness. They all screamed in fright and jumped up, away from the circle. "I can't I'm done," Bonnie said, yanking the necklace off, tossing it on the floor. "Get the light. Please get the light." She panicked. Elena complied with the request.

Darcy stood rooted, breathing calmly, eyes squinting around trying to detect the unknown. Just then she felt something slither over her neck, resting heavily on her chest. Her hand raised feeling a smooth and thick object; she frowned in puzzlement. Then the lights turned on, blinding them all temporarily. Once gaining their vision, Bonnie, Care and Elena stared at the space where Bonnie threw the necklace only to see it was gone. Darcy stared at her hand, holding the crystal. Her eyes widen in shock.

"You guys, the necklace it's gone." Bonnie freaked out. She pinned her, accusing stare on the blonde girl. "Fun's over Caroline. You made a point, and I get it now. Now give it back."

"What? Well, I don't have it." Caroline shouted, then froze, seeing Darcy staring at something glimmering in her hands, Her face a white like a ghost. "Darce...Why do you have the necklace?" Bonnie and Elena snapped their head over to her, not believing that they saw. The crystal was draped over her head, nestled between black strands, the amber stone resting delicately in her palm.

"What the? Why?" Elena demanded, then her mouth dropped open watching as the necklace was pulled off her sister's neck and flew across the room, somehow landing in the hallway bathroom.

"Holy fucking shit." Darcy breathed out, seeing a shadow pass the bedroom door, "Is Jeremy home?" She demanded urgently. "Jeremy?" Breaking out of her stunned state, she ran after Bonnie seeing her in the bathroom. Her instincts told her to protect Bonnie at all costs, do not let the witch get hurt.

Bonnie leant down to pick up the necklace, holding it in her hands. Darcy sped up as the door slammed closed. Rushing forward with Elena and Caroline, they all banged, slapped and shouted Bonnie's name, trying to open the door.

"You guys! Open the door! Help me!" Bonnie screamed from inside the bathroom. Darcy's heart pounded needed to get on the other side desperately. Fire waged inside her, burying deep setting light to the darkest depths of her soul, pushing the girls back, she reared back, about to karate chop the door down, when all of a sudden the screaming stopped, and it flew open. Bonnie stood still like a statue, hands holding her face.

Darcy wasted no time throwing herself at her friend, enclosing her protective arms around her body. Something was different when the witch pulled back, locking in an intense stare. Darcy couldn't do anything but stare back endlessly.

"What happened? Are you okay? Darcy?" Elena asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Em-bon said in a monotone voice

"Unbelievable. You were totally faking it." Caroline exclaimed.

"Shut up, Care!" Darcy yelled something wasn't right here. Something wasn't right with Bonnie.

"You scared the hell out of me!" Caroline cried then stormed out of the room.

"Bonnie?" Elena questioned, looking at her as she watched Caroline leave, not seeming like she gave a damn.

"I'm fine. Everything's fine." She said, her voice sounding flat. Darcy fought the urge to rear back and slap her friend. This is not Bonnie Bennet she could sense it in her soul.

"I must go." She said as she rushed past the sisters and down the stairs.

"She's leaving. I'm leaving." Caroline said while proceeding after her.

"No, wait!" Darcy shouted, rushing after them, fighting against a raging war plummeting inside of her.

"You guys can't leave." Elena protested, dashing after the three in a panic.

"I can. I've had enough freaky fake witch stuff for one night." Caroline said.

"Thank you for having me. I'll take it from here." Em-bon said, making the sisters pause.

Darcy stared hard at the back of witches head, finally putting things together. This is not Bonnie Bennett.

"Where are you going?" Elena continued asking her pointless questions.

"Back where it all began."

The protectress raised her hand, signalling for her sister to be quiet.

"Emily..." She trailed off watching the ghost-witch pause, hand on the door handle, ready to leave, she turned her gaze onto the huntress. "Don't hurt her."

"I won't let him have it. It must be destroyed." Em-bon vowed, staring intensely at the dark-haired female. "I'm sorry for the unnecessary scare...I wanted to send a message." Then she left the house, the girls standing dumbfounded.

"Oh, my God! It's Emily." Elena breathed down her sisters back, pointing out the now startling obvious. "Wait.!" She yelled as Darcy yanked on the handle only for it to be locked. "Shit!" She cursed, smacking the wood.

"No shit sherlock. Call Stefan, Now!" Darcy demanded, proceeding to pull and push on the handle.

"What's going on?" Caroline said, wondering what was happening now for them to be screaming and shouting.

"I don't know... The door, it's not..." They all screamed, jumping back as Jeremy suddenly strode through the door, earning a fist in his face as a welcome.

"Ahh! What the hell." Jeremy cried out in shock, holding his throbbing cheek.

"Fuck! I'm sorry, Jer!" Darcy hollered mortified. "I...uh."

"Forget it." He said, walking off up the stairs.

"That's it. I'm out of here." Caroline declared, ambling out of the front door.

"Elene, call Stefan. Now!" Darcy demanded again, tossing her phone at her.

Elena flinched at her loud tone and fumbled catching the device. "

"Darcy...What's wrong?" Stefan answered.

"It's Bonnie," Elena replied.

"What's happened? Where's Darcy?"

Elena looked at her sister, standing, rooted in place. She looked frozen, except the movement of her cheek, signalling she's chewing on the inside. "She's uh-busy." The phone was suddenly snatched from her grip.

"Emily. She's possessing Bonnie. She gave a message." Darcy said, pacing around, urgently wanting to run after the ghost-witch.

"What did she say?"

"She won't let Damon have the crystal. She's got it... I think she is gonna destroy it." She paused. "Stefan, Emily just left."

"Where do you think she went?" Stefan asked, dying to ask what else had happened, he can tell by her tone of voice, but let it go for now.

Darcy thought back to what Bonnie had said about her nightmares, where she ended up going to each time. "Bonnie told me about her dreams about being led to the Fells church, by the old cemetery. We have to help her, Stefan. I have to help her, get her back. Unharmed."

"No, don't go. Stay at home, where you and Elena are safe. Please, you could get hurt." Stefan begged desperately; he can't stand the thought of his best friend getting hurt.

"I don't care about me, Stefan! I care about Bonnie's safety, and right now, she is not safe!" Darcy yelled, hanging the call and chucking her phone on the sofa. Pacing in a circle tugging on her long strands, then halts staring at her sister's watery doe eye—straightening, determination bubbles underneath her skin, cerulean swirls, twirling making them appear icy blue. A chill raked down Elena's spine, not liking the look on her sister's face.

"What..." She got cut off by Darcy snatching her keys off the side table in the hall entrance, followed by the front door slamming and locking. "Darcy!" Elena yelled, pounding on the door, but to no avail, it was closed. The protectress had locked her and Jeremy inside, where both are safe and unharmed.

💜🖤💜

(Third POV)

Damon strolled through the clearing, stopping where the old church used to be, he also happened to find Bonnie, who was being possessed by Emily Bennett.

"Hello, Emily. You look different." He said, observing her as she found a stick and make something of the ground.

"I won't let you do it." She said, looking up at him.

"We had a deal."

"Things are different now. I need to protect my family." She said, throwing the stick down.

"I protected your family. You owe me." He said, walking closer.

"I know I'm sorry." She said.

"You're about to be a lot more that." He said, about to speed forward, only for Emily to raise her hand, sending Damon flying into the air and launched into a tree. He looked down at his chest, at the branch jutting through his chest.

Stefan chose his excellent timing, coming into view, he panicked, rushing over to his brother, yanking him from the tree, while Daon whined pathetically. "It hurts. This is why I eat people." He said as he fell to his knees, hand clutching his bloody torso.

"Stefan." Em-bon greeted as he looked at her, she had picked up the stick again, returning to her drawing.

"Emily." He said, turning away from Damon's pained moaning, hearing a car revving in the distance, he swore hearing the female ranting from inside the vehicle.

A Range Rover sped into view, accelerating hard across the clearing and drifting to a stop, back wheels spinning in the dirt, send it scattering like particles everywhere. The driver's door burst open, and the protectress jumped, not bother to shut her door. She ran over to the three, accessing the situation.

"I told you to stay at home. And where's Elena?" Stefan asked, peering into the car with his advanced eyesight.

"I locked her in the house," Darcy said, nonchalantly, stopping beside him. She looked at Daman, picking himself off the ground, and didn't bother asking him about his bloody self.

"You locked her in your house?" Stefan laughed in disbelief, but then reminded himself it wasn't a laughing moment; he just could not help but chuckle at her amusing tactics.

"Yeah, yeah, chit chat time is over," Damon said glaring at Em-bon.

"Hello, Darcy. We meet again." Emily said. "Come, child." She said, beckoning her over with an outstretched hand.

Damon and Stefan froze as the protectress step forward, enclosing her hand around Emily's. "I have a message from the other side 'Foreboding is coming; you must prepare to protect them'.

"How?"

"Fight and stay strong. You will conquer all that is thrown your way."

"Hey, leave her out of this. This is between you and me." Damon said motioning between him and Emily, while Stefan stared at his best friend, fearing what will happen to her.

"I won't hurt her," Emily vowed. "She will protect my family.

These people don't deserve this. They should never have to know such evil."

"What do you mean evil?" Stefan asked, getting his head back on track, walking closer to the pair.

"Emily I swear to God, I'll make you regret this," Damon said while stumbling towards her.

"I won't let you unleash them into this world," Em-bon said while using the hand holding the stick to finish her drawing.

"Them?" Darcy spoke up glancing between the trio; she honestly had no clue what she was doing here, other than this urge in her body telling her that she should be here, and she will do anything to protect her protectors.

"What part of the story did you leave out, Damon?" Stefan asked, making Darcy snap her head over to Damon. What story?

"What does it matter?" He said, throwing his arms around.

"Emily, tell me what you did." Stefan implored, pleadingly.

"To save her, I had to save them." She said while peering at Darcy. "Just like Darcella will do."

"Who do I save?" Darcy asked Emily.

"Your sister, of course. Catastrophe follows in her shadow, to save her, you need to protect them."

"But, who are them?"

"All will reveal in time."

Darcy met Damon's confused expression and shrugged as Stefan quizzed Emily for more answers.

"You saved everyone in the church?" As realisation dawned on him.

"With all comes one," Emily replied, staring at Darcy's side profile.

Stefan was getting disturbed of Emily's constant staring at Darcy, there was a particular look about it, and it didn't settle well with him.

"I don't care about them. I just want Katherine." Damon said as he shuffled near.

"Really? This is all over a woman who did you wrong many, many years ago?" Darcy spun around, removing her hand from Emily's.

"She isn't any woman. She's Katherine."

"I knew I shouldn't have believed a single word that comes out of your mouth. This isn't about love. This is about revenge." Stefan caught on as he followed his brother's movements.

"The two aren't mutually exclusive," Damon replied, pinning his attention on the ghost-witch.

"Damon, you can't do this," Stefan said as he walked faster, placing his on arms on Damon's shoulders.

"Why not? They killed 27 people, and they called it a war battle. They deserve what they get." He said shoving Stefan off him and out of his way.

All this over one mere woman. A woman he caused pain and devastation, Darcy thought, while staring sadly at the brothers. She couldn't help but feel for them. One is obviously still very in love with Katherine, and the other is trying to prevent further pain spewing.

"27 vampires, Damon. They were vampires. You can't just bring them back." Stefan said.

"This town deserves this."

"You're blaming innocent people for something that happened 145 years ago."

"There is nothing innocent about these people, and don't think for a second, it won't happen again. They already know too much, and they'll burn your little grandwitch right next to us when they find out. Trust me." Damon said, involving Emily into his little speech, he ignored Darcy's penetrative stare, choosing to keep his sight locked on the Bennett witch.

"Damon, don't do this. Please." Darcy pleaded, stepping in front of Emily, having to sense her movements.

"Things are different now," Emily spoke.

"Don't do this." He begged.

"I can't free them. I won't. Incendia!" She yelled, throwing hands up in the air, the fire spread out around her, trapping Darcy in the middle, forming a pentagram.

"Shit!" Darcy exclaimed backpedalling, her stare locking with Stefan's panicked expression.

"Darcy! Stay. Don't move." Stefan yelled in a panic, stopping outside the flames, with Damon.

"No! No, please!" Damon begged, then his face turned murderous, veins worming and eyes turning red as Em-bon ripped the necklace off her neck and threw it up in the air. The amber crystal blew up; everything turned dark and silent. Darcy panted nosily creeping back towards Bonnie, body poised and arms extended, feeling a change from her friend. Then she saw it, and to hell was she going to let her friend get hurt. The protectress pushed Bonnie to ground, ignoring the shocked cry and waited for the inevitable, the searing pain as Damon's fangs pierced through her neck. The last thing she saw was a pair of blue eyes staring at her in remorse for his actions before the light faded out.

"No! No! No!" Stefan yelled, speeding over, sprawling on the ground and leaned over Darcy's prone form. Laying her head on his lap, he bit into his wrist and put it to her mouth.

"Oh, my God." Bonnie chocked out in a whisper, unable to believe what was happening right in front of her. Her best friend saved her from being bitten by what she did not know, but she will forever be grateful. Now Stefan had bit into his own wrist feeding her his blood. "What are you doing?" She asked, frightened.

"Saving her. My blood will save her." He said, looking down at his best friends face, wiping off blood coating her ruby lips.

"But how?" Bonnie asked flabbergasted, still not able to process anything, her gaze flitted from Stefan to Damon, who was creeping away with his mouth hung open. She opened her mouth to blame him but stopped when he suddenly sped away, leaving behind dead leaves fluttering in the space he had once been standing.

"Darcy will explain it all when she wakes up, but for now we need to get her home. And I guess, get my ass handed by Elena." He said, picking up the protectress. The trio trekked over to the black Range rover with an air of gloom.

At least one thing was successful in Darcy's mind; she successfully prevented Bonnie from getting bitten. The protectress saved one, how many more are left? And the main question was, who was 'them' she had to protect while saving her sister's life?

~

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