[*Chapter Fourteen*]

A super-duper loooong chapter. Enjoy! 💜

Get your tissues ready!

~

A knock sounded at the bedroom door.

"Come in," Darcy called as she shifted through the numerous stuff on the bed.

The door opened, and Jeremy's bed ruffled head peeked through the gap. He opened his mouth to speak but then paused, seeing what his sister was doing. Too curious for his own good he walked over and sat on the edge of the silver queen-size bed. His brown eyes examined the strange purple plants and jewellery.

"What are you doing?" He pondered, fingering an onyx elasticated bead bracelet.

Darcy paused, pushing the long dark tresses away from her face and looked up at her brother. "Oh, just putting vervain into this bracelet." She shrugged, twisting the encrusted skull head, then reaching over and securing it around Jeremy's wrist. "And making sure my little brother is safe."

Jeremy's brow furrowed as he peered at the bracelet, running his fingers over the smooth beads. "Do you not think I will be safe?"

Darcy lifted his head, eyes shining with fierce determination. "With me by your side, you'll always be safe. But that does not stop vampires from taking advantage of you, okay?" The hunter's heart clenched as her brother's eyes began to water.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked softly, reaching up and soothingly rubbing his cheeks.

Jeremy exhaled heavy, chin trembling and he attempted to reign in the oncoming tears. "Vicki...Will she be okay? What will happen now? What do we tell Matt?" He fired off rapid questions, his breathing escalating merging with his growing anxiety.

"Hey, shh. I'll answer your questions just take deep breaths for me, in and out. Do it with me." Darcy inhaled, held a few beats then slowly exhaled, Jeremy replicated. "That's it like that. Do it again a few more times." The youngest Gilbert did as instructed. "Good. Do you feel better?" He nodded.

When Jeremy seemed to have calmed down, she released his face and held his hands instead. Darcy knows her touch helps calm him down when he's worked up. She thought about Elena, who's probably in her room in a pissy mood after Darcy told Jeremy, Vicki had completed the transition. Whilst Darcy thinks Jeremy has the right to know what is happening in their home town, Elena believes he would be safer without knowing.

But how can their brother be safe without knowing what is out there? How can he protect himself against any vampire if he did not know how?

The answer is; he can't.

So Darcy will do that job for him, she'll give him a vervain bracelet to prevent compulsion, she would feel guilty if she somehow forgot to put the herb into his coffee in the mornings. She will also teach him the basics of combat and hunting. This is what Dad would have wanted. If Elena wanted to tag along, she's more than welcome, although Darcy couldn't imagine their sister being too fond of, shooting arrows into dummy's, she would probably stab someone in the eye brandishing a stake.

"Vicki will be okay. Stefan and Dick-Damon will help her with the transition. At the moment, things will be challenging, and she will struggle with self-control. She will need time to adjust. But for now, you need to let her adapt to the new changes."

Jeremy shook his head in refusal. Darcy cut him off. "No, Jeremy, this is serious. You need to listen. Vicki's life is changing rapidly; her emotions will be all over the place; urges will manifest. She will be craving human blood. You are human, I know you care for her, but let Stefan and Damon help her...Please. I couldn't bear it if she hurt you." Darcy pleaded, urging him to take her words seriously.

She knows her brother; he'll do anything to be at Vick's side. She just hopes, he'll listen to the warnings.

"Okay, okay. I won't see Vicki. But what about Matt, what do we tell him?"

Darcy sighed sadly, removing her hands and running them through her inky locks in frustration. Matt was supposed to be her best friend, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy, the one she could go to at her lowest moments and confide to him about anything and not feel like she was being judged.

Yet, here she is and not sure how everything went to shit. How do you tell your friend that his sister is a vampire? You can't, not with them admitting you into a mental hospital, thinking you're mentally insane.

Darcy gazes out of the vast open window, with a sorrowful frown. "Elena told him, Stefan could not find Vicki and made up a story about her going on a drug binge." Turning her gaze back, "I think she said Matt was going to the police station and organising a search party...I know this seems like a shitty thing to do, but why don't you go with him?"

Jeremy looked at his sister's saddened face. A look wasn't supposed to adorn her face. Darcy may seem strong and fierce, but under all the black clothes and lingering darkness, Is a girl with a heart of gold, she loves with chaos. He'll do anything to see her happy.

"Okay." He reached over, enclosing her into his hold because even she needs someone to support her, especially when she does for everyone else. But who looks after Darcy?

💜🖤💜

Darcy and Elena were driving over to the Boarding House. Darcy because she was requested for her help and Elena, the protectress wasn't so sure of the reason. It was hard stowing away the budding curiosity, so she turned on the radio and jammed to Black Eyed Peas: I've got a feeling, because why the hell not.

She was aware of the huffs and puffs, and side glances Elena sent her. She was driving down the long driveway of the Salvatore Boarding house, and could not stand them any longer.

"Alright, out with it. What's got you huffing like you're walking in the Sahara Desert."

"I ended things with Stefan," Elena said meekly, plastering herself up against the passenger door as if she were trying to get far away from Darcy's wrath.

The car screeched to a sudden halt, stopping at the top of the driveway. Ebony locks swung around as Darcy whirled around in her seat, her mouth agape.

"What the hell. Why?" She demanded incredulously.

What happened after she left cemetery? Did Stefan go back to their house?

Elena refused to look her way and preferred to gaze longingly out of the window. Her posture was stiff like she was waiting for a hurricane to descend.

"Why, Elena?" She asked again, impatiently.

Elena sucked in a deep breath and turned her watery doe eyes onto her sister. "I said I couldn't be with him. Not after everything with Vicki. What he is..."

"So you're punishing him for something that could not be helped? Have you ever questioned whether he wanted to be a vampire?" She did not wait for a response. "Did you not listen to the story he told us? How Katherine fed them their blood? If anyone was to be blamed, It's her. What happened to Vicki was a mistake. Yes a careless mistake, but one that can be fixed with a bit of help."

Darcy could not help but feel for Stefan. Since he moved to Mystic Falls, she couldn't help but feel a protective instinct, even before she had found out he was a vampire. There's something about those forest green eyes that shine with misery. Like, life had handed him nothing with sorrow and anguish. I mean could you imagine having the same women rip your best friend away, and turn them against each other, all because she was a manipulative bitch. Then she forced them to become vampires, all because she wanted them together, forever.

Elena shook her head. A stray tear escaped. "I can't. I'm sorry." She turned away, waiting for her sister to start the engine and looked back when she did not. "Why aren't we moving?"

"I think you're selfish. The poor guy poured his heart out to you, told you his big secret. All for you to throw it back in his face." Darcy chuckled scornfully. "Why am I not surprised? You always do this. You judge before you know the facts."

She started to engine again and drove down the remainder of the driveway, cutting it again and withdrawing the keys. Opening and closing the door, she did not bother to glance back to see if Elena was following, she could hear following behind like a lost puppy, begging and pleading for Darcy listen.

Darcy ignored her and rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, a smirking blue-eyed vampire opened the door. "Miss Darcella."

"My presence has been summoned." She sang.

"Yep!" Damon fake cheered.

"Can I come in, then?." Darcy smiled sweetly, tilting her head and fluttering her lashes.

Damon tapped his chin, contemplating, then grinned leaning on the doorframe. "Nope."

"Okay, then." Without warning, she pushed his smug face away, snickering as he stumbled back, his face a picture of surprise. "Thank you, Satan." She stepped around his tall frame and walked through the boarding house.

Darcy heard Elena pester Damon about where Stefan was. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. If she ended things, then why is she here?

"Stefan?" Elena called joining her sister as they wandered down the hall. They heard a noise coming from the other way.

"Bunny muncher?" Darcy sang peering around when she heard a sound.

"Yes?" Stefan said. She looked up and seen him standing on the stairs.

"Where's Vicki?" Elena asked as he came down the steps.

"She's upstairs." He replied, glancing at the girls.

"What happens now? Because my brother is out with Matt, searching for her with the rest of the town. What do we tell him?" Elena said, shooting Darcy a dirty look when she remembered her telling Jeremy the truth.

Darcy grinned, unaffected of her glares and smiled sweetly at Stefan. He smiled briefly, turning his attention back to Elena to answer her demands.

"I'm working with her, but it's gonna take time. She's very volatile and has an impulsive personality. She's a drug user. I mean, all that's gonna play a part in how she responds to this."

"So, she's a vampire with issues? What am I supposed to do? Because I'm lying to everyone that I care about. What's gonna happen to her?" Elena ranted, wrinkling her nose in displeasure.

"Elena quit with the interrogation. Stefan will tell you. There's no need to be a ranting madwoman." Darcy cut in, shooting Stefan an apologetic look for her sister's disrespect.

"It's okay, Darce. I'm gonna keep her with me until I know that she's safe." He paused, hesitating as he looked down at Elena's irked face. "That's why I asked Darcy to come over. See if she could help."

"What? Why? She's human!" Elena exclaimed, staring at him as if he had forgotten Darcy had blood running through her veins.

"I wanted Vicki to get adjusted around a human. I thought it would be a good idea. I've not said this before, but Darcy's blood does not affect me. Remember, at the football game, and Jeremy cut her hand open with the glass?... Her blood did not make me want to drain her dry. There's no sweet or salivating aroma." Stefan said, peering behind the girls.

They turned, seeing Damon walk down the hallway with a mug and a blood bag.

"Same as the other night, when she got shot. I never felt the urge to rip her apart." Damon commented as he sauntered past and entered the living room.

🖤💜🖤

Darcy reclined on the couch watching as Stefan sat with Vicky and Elena, explaining different blood types.

"Coffee is our best friend. It's the caffeine, it circulates through our veins, and it warms our body, so we're not cold to the touch."

"What if I want to drink human blood?" Vicki asked.

Elena looked at her in disgust.

"You're gonna have to learn to live with that urge and fight it daily. One day at a time." Stefan said.

"Oh, God! Don't start with that whole 12 steps thing. The school counsellor has been down that road, and it doesn't work for me." She said, looking down at the table.

"It can work. It's your choice, Vicki." Stefan said, observing her closely.

She let that comment pass over her head and called him out. "So you've never tasted human blood?"

Darcy got up off the couch. Her boots clicked as she walked over to them and took a seat next to Vicki. She studied Stefan and sipped her mug of coffee that she got Damon to make.

Stefan stalled glancing between the three curious girls and sighed. "Not in a long time."

"How long?" Vicky asked, enjoying Elena's squirming.

"Years and years. I'm not proud of my past," Stefan replied, looking down at his mug.

Darcy wondered what he meant by that and by the look of remorse on his face she gathered he had a troubled past that he wasn't so proud of. Stefan felt her gaze and lifted his head, meeting her attentive cerulean gaze; he smiled grimly before turning away.

"Does this sketchy feeling ever go away? It's like I have a massive hangover. This daylight thing is a bitch. I need more blood. Where's your bathroom? I have to pee. Why do I have to pee? I thought I was dead," Vicky said.

Darcy rolled her eyes, wishing she would stop with the rambling, she's getting her own headache listening to the nonstop bitching.

Stefan instructed her the directions to the bathroom. He watched as she left then got up, collecting the used mugs as he did. "I'm gonna uh...I'm gonna go get her some more blood." He said, still feeling uncomfortable.

They both watched as he exited the room. Darcy kicked her sister in the shin when she went to open her mouth.

"Oww. What was that for?" Elena asked, rubbing her leg.

"I know you, and I know when you're gonna open your big gob." Was all Darcy said as she pulled out a mini snickers chocolate bar from her jacket pocket. She unwrapped it and chucked it in her mouth..."Soo good." She moaned in bliss.

"False alarm. I think my body's feeling really funky. It's a good funk, but weird." Vicky said as she entered again, walking over to the table and pulled out her phone.

"Who are you calling?" Elena inquired, seeing her dial a number.

"Jeremy," Vicky said, looking Elena square in the face.

Darcy choked on the chocolate. "What?" She asked huskily once the chocolate was unlodged from her throat.

"I'm texting Jeremy." She repeated like it was not a big deal.

"Vicki. You can't see him anymore." Elena stated, shaking her head in declination.

Darcy winced thinking that was a bit harsh. She didn't have a problem as long as she was entirely under control and could stem her blood cravings.

"Oh. Come on, don't you start. I'm gonna see whoever I want." Vicki said, putting down her phone.

Darcy sat forward, sensing something was about to go down.

"Even though you could hurt him?" Elena asked frowning.

"I would never hurt Jeremy." She said, rolling her eyes.

"What my dear sister is trying to say is we would prefer if you were under control before you see Jeremy," Darcy said, cutting in hopefully, to defuse a growing fight.

"See why couldn't you say that, instead of being a bitch? I won't hurt him," Vicki said, annoyed.

"I know you think that, but I can't take that risk. You're gonna have to let Jeremy go now." Elena said, pushing her luck as she moved out of her seat and stepped closer to the new vampire.

Darcy sensed the shift in the atmosphere and stood up, preparing to protect her sister if needed. "Elena." She warned not to test the girl's impulsive emotions.

"Oh, really? And how long have you been preparing a 'you're not good enough' speech? I'm presuming it predates the who vampire thing?" Vicki said sarcastically.

"All I'm saying Is Jeremy is not getting involved in any of this. I mean it, Vicki," Elena said.

Too late, Darcy thought.

"Elena. We spoke about this before. It's wise for him to know." Darcy interrupted, staring Elena in the eye.

"Yeah? That was before. This is now. And I say he's not getting involved." Elena shot back.

"Yeah? You want our brother's death on your hands? Carry on don't come crying to me when Karma bites you in the ass." Darcy sat down. Elena can fight her own battles.

"She's not seeing Jeremy," Elena said, staring down at her sister.

"Or what?" Vicky said, speeding in front of her, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her into the wall. "Let's get one thing straight, you perky little bitch. You had my brother whipped for 15 years, and then you dumped him. When I look at you, that is all I see. Matty should have chosen Darcy instead. The better sister, but you dug in your claws and stopped that. Just so you know, I'm gonna see Jeremy whenever I wanna see Jeremy, because I have some fun new toys to play with, and I won't think twice about ripping your little head off. You got it?" She said as she dropped Elena on to the floor. She went to leave the room but paused as Darcy stood up and walked up to her.

"Lay one hand on my brother, and I will kill you, got it?" She leant forward her azure eyes twirling with a promise. "Remember when you die this time, you ain't coming back alive, so think wisely before you go you hurt Jeremy." She backed away, peering down at Elena as she sat on the floor gasping and clutching her throat.

"She strangled me," Elena whined in shock.

"That's what happens when you open your mouth to the wrong person, be glad it was Vicki."

💜🖤💜

A few minutes later Stefan came back and then the three went outside to talk.

"She threatened me," Elena said rubbing her neck.

"She's on edge. Imagine every sense in your body operating at super speed. I mean, she's uncomfortable in her own skin. And then when you throw in her other issues." Stefan said

"How long before it settles, hours, days, weeks?" Elena probed.

"There's no rule book." Stefan shrugged shoving his pants in his pants pockets.

Darcy leant on the wall, staring into the distance with a faraway look. "How long did it take you?"

Stefan turned his gaze to the dark-haired girl and went to stand next to her. "A while. But I didn't have anybody helping me. I had to do it on my own. The thing is, it's hard to resist certain people, especially when you're new. It's difficult to separate your feelings...Love, lust, anger, desire. It can all blur into one urge. Hunger."

Darcy frowned when he said he had no one to help him. Has he always been on his own in this wretched world? She shook her head, shifting sideways so she could peer into his green eyes.

"Does that mean what I think it does?"

Stefan nodded. "Yeah. Jeremy can't see her, not now. She might not be able to resist him, and she could hurt him."

Darcy hummed, eyes flitting downcast. "I told him the same, he said he wouldn't see her, but I know how influential Vicki can be."

Stefan's soothing voice brought her attention back to him. "Hey, it's okay. Vicki will stay here with Damon and me. He may be an ass, but he won't let her run on a rampage. I'm not gonna let anybody get hurt, okay?"

"We should get going," Elena spoke up with an odd frown as she watched the two interact.

"Elena..."

"Please, Stefan. There's only so much I can take." Elena said as she cut him off and turned away, walking over to Darcy's car.

Darcy brought Stefan into a hug, squeezing him lightly around his middle. "I'm sorry about Elena, just give her some time to adjust to things, she'll come around." She spoke softly as she pulled away, sending him a sad smile.

💜🖤💜

(Third POV)

"What are you doing?" Damon asked Vicki as he strolled out of Stefan's bathroom.

"Just contemplating the next hundred years..." She paused, looking at Damon as he sat down next to her, on Stefan's bed. "Why did you do it?"

"I was bored." Damon shrugged.

"You did this out of boredom?" Vicki asked flabbergasted.

Damon hummed. "It's one of the pitfalls of eternity."

"Now, I'm bored. And all I can think about is blood...I just want some blood. I can't think about anything else. What is that all about?" She asked.

Damon rolled his eye at her never-ending rambling. "That'll ease up. You've been cooped up all day." He stood up, walking towards the door. "Let's go."

"Where?" She asked, following after his long strides down the stairs.

"Your life was pathetic. Your afterlife doesn't have to be." He said as he proceeded to open the front door.

"What are you doing?" Stefan asked as he stopped Damon at the door.

"She's been cooped up in your room all day. She's not Anne Frank."

"No, no, no. Hey, now is not the time for this," Stefan said, putting a hand on the door.

"If you're gonna teach her...Teach her...show her what it's all about."

"She could hurt someone," Stefan said. "I promise Darcy that wouldn't happen. You know she would be pissed if we let Vicki out."

Damon chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "Ahh, she'll be fine. What's a little staking gonna do?" He opened the door and walked out to the front garden. "I'm not taking her to Disney land. We're going in the front yard. Come on."

"Bad idea," Stefan declared as he and Vicki trailed after him.

Damon rolled his eyes. "She's a vampire, Stefan. She should know the perks." He stopped in the middle of the front yard and turned to them.

"Like what?" Vicki asked.

"Like..." Damon was a blur as he sped around.

"Whoa... How did you do that?" Vicki laughed in amazement as he appeared behind her and Stefan.

"Come on, Vicki live a little. No pun intended." Damon goaded, and snickered at his own comment.

Vicki peered around and then sped away into the trees. The two vampires heard sticks snapping in her wake, and both knew she was gone.

"Uh..." Stefan said, looking at his brother, a laugh bubbling in his throat at his expression.

"My bad," Damon said, then his face screwed up. "Uh, maybe I should lock myself in the basement." Referring to Darcy who would have his head on a platter. Quite Literally.

"Hmm. You're on your own with this one, buddy." Stefan laughed, clapping him on the back and walked away, whistling into the boarding house.

💜🖤💜

Darcy picked up her buzzing phone off the vanity table and read the message flashing on the home screen.

Stefan 🐰 🧛

We lost Vicki.

Darcy groaned banging her head against the bedroom wall. "Ughh. Bloody hopeless morons."

How can two older vampires manage to lose a baby vampire in less than twenty-four hours? All they had to do was to keep her indoors. What was so hard about that? Nothing was unless someone thought they were smart and had it backfire on them. Two words. Damon Salvatore.

And you know that saying Karma's a bitch, watch her come and bite a sizable chunk out of his ass because she will, and Darcy will be laughing from the sidelines.

The dark head huntress sighed, tucking her phone into her leather pants and stared at her appearance for tonight's Halloween party. She's not all fussed about dressing up, but Caroline threatened to dress up her as Alice In Wonderland, and that wasn't happening. So she thought why not go as Katniss from The Hunger Games, both of their roles are fitting. She has the equipment, and here she is dressed in all black leather and knee-high laced combat boots, with her bow and quiver pouch encased with arrows strapped across her back. The only colour is her signature, blood-red lips.

After checking the straps were fastened correctly, she made her way downstairs and into the kitchen where Jeremy was leaning against the kitchen, moping on his phone. Darcy opened the fridge pulling out a water bottle as she subtly listened to his numerous attempts of calling Vicki.

"You gotta call me, Vic. I don't get it. What is going on with you? Just, just call me please," He said, hanging up. He let out a shallow breath, peering up at his older sister with sorrowful eyes.

"She'll call, Jer." Darcy assured as she gently hugged him.

"I just don't get what I did wrong. Why won't she call me? She phoned Matt. Why not me?" He mumbled into her shoulder.

Darcy pulled away, wrinkling her nose at her brother's unhappy appearance she hates when he's sad. "She'll call when she's ready, she's going through a massive change." A grin spreads on her red-stained lips. "Hey, I know why don't you come with Elena and me to the Halloween party at school. Could be fun." She shrugged, giving him an encouraging smile.

Jeremey's brows furrowed in perplex, then he stood back and finally took in Darcy's appearance, "You're going as...you?" He chuckled faintly eyeing the long black arrows in the leather quiver.

"Cool. Sure. Sounds fun...Can't wait."

Elena walked in, eyeing her siblings with an odd look. She pinned Jeremy with a stare. "I know you're upset about Vicki. I heard she called Matt. But you can't be with her. She needs to get better. The best thing you can do for her is to let her go." She said, expressing her mounting concerns.

"What does that mean, 'let her go'?... Oh, okay, sure. Since we're such experts on letting people go, right?" Jemery said mockingly.

"Hey, Elena means well. She just doesn't want you to get hurt, okay?" Darcy cut in stepping in between the two.

Elena peered around Darcy's leather-clad form. "I know you may not see it, but trust me Jer. It's for the best." She stressed.

Jeremy shook his head in denial, peering up at Darcy as he answered Elena's question, knowing she will see his reasoning much clearer than Elena's.

"You know how hard it was after mom and dad died. I felt like crap, like nothing really even matters. Without you bringing me back on my feet and Vicki being here. Now all of a sudden I get these moments and things started to feel just a little bit better, and she's every single one of them," He turned to Elena. "So, you may not see it, but trust me. Keeping me away from her is not for the best." He finished walking out of the kitchen, leaving the girls staring at each other, both supporting different emotions. One saying 'I told you so', the other frustrated her demands aren't being taken seriously.

💜🖤💜

Soon the party approached. Darcy was with Bonnie standing next to the punch bowl. She was wearing a bomb ass witch costume, even a pointy hat too!

"Damn, BonBon, you look good, girl," Darcy said in appreciation.

"Me? Have you seen you, you're totally rocking the all-leather get-up. And damn that ass." Bonnie swooned, fanning herself playfully.

Darcy laughed, pushing her slightly in amusement. "Well, of course, I wouldn't be Darcy now would I?" The hunter joked back as Tyler sauntered over with a tray full of red solo cups.

"Cider for the ladies. It's a Lockwood special." Tyler said, offering them a drink.

"No way. Last year I was hungover until thanksgiving." Bonnie said grimacing.

Tyler shrugged nodding and turned to Darcy. "Want one? We can call it a truce and forget about that stupid fight" He asked, somewhat hoping she'll accept his act of contrition.

Darcy thought, eyeing him carefully for any misgivings. Seeing none, she accepted. "Okay. Truce. But let me make myself clear, Lockwood. Hurt my brother again in any way, and we'll go for round two, okay?" She questioned, picking up a red cup.

"Got it." Tyler nodded, tapping his cup against hers. They tossed the cups back draining the contents.

The two dark head girls watched as Tyler sauntered back through the heaving crowds. "I'm proud of you, you know," Bonnie said, smiling.

"Me? Why?" Darcy asked curiously as she turned to face her friend.

"The old Darcy would have told Tyler to get fucked up the arse."

"True." She shrugged then doubled over laughing at Bonnie's choice of words, also sending Bonnie in her own laughing fit. "Oh, Bon, I love you. Please never change." She said, bringing the girl into a side hug.

" I won't if you won't," Bonnie assured.

Darcy went to say something when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She dug through the too-tight pants, and then rolled her eyes, seeing Stefan's name flash on the screen. She was contemplating on declining the call but pressed accept, thinking something must be wrong.

"What's up sexy-ass?"

"Darcella?" Darcy frowned, Stefan, 's never used her full name before.

"What's wrong?" She asked, whispering to Bonnie she was taking the call outside.

"Please don't be mad..."

Darcy froze, a chill running her blood cold. "Out with it, Stefan."

"It's Vicki... she has Jeremy."

"What the fuck? How?" She demanded pushing through the crowded throng of teens, her hands twitching to hold something to suppress the growing rage. She shoved through the hallway doors, searching every classroom for her brother and a runaway vampire.

"You best find them and return Jeremy safe Stefan. And If I find a single hair harmed on his body, you'll regret ever losing Vicki in the first place." She snapped hanging up, and ran through the remainder of the hallways, growing increasingly worried when she couldn't see her brother. Hell, where was even Elena when she needed her?

Coming to the last resort, she dialled a number she really did not want but knew he would get the job done. Besides, it's his fuck up.

"Princess? How nice to hear from you." Damon chirped.

"Cut the shit, Damon. Get your ass down to the school and get Vicki before she drains all the students dry. Oh, a warning she has my brother. You won't wanna know what will happen if she hurts him." She hung up before giving him the chance to reply and ran back through the hall towards the exit when I heard Jeremy's voice yelling outside.

Darcy kicked the door open and slid her crossbow around to her front, setting an arrow and pulling back the string ready to attack if needed. Six yellow school buses were lined in the car park, the hunter walked stealthy, checking under each bus. Then came to a sudden halt at the last where she saw Vicki had Jeremy pushed up against the bus, readying to take a bite out of his neck.

"Vicki, no!" Elena's voiced shouted out as she skidded to a stop, unaware Darcy was behind her.

Shit Elena, why did you have to come now. Darcy thought as her heart hammered against her rib cage. Now she had to get both of her siblings out of her before they get eaten.

Vicki whirled around, causing Elena to gasp and step back at her real predator appearance. She was about to lunge towards Elena when Darcy ran over and pushed her sister away.

"Vicki! Darcy!" Jeremy yelled as she threw Darcy into a pile of pallets and trash. As she fell, she dropped her crossbow, which was resting at Vicki's feet.

"Darcy! Darcy!" Elena cried, running over and pulling her sister out of the rubble. "Are you okay?" She fretted, looking around for any apparent injuries.

Darcy felt a sharp sting in her shoulder as gestured. "My back it hurts. I think an arrow it stuck. But forget about it for now. You need to get you and Jeremy out of here. Okay?" She stared sternly into Elena's eyes.

Stefan appeared, running and looking under the buses for Vicki who had now disappeared.

"Go. Get inside. Go!" Stefan yelled.

"What? No, I'm not leaving Darcy. No!" Elena refused profusely, gaping at the arrow, sticking out of her shoulder.

"I'm fine. Go, get you and Jeremy out of here." Darcy pleaded desperately pushing Elena over to Jeremy and shoving them towards the door when all of a sudden Jeremy got wrenched out of her grip and thrown into some trash cans.

Darcy growled in frustration and whirling around, glancing all over for the scheming vampire, when she spotted her crossbow laying on the ground a few feet away and lunged for it. Just as Vicki whipped passed her and grabbed hold of Elena as she tried to help Jeremy and bit into her shoulder.

"Ahh!" Elena's screams pierced her heart. She wasted no time in pulling the string back but paused as Stefan rested his hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. He knew what was running through her head. He didn't want a death on her hands, not Darcy.

Darcy screamed in frustration, then stopped seeing the wooden stake in Stefan's hands, she glanced back up into his vivid green eyes. He sighed nodding. That's all she needed as she released the string and the arrow shot out and stabbed Vicki in the back, knocking her to the floor. She screamed and writhed in agony as the vervain burnt her insides. Stefan soon put her out of her misery and sped over and staked her in the heart.

Elena gasped, holding her bleeding shoulder as Vicki's skin turn mottled and grey, veins wriggling as they appeared on her skin.

"Vicki! Vicki!" Darcy turned to Jeremy as he sobbed hysterically. Her heart broke, seeing the broken tears slide down his face. She wasted no time and ran over to him, clutching his sobbing frame and rocked him back and forth.

"Shh, Jer. It's okay. I'm here."

"She's dead. You and Stefan killed her." He cried, trying to push out of her hold.

Darcy's tears fell at his devastating words. "No, no, Jer. Don't say that. Vicki was going to kill you and Elena." Her voice cracked, struggling to keep herself together.

Her words seemed to have soothed him as he stopped pushing away and slumped in her arms, crying helplessly. Darcy met Elena's tearful eyes and motioned her over. Elena ran, clutching on to her big sister and sobbed hard into her shoulder.

"Shh. It's okay. I got you both. I won't let anyone hurt you." She soothed, kissing their heads.

Darcy remembered Vicki bit Elena and pulled back inspecting the incisor marks in her shoulder. It was wet and concealed with leaking blood.

"Stef?" She called. Stefan appeared at her side, glancing down at her with worried eyes. "Can you take them home, please? They shouldn't have to see this."

Stefan shook his head rapidly standing up. "Yeah, of course." He gathered Jeremy and Elena and paused at Darcy's intensive stare.

"What happened here tonight, do not blame yourself. It could not have been helped. Vicki would have gone rabid and went on a killing spree. You did us all a favour and ended the girl's misery." Darcy implored staring with fierce determination. "Thank you for helping me keep my family alive. I'll forever be grateful." She stretched up and kissed his cheek, leaving him stunned before she walked over to Vicki's decaying corpse.

Darcy waited for them to go snd sat on the ground, laying Vick's head on her lap, stroking back the long bronze locks. She sniffed, smiling sadly down at the girl.

"I'm so sorry, Vicki. I wish tonight didn't end this way. I know we never had the chance to bond over the years. I wish we did; maybe we could have been best of friends... My little brother loved you so much; you brought back a little light in his eyes. I want to thank you for that. I know Matty also loves you and will miss you and I promise to look out for him while you're gone. He's gonna be upset for a bit, but he'll be okay after a while. I'll make sure of it. I'm sorry for everything, for you getting dragged into this mess. A vampire life was not for you, you wanted peace and to be free. Now you can. Fly free and relish in harmony."

A stray tear set free, landing on Vicki's cheek. Darcy brushed it away with the back of her hand and gently closed the girl's eyes. "Rest in peace."

A pair of black boots emerged in her eyesight. Darcy trailed them up meeting Damon's swimming blue eyes. She sniffed wiping her face, setting Vicki on the ground and climbed to her feet and sent the girl one last smile. She turned to Damon and nodded. She was done here.

"Are you okay?" Damon questioned, staring at the arrow still sticking out of Darcy's shoulder.

"No, I'm not. Everything is a mess. But what can I do but watch as it all falls apart?" Darcy shrugged, reaching over to remove the arrow. She couldn't quite reach and pouted up at Damon. "A bit of help, please?"

Damon nodded wordlessly, turning Darcy around and gripping the metal. "This might hurt." He warned.

"Go for it."

With a sharp a tug it was removed, leaving behind a blooded hole. "Oww." Darcy winced putting pressure on the wound. "Thanks."

"Do you want some blood? To heal." Damon clarified.

Darcy shook her head woefully. "No, it's what I deserved I had a part in her death."

Damon stared at her in incredulity. "Aren't you going to shout abuse at me?"

"No. Why should I? Yes, mistakes were made. But what good would it do if I shout and threaten to put a stake in your heart? It wouldn't solve anything. You use this day to learn from your mistakes and move forward." Darcy spoke with nothing but the honest truth.

She turned to leave the parking lot and stopped when Damon called out.

"Hey, Darcy!... What you said to Stefan...yeah I heard...and just now. The same goes to you, none of this is your fault, don't let it eat you alive. Nothing could have been helped. It would have happened another day if not today."

Darcy nodded, sending him a small smile. "Do me a favour?" Damon nodded. "Make sure Vicki gets a nice burial?"

Damon sent her an odd glance, peering down at Vicki's body next to her feet and back to the dark-haired girl. "Burial?"

"Yeah. After the shit life she got handed, she deserves to have a nice burial."

Damon stared at Darcy, surprised with her empathetic abilities. He will never say it out loud, but this girl has stunned him any many ways. Two things leave him awe, her fierce protectiveness over her family and her compassionate heart.

The world needs more Darcella Gilberts.

"Oh, and one more thing and I'll go. Can you talk to Jeremy for me? I don't want him to be in agony. He loved Vicki very much. I don't want you to erase his memories of vampires or hideaway Vicki's death, just maybe take away some of his sufferings? That he will be sad, but in time he'll grow and learn to be happy knowing she's now at peace."

Damon's never speechless not once left stumped over someone's good compassion. He can't do anything but whisper his word. "Okay."

"Thank you." Darcy smiled one last time and walked across the lot.

6684-word count.

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