[*Chapter Fifty*]

*Warning; long chapter ahead!*

Darcy pushed open the door to the Grill and relished in the warmth containing the inside space that swaddled her like a babies blanket, wiping away the dusks chill. The soft pop tunes mingling with the rowdy bar-goers met her ears, and her eyes overlooked the crowd as she wove her way through and took a seat at the bar.

"You know I can't serve you, right?" The barman said as he approached her on the other side of the bar.

Darcy removed her gaze away from the occupants of the establishment and turned to him with a tired look. She nodded. "I'm good. I could kill for a coffee, though."

The barman raised his eyebrows and checked the time on the clock that was mounted on the wall behind him, noting it was 9:30 pm. "A bit late for a night-time coffee, isn't it?"

"Nah. It's never too late to indulge in a coffee," Darcy mumbles, dropping her head on her folded arms.

Alaric had been sitting in a booth marking his books when Darcy had practically stumbled her way through the Grill. He packed his possessions into his bag and made his way over, taking a seat on a stool next to the raven-haired woman.

"Put it on my tab... I'll pay," a voice announced from beside Darcy. "I'll have another beer, too."

Hearing his voice and the legs of the stool scrape along the floor caused her to lift her head. She sent him a sleepy grin. "You don't have to, but thanks." She glimpsed at the barman before he left. "Make it extra strong with two sugars and a splash of milk."

Alaric shrugged, drumming his fingers on the bar. "Consider it a token of thanks for having my back earlier."

"Is this how it's gonna be? I give you an apple, and you buy me a drink?" Darcy allowed herself to chuckle briefly before it fiddled out into a yawn.

"Why not? It could be the start of a beautiful friendship," Alaric grinned. The barman returns, placing their drinks on the counter. "Thanks," he nods, nursing a sip of his beer.

"Cheers to that," Darcy returns his grin, knocking her mug against his tumbler, then settles it back on the counter after taking a long gulp and releasing a blissful sigh.

"So, what brings you here at this time of night?" the hunter/teacher observes her as she rummages through the inside of her jacket and discreetly pulls something out and conceals it in her lap. "And not attached to Salvatore's backside."

"Oh, you know, infuriating family members and the avoidance of sleep? I kinda needed a pick me up," Darcy shrugs, twisting the vile around in her palm and detaching the cap. "And you make it sound like we're never apart."

"From my observations, you're very much like two salivating dogs chasing around their bone," he smirked before the expression washed away to confusion. "Aren't we supposed to rejoice in the act of sleep, not avoid it?" Alaric said. He twists in his seat and meanders his eyes around her face, his features wrinkling in worry upon noticing her current state. Her face was devoid of her usual tan complexion, showcasing the pale undertones of her skin stretched taut across her cheekbones, darkening the bags honed underneath her eyes, making the blue stand out against the bloodshot red that encircled her irises. Her lips that she usually coated in ruby was barren of any colour and cracked as if she was dehydrated. The only unblemished appearance was her raven hair, not a curl out of place, tumbling down her back.

He couldn't help but voice his concerns. "Darcy... I'm not trying to offend you, but you kinda look like shit. This is more than to whatever is bothering you right now, isn't it?"

"First, you refer me to a dogs bone, and now you're telling me I look like shit? Want to add more to that list?" Darcy sighed when Alaric shook his head. She capped the vile again and leant her cheek on her closed fist, resting her elbow on the bar. "Have you ever felt like a big part of you was missing? Like it's right there in front of you to grasp, but once you reach out, it slips away? You live and breathe for this feeling, would do anything to get it back, and the only feasible way was to sleep."

"For you to get that missing piece back, you need to sleep?" Alaric clarified, somewhat confused.

"Precisely," Darcy nodded. "Except I may have gripped that missing piece, but when I wake up, it's gone again, bringing the sense of loss. Either way, both are painful experiences."

"So, you don't sleep, or you try not to. But, surely that's not good for you and your health. Without it, you won't be able to function, and you'll continue to deteriorate," Alaric waved his hand, gesturing to her appearance. "But you know, I kind of get where you're coming from... When I lost Isobel, I experienced the same. During the day, I was wasting away searching for any possible clues to determine she was out there somewhere. I kind of knew she wasn't dead. I did see her disappear before my eyes. But my conscience refused to believe that, and when I did sleep, I was living in the memories of us together, and there I found peace until I woke up again."

"I guess we're sort of similar in that way. I experience the same, but they aren't voluntary."

"Are you saying they are forced?"

"Kind of? I don't know... I have certain triggers. Half of the time, I don't know what they are—the memories-nightmares-flashbacks-whatever-they-are. A particular event could happen and be its trigger, and I would be none the wiser until I fall asleep. But they don't just happen when I sleep; I can be awake too. Either way, I'm condemned to the effects."

Alaric had a thoughtful look upon his face. He picked up his beer and drained the contents, the glass rattling on the bar as he put it back down. Darcy had caught the look and couldn't hold back her curiosity. "Spill it out?"

"You said they can happen when you're awake also, right?" Darcy nodded. "Seems similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Have you experienced anything traumatic of the sorts?"

Darcy sat contemplating Alaric' words, and whilst she was a victim of abuse during her early childhood, which could be a justification, but in the back of her mind, she knows that's not the factor. Solely because her head is plagued with visions of her and a family in a whole different background, of another life she has no recollection of.

"I apologise if I've made you uncomfortable," Alaric said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"No," Darcy shook her head. "It's alright, just a touchy subject." Darcy paused and glanced down at her now cold coffee and peered at the vile in her hands. "Talking about subjects... I'm gonna change this one... and do this," she uncapped the top and poured the yellow liquid into the coffee, pausing when the mixture was half empty.

Alaric' eyes bugged out as he leant near her for a closer view. "Is that?"

"Vervain? Yep. With everything going on with John and the topic of Isobel, I'm feeling a little cautious," she glanced from the vile and to Alaric. "Do you want some? Better to be prepared than not."

Alaric nodded and clutched his palm around the slightly warm vile when she handed it over. "Neat?" He grimaced. "And do you really think this all this is not a coincidence? That Isobel could be under our noses all this time?"

"I usually mix it in my coffee, saves wearing jewellery and fearing it'll either get lost or a vampire rips it off...." Darcy chuckled at his face. "As for Isobel, it all seems a little fishy to me. John appeared when the tomb vampires escaped. From there, we learnt he's involved with Isobel and Katherine. And then he willingly offers his aid to Henry, when I know he hates all things, vampires. John wouldn't do that unless he had another motive. Which he did, I guess, he wanted tabs on what the tomb vampires were up to and who's no better than Henry himself? But there's also the nagging thought of why he's so keen on them. Why does he need to keep tabs in the first place? There's a hidden purpose somewhere in the middle."

"Wow, so much in that little mind of yours," Alaric chuckled, impressed. "Add on the fact that the man followed you and Elena from Trudie' house; he was compelled to kill himself after he delivered a message, "Stop looking for her". Elena found his phone and Isobel's number in the call log, she phoned, and miraculously the number no longer exists."

Darcy hummed, frowning down at the counter in thought. "Then you do a trace on John's cell and just happen to find a new number under Isobel's name, and then the geotrack leads to a suspicious address, which we found our dear friend Henry was residing. And then we hit a dead-end... I don't like it; dead-ends don't end well," she shook her head and glanced down at the vile still encased in Alaric's hand and nudged him with her elbow.

"Jesus... If anyone happened to see us right now, we would look like a right pair of drug heads," Alaric chuckled as he looked around to check no one was watching and then threw back the liquid. He could feel his face screw up once the terrible taste reached his taste buds and was barely able to keep it down. "God, that's awful! How can you drink this and not want to hurl your stomachs contents?" he gasped, massaging his throat.

"You get immune to the taste after a while; mixing it with a drink dulls the flavour," Darcy smirked. She peered up and checked the time, and groaned seeing it was nearing 10:30 pm. She really did not want to head home but knew she could not avoid the inevitable for long. She lifted the mug of coffee and took a mouthful when a voice sounded behind them.

"Hello, Ric."

Beside her, out of the corner of her eye, she could see Alaric tense before he turned around to see who had approached them.

"Isobel."

"It's good to see you. You look good. I hear you're a high school history teacher? How is that?"

The mug nearly slipped from her hands from her shock. Setting it down, Darcy shifted around on her seat, her eyes drifting from the woman standing before them and to Alaric. She met his desperate look and silently asked with her eyes, was this reality or another nightmare? Maybe both?

Alaric winced and nodded. Darcy' cheeks bulged as she sputtered, splattering the vervained coffee, unfortunately for Ric, over his face. She ignored his shocked cry as he began wiping his face. Her mind was spinning. She always had an inkling that Isobel was close by, and it was only time before she showed herself. But she didn't expect here and now. How long had she been standing there? Not even ten minutes ago, the Protectress and the male hunter were talking about her. Had Isobel heard?

A cough brought her back to the present, jarring her from the merry-go-round in her head. Her eyes twitched in annoyance, and her lip curled into a sneer as she appraised her... Isobel. She was nothing more than an average woman. Black hair pinned back in a high ponytail, revealing her green eyes and an angular jaw. She stood roughly around 5'4". Her all-black attire made her appear more coercing. Said average woman who had caused nothing but pain, and Darcy had a gut feeling this was just the start.

It will only get worse from here on out.

"Where have you been, Isobel?" Alaric asked.

"I don't have any reasons that are gonna comfort you. I don't have any explanations that are gonna satisfy you. I wanted this," Isobel asserted calmly.

"It's that simple?" Alaric scoffed, standing up from his seat.

"Yeah," Isobel nodded, her stare trailing off to Darcy, who met her stare dead on. "You were supposed to mourn me and move on... I can see you have achieved both goals... I didn't expect her to be so... young? A student? That's certainly a surprise."

Darcy stood up and moved around Alaric' frame, so she was positioned between the two. "I don't care who you are. Alaric may let you, but I'm not going to let you waltz in here and degrade him like he's a piece of trash. You lost that chance when you traded another life without him."

Isobel laughed. "The guard dog got the whole story. I take it?"

"It's okay, I've got this," Alaric touched Darcy's arm and pulled her back to his side when Darcy opened her mouth to retort. He locked his glare on his ex-wife. "And you're wrong. I did mourn for you. You were my wife, and I loved you. How could I not search for you?"

"Because I wasn't lost, Ric," Isobel said, smiling. She leaf's through her coat pocket and pulls a paper and pen, leaning on the bar to write something down. "I understand that you know my daughter Elena and I hear that she's been looking for me. So...."

She hands Alaric the paper. "I want you to arrange a meeting with us."

Alaric glances down at the paper in her hand. "You want me to deliver a message?"

"Yeah." Isobel smiles.

"Screw you. You selfish bitch," he whispers, looking down at her in disgust.

"That won't be happening," Darcy smacks Isobel's hand away, the paper falling to the floor, and steps closer to the woman. "But here's what's going to happen. You're going to pick up the piece of paper and turn around, go back to wherever place you crawled out from, and you're going to stay well away from Elena, away from this town. You are not wanted here."

Isobel smiled in amusement at the human girl before her. "I'm sorry? But I don't think I learnt who you are?"

Darcy smirked. "The privilege of knowing who I am is not permitted."

Isobel mirrored her actions. "And what's a little human like you going to do about that if I disobey your commands?"

"I may not be able to do anything," Darcy glanced around the room, noting the room was still reverently filled with customers. A movement over Isobel's shoulder caught her attention, the door to Grill opened, and a familiar person entered. She grinned, causing Isobel to feel compelled to follow her line of sight, falling for her trap. "However,... see that woman who has just entered? The blonde lady in the blue uniform? That's Sheriff Forbes. I can breathe the word... "vampire", and you'll be dead before you can leave these premises."

Isobel whipped around her face, enraged. She advanced towards Darcy. "You wouldn't!"

"Wouldn't I?" Darcy grinned and picked up her mug of coffee. "Now, if that's all, I believe we're done here." Hooking her arm with Ric', she walked past Isobel's dumbfounded form and led them through the shrinking crowd and out of the Grill. Glancing over her shoulder, she steered them over to her car.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Darcy! Threatening her?!" Alaric hissed.

"I had do to something! We needed an escape route," Darcy hissed back, unlocking her car door, wrestling Alaric' bag off his shoulder and tossing it in the back seat with her free hand.

"And you couldn't think of something that wouldn't attract a target on your back, a vampire no less?!"

The wind whirled around them before Darcy' grip detangled. A banging sounded as Alaric' back struck the side of the car.

"What do you want from us?" Alaric gasped, staring into the angry eyes of his estranged wife.

"I told you," Isobel stated.

"I'm not gonna do anything for you," he denied, eyeing Darcy standing behind Isobel, the coffee mug in her hands poised.

"You better tell Elena that I want to meet her, or I'm gonna start killing the citizens of this town, one by one, and I'm gonna start with your history students. Got it?"

"Oh, hey, Sheriff Forbes!" Darcy called out.

Immediately Isobel whipped around, giving Darcy the impetus to throw the vervained coffee in her face. Isobel screamed, hunching over as she covered her blistering face.

"Quick! Get in the car!" Darcy ordered, tossing the mug on the ground and rounding her car. Alaric obeyed, jumping in after her, and before he had the chance to shut the door behind them, they were speeding away.

"Holy crap!" Alaric breathed, slamming the door and gripped the 'oh shit' handle as the car hurdled down the dark empty streets. He caught sight of the speedometer when they curved a corner, reaching 90mph. "Oh my god... we're gonna die!" Alaric sure felt he would meet his fate when his teeth chattered as they seemed to hit every pothole and groove along the streets.

"Not tonight, sweetheart," Darcy grunted, wrestling through her jeans pocket and throwing her phone at him. "Call Elena!"

Alaric fumbled with the wriggling device and did as requested. The phone rang, once, twice, thrice before cutting out.

"Try again!"

RING... RING... RING... RING-

Darcy punched the steering wheel as the call was cut a second time. "Again!"

RING... RING- "Hey, you've reached Elena's cell. I'm unable to come to the phone right now. Leave-"

"Fuck sake, Elena!" Alaric jumped as Darcy let out a roar as they screeched to a halt into the Gilbert' driveway and killed the engine. He watched wide-eyed as she kicked open the car door and jumped out, livid curses of how she was going to kill Elena once she got her hands on her spewed out of her mouth.

"Erm... if you haven't noticed," Alaric trailed off, flinching when Darcy slammed the driver's door and veered around the car and wrenched his open. "This isn't my apartment...."

"Get out of the car, Alaric," Darcy gritted out, hands clenched around the door handle in a death grip.

"Why am I here, Darcy?"

Darcy squeezed her eyes tight and leaned against the car, the organ in her chest beating at a rapid pace. "There's no way I'm going to let you go home when Isobel's in town, not after tonight. So please just listen and get out of the car and get in the house!"

Alaric sat in a tense, silent moment, his eyes passing over her appearance. He winced, seeing her already sleep-deprived frame weakening further, yet her eyes were lit up in a furnace. Either way, he was getting out of this car two ways. He could go willingly, or Darcy would drag him out kicking and screaming. Damon's words from earlier surfed through his head, sealing his decision.

"She's special, right? This is her way of welcoming you to the family. You should be honoured. She doesn't give her compassion and loyalty out freely".

Alaric nodded, shutting the door, and followed her up the porch steps. "What about Jenna? Will she be okay with this?"

Darcy sighed, slotting her keys into the door, and pushing it open, gesturing for Alaric to step inside, closing once he passed the threshold. "She'll probably be in bed... I take it you two haven't had the chance to talk yet?"

Alaric shook his head, grimacing and followed Darcy over to the dining table. "No. Not because I don't want to but on the standards on where to start."

"Maybe now Isobel is here... that should be the starting point. Elena was going to do the honours but never got around to it yet," she mumbled, shredding off her jacket and placing it on the back of one of the dining chairs.

"That's gonna be a wonderful conversation starter," Alaric snarked, fidgeting on the spot with a frown upon his face.

"Sit. I just need to check on Jer, and we'll get started," she said, bounding up the stairs.

Her boots thumped in tandem with her racing pulse, and it skyrocketed with fury when she threw open Elena's bedroom door and saw she wasn't there. Backing out, Darcy barged into Jeremy's room, the door colliding with the wall.

Startled, Jeremy let out a yell and tumbled off his bed. "What the hell? Are you trying to kill me?" he exclaimed, clambering off the floor.

Darcy ignored him and stomped her way over to him. "Where's Elena?"

"What?" At this point, Jeremy felt plain confused. One minute the boy was dreaming about the kiss he shared with Anna, and the next, Darcy was rushing in like a raging bull.

"I will if you don't answer me. Where is Elena?!" she required again.

Jeremy gulped and backed away upon seeing her enraged state. At a closer inspection, he could see fear shining in her eyes, and worry began to consume him. "She's not here. She's spending the night at Caroline's. What's wrong, Darce?"

Darcy's shoulders sagged as she slumped down on his bed. Did Elena hate her that much that she couldn't stand to be in the same house?

Brushing her hands down her face, she released an agitated breath. She had to think for a second before flying off in a rage. Her head snapped up, her eyes pleading with Jeremy. "Jenna's home, right?"

Jeremy nodded and sat beside her. "What's wrong? You're starting to scare me."

Darcy fell back on Jeremy's bed in relief. Jenna and Jeremy were home with her. They are safe—Elena's with Caroline. The Protectress felt slight assurance knowing Elena would be safe under the Sheriff's roof. Though she wished, the Gilbert girl was with her. They are all safe.

Jeremy shook her shoulder, snapping her back to the present. "Darcy?"

"Isobel's in town."

For a second time that night, Jeremy found himself on his bedroom floor. He scrambled up, watching as Darcy began pacing around his room. "What? Are you sure? Isobel as in Elena's birth mother?"

"Who happens to be a vampire? Yes, I'm very sure, Jer," she muttered sarcastically.

"How can you be sure it's her when you've never met her or know what she looks like?"

Darcy threw up her arms. "Oh, maybe 'cause when a random woman walks into the Grill and refers to her husband as Ric, and he follows by calling her, Isobel. That's how you know!"

"What?! But why would she show up now?" Jeremy asked.

"That's what I would like to know. She said she wants to meet Elena," she halted her haste striding. "Where's John?"

"Hold on," Jeremy mumbled, gripping onto his hair. "I can't think with you adding on more questions... Isobel is in Mystic Falls, and she wants to meet Elena?" He clarified. Darcy nodded, watching him as he attempted to piece things together. He grimaced and shook his head. "But why now?"

"But why anything? Why show up after Seventeen years and not be to her convenience? That's why I need to know where John is, is he home?"

"No, he's out too," Jeremy denied, wincing as Darcy let out a furious yell and stalked out of his room. His pulse raced as he followed her into the hallway. "Wait! I need to tell you something about Anna."

Darcy flung open the door to her room and headed over to her closet. He let out another wince hearing the wood strike with the wall. She scoffed, wrenching the cupboard doors open. "Why would I be interested in Anna?"

"Maybe because her mother was in love with Johnathan Gilbert," he clarified.

Darcy paused, her head turning in his direction as he leaned against her vanity table. "The original Johnathan Gilbert?" Jeremy nodded in confirmation. "Hmm, interesting."

"Apparently, he betrayed Pearl. He made these fancy devices, and when he came to learn she was a vampire, he turned on her."

"Devices?" Darcy clocked onto the phrase. Her mind tracked to the journals and wondered if anything about them was in them.

"Yeah. Pearl stole something from Johnathan Gilbert. Anna said Uncle John wants this invention device. But get this, Pearl gave to Damon."

Her mind flashed to the box hidden in Damon's desk and connected the dots. "I think I know what you're talking about. It's this old wooden box that resembles an antique music box. I've been trying to discern its purpose."

Why does John want it, and why did Pearl hand it over to Damon?

"Consider this an apology."

Her mind reverts to what Damon had told her that night. Pearl and Johnathan had some sort of relationship going on. He had confided in her about his enthusiasm for his inventions and that he had created a detection device meant to track down the town's vampire element, not knowing Pearl was a vampire at that point.

Turning back to Jeremy, she asked him to fetch Jenna and go downstairs to keep Alaric company. Walking into the closet, Darcy ducked and pushed past the rails of clothes stopping until her hands met the back of the cupboard. Pulling her keys from her pants, her fingers traced over the keys, pausing on a small gold key and sliding it into the keyhole. Her ears heard a familiar "click", causing a grin to appear. Swiping her hands to the right, she applied some pressure, gripped and pulled left, the wheel bearings whirling as the door revealed a hidden compartment.

Inside housed additional elements of hunting gear and a locked brown chest. Fiddling with her keys, she picked out another small rusty old key and slotted it into the padlock. Lifting the lid, her eyes trailed over the contents; several discarded art scrapbooks, a collection of antique music records, a record player, a jewellery box, her journals and what was supposed to obtain the Gilbert journals— the latter was no longer there.

Clenching her jaw, Darcy shifted beneath the art books and pulled out a thick hidden wallet folder. Locking the chest, she stood up, her eyes roamed over walls of the hooked hunting gear and selected her mini Pneumatic Stake Launcher. She would have preferred her crossbow and arrowheads, but those carried more bulk and was currently in the Salvatores' possession, along with her hunting bag. And then she paused.

Along with the Gilbert journals, something else was missing.

She surveyed again. Daggers, check. Arrows, check. Wooden vervain stakes, minus two, check. Bullets, check. Harnesses, check. Black leather gloves, check. Vervain darts, check. A single lonely vervain grenade that she stole from Alaric, check. Rope, check. Stake gun— the bastard!

"Shit!" Darcy cursed, sliding the folder under her arm, and picked up several wooden stakes, daggers, rope, and vervain darts before exiting the closet and dumping the overflowing contents on her bed. She retraced her steps back and selected two harnesses and hauled up a smaller duffel bag, and then secured the compartment. Dumping them into the bag, she dashed over to the bed and shoved the other items inside and then zipped it closed.

Leaving her room, Darcy ventured over to Grayson and Miranda's bedroom, where John had taken up lodging.

Downstairs, Jenna, and Jeremy sat at the dining table watching Alaric pace the floors of their living room. "If she stomps any harder the ceiling will cave in," Alaric grumbled, biting his nails.

"I can't believe Elena didn't tell me about Isobel," Jenna muttered, her sight fastened on the stairs.

"And now Isobel's in town," Jeremy said, adding fire to the fuel.

"It's not going to fare well," Alaric commented, also eyeing the stairs.

"For Darcy or Isobel?" Jenna asked, distressed.

"Both. She's probably plotting Isobel's death right now," Alaric and Jeremy glanced at each other, gulping. "Maybe we should call Damon or Stefan?"

Jeremy winced and shook his head, calling the Salvatores could go in two directions; Darcy will cool down, or it could cost them all their deaths.

"I'm going to kill him!" a furious bellow of rage erupted from upstairs, followed by a series of glass smashing.

The three jumped, wide-eyed. "Uh-oh, maybe add John to that list, too," Jeremy gulped.

Alaric shot off a text to Damon.

SOS at the Gilbert's, raging bull on the loose.

Footsteps vibrated the staircase as Darcy flew down, bag shouldered, and folder clasped in her hand. Jenna and Jeremy jumped up from their seats and backed away at the sight of her red face and dark eyes. They cringed when the duffle bag and folder was slammed down on the table. Mouths were sealed shut, eyes peeled open, watching as Darcy wrenched open the cupboard door under the stairs and embarked inside.

The trio exchanged uncertain looks when further crashes chimed. "Erm, Darcy... Is everything okay?" Jenna braved to ask.

Damon and Stefan had just finished their hunt for Stefan' meal when they received Alaric's text and decided this was the right moment to announce their presence, ringing the doorbell.

Jenna and Jeremy eyed a sheepish looking Alaric. He rubbed his neck, walking backwards towards the door. "Heh. I wonder who that could be?"

He opened the door, revealing the Salvatore brothers just in time for the cupboard door to bang open. Darcy's chest heaved, harsh breaths expelled from her mouth, feral eyes looking around as Damon and Stefan came inside, shutting the door behind them.

"He's dead! When I get my hands on him, he's going to wish he was never born."

"Mind telling us who's dying tonight?" Damon glanced at the bag and folder on the table and back to Darcy.

"John," she seethed. "The slimy bastard somehow got hold of my keys and went through my things and stolen the Gilbert journals and my stake gun, along with two stakes."

"Maybe we should calm down and talk it out before we commit any murders, yeah?" Stefan laughed nervously when Darcy shot him a ferocious glare. "Or not?"

The male hunter shot the two vampires a desperate, pleading look. "Sort her out before she goes on a killing spree and kills us all. She's all yours."

"What do you expect us to do?" Stefan asked stupidly.

"That!" Jeremy pointed at Darcy like she was a wild beast. "Whatever it is. Sort it out before she exterminates us!" he panicked.

Darcy ignored them and stamped over to the table, opened the duffel bag, and pulled out a dagger. "I'm going to break every single bone in his body, and then I'm going to cut off his shrivelled balls and feed them to him!"

Alaric, Jeremy, and Stefan cringed, covering their packages whilst Damon stood observing Darcy with a smirk. Seeing her in this element, he can't deny it didn't turn him on. Her cheeks flushed with pink, eyes dark, promising blood and death. She was a true vision.

"Wipe that look off of your face before I do it for you!" Darcy gritted out and stepped into his space.

Or maybe not, as long as the threats weren't aimed at him, that was.

"Woah, Woah! Put the weapon down, Princess," Damon raised his hands and attempted to speak in a soft tone only to retreat when the dagger was pointed at his face. "Okay, maybe not. You can keep it! Play away, have fun!"

"And who's stupid idea was it to invite them?!" she whirled around, looking at the individuals occupying the living room.

Jenna and Jeremy pointed their fingers at a guilty-looking Alaric. "Him."

"Traitors," he shot them an offended look and turned to Darcy and sealed his fate. He raised his hand, shamefacedly. "Guilty."

Jeremy possibly saved Alaric's life at that moment as realisation and remorse dawned on him. His face turned a sickly shade of pale. He peered at Darcy. "Er, Darce. I left a bit out...." He trailed off when five pairs of eyes shifted to him before continuing.

"Anna... She said Uncle John wants her and Pearl dead. I thought she was being paranoid and didn't take her seriously," his eyes watered at the thought of the girl he's fallen for dead at the hands of his uncle and his act of negligence. She can't. Not another. "I didn't mean to."

Darcy sighed, her features relaxing at the sight of his watery eyes. "Hey, come here. It's okay, you didn't know."

She walked over to Jeremy when he shook his head and pulled him into her arms. She could not be for sure if that was John's plan, and she would not deny the fact it's very plausible, the man was evil and cunning. So, she won't sugar-coat it and lie to her brother's face, but she can lend her shoulder for him to lean on, and if it turns out to be accurate, she'll be there for him to fall on.

"But I want you to know if it turns out to be true that you're not to be blamed. Anna would agree with the same. None of it would be your fault."

"But what if they're already dead? You said Uncle John stole your stake gun and two of your wooden stakes! What if it's for them?"

Jenna chose that moment to step up. "Erm, who's Pearl?"

"Pearl is Anna's mother," Stefan clarified, leaning against the wall with his hands tucked into his jeans. "Both are vampires. Anna found Pearl in the tomb when it was opened, which at the time the vampires that were sealed inside escaped."

"Oh. That's not good...." Jenna swallowed, looking at Alaric for assurance. "John wouldn't, would he? He wouldn't kill them?"

Damon snorted, diverting the strawberry blonde's attention to him. "At this point, I think John is capable of anything. Staking two vampires won't alter his conscious." He shrugged, not particularly caring. He walked into the lounge, his ears sought out movement or other heartbeats in the house. He already gathered John wasn't home, otherwise, the place probably would have been more volatile and bloodier. Three heartbeats.

"Alright, I think Elena needs to come home," Jenna said, worry evident in her voice as she pulled her phone out of her handbag that was resting on the kitchen counter.

RING- the person you called is unavailable right now.

"Oh... Her phones turned off," Jenna frowned at Darcy. "Have you tried?"

Alaric stepped forward. "We tried a few times; it was turned on then..." he hesitated. "She declined Darcy's calls."

Darcy's face darkened as she backed away and stalked into the kitchen. She turned her back to them and wiped a hand down her face. She shared a glance with Alaric through the glass pane of the window; this was the least of their problems.

"Maybe, it's best if she's staying at Caroline's for the night," Jenna murmured, thoughtfully, though shadow doubted her tone.

Damon twisted his lips in irritation and shared a disgruntled look with his brother, both knowing the mutual acts would be an ounce of the cause to the girl's irritation. Something else was happening here. It wasn't just John or Elena. Something else happened tonight.

"Have you tried phoning Anna?" Stefan suggested, changing the topic, and walked over to Jeremy. He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, all the while, keeping a cautious stare on the dark-haired woman. "Anna might just be fine."

Jeremy shook his head and mimicked Jenna's prior actions.

RING... RING... RING... RING... RING-

Jeremy sighed and cut the call as the phone continued to ring out before switching to the answering machine. "This is crazy. Earlier Anna was telling me how she wants to stay in Mystic Falls and even signed up for school."

Alaric shot Darcy a wary look as she stared vacantly out of the kitchen window. He rubbed a hand over his hair, nervously. "Heh. Something else happened tonight."

Darcy recognised his tone and where the conversation would lead next and turned around, making eye contact with the man. She crossed her arms stubbornly, causing him to glare and coil his hands around in frustration.

His wife, he can explain.

Damon caught the looks and actions, voicing his thoughts when neither came forward. "What am I missing here," he pointed his finger between the pair. "Something happened and you two are somehow involved." He glanced at Jenna and Jeremy, noting the refusal to make eye contact with him. "And you two are too shifty for my liking... Come on, cough it up."

Alaric sighed and wiped the sweat beading on his forehead. "I was in the Grill, having a drink and marking some homework." He glanced at Darcy. "When I saw Darcy enter and take a seat at the bar."

Damon narrowed his eyes and lifted his hand for Alaric to continue.

"I decided to approach her. I ordered us a drink and we sat and had a chat together."

"A chat about what?" Damon took a step closer, causing Alaric to turn his head and hide his smirk.

He shrugged. "Oh, you know how her evening was and what she was doing there. A few comments on her appearance, nothing special."

A mischievous glint shone in Darcy's eyes. She stepped forward, a smirk tugging on her lips. "And how our friendship was the start of something beautiful."

"Is it now? How lovely," Damon muttered sarcastically. "Do tell us how your friendly date went."

"Sounds like a little jealousy to me," Jenna traded identical smirks with Jeremy.

Darcy made an 'ahh' noise and gestured to Alaric. "Want to do the honours, Ric?"

"Not really, no."

"I think you should go first since she crashed our lovely date."

"And you were the one to threaten said, date crasher."

"Alright, stop playing around and start talking," Stefan intervened, shooting them curious looks.

Stefan's words flew over Damon's head. "Who's the date crasher?"

"Oh, Damon! You would have had a grand ole time," Darcy gushed, bouncing on her toes in fake excitement. "Since you also know said, date crasher."

Jenna cackled and clapped her hands, joining in on the teasing. "Quite personally, I heard."

Jeremy couldn't help but snort at Damon's obvious taste to be fed information. Darcy shot him a wink and walked over, tossing her arm over his shoulder.

"Well apparently your dates turn into threesomes, don't keep us in suspense," Damon drawled in faux boredom, rolling his eyes. Yet, his body betrayed him as he leant forward, bracing on the dining table with anticipation.

"Okay, since you're so desperate," Alaric trailed off teasingly.

"A lady walks into a bar and walks up to a man sat at the bar, claiming the man is her estranged husband," Darcy takes a dramatic pause, eyes shining with glee when the Salvatore's let out disgruntled groans. Stefan is basically chewing on his fist at this point. "The husband turns away from his friendly date and is quite literally shocked at the sight that greeted him."

"And when the woman claimed she was indeed his wife, the date sprays him in the face with her vervained coffee. She too was in a state of shock, until she learned of the woman's next request," Alaric cringed, looking at the brothers with wide eyes. "It went downhill from there. A true disaster, a nightmare turned into a reality."

"What? What was it? What happened next?" Stefan asked.

Alaric and Darcy shared a look. "Should we tell them?" the male hunter questioned.

Darcy sighed dramatically, removing her arm from Jeremy, and planted her hands on her hips. She shook her head. "I don't know, but I fear they might combust if we don't."

"Hmm. You're right. They are looking a little jittery," Alaric commented, eyeing Damon tapping his feet. He smiled when Jenna giggled behind her hands.

"Just get on with it!" Damon exclaimed, throwing out his arms. "What happened next?"

Darcy sighed again. "As Alaric said, things went downhill from there. Especially when the wife proclaimed her husband knew of her daughter and would like him to deliver a message."

Alaric whistled. "Yeah. It wasn't pretty. You see at this point; the date stepped in and slapped the paper from her hand and told her to return to whatever hole she had crawled out from, and to stay away from the wife's daughter because she wasn't welcome."

Damon's and Stefan's faces dropped. "Why did she state that request?" Stefan swallowed.

"The daughter happened to be the date' adoptive sister," Alaric announced with a dramatic flair, clapping his hands once. "The wife wanted to arrange a meeting with her daughter... You see, she hadn't been a part of the girl's life. She quite literally gave birth on the girl's father's brother's doorstep and fled for Seventeen years."

"Oh! I love the next part," Darcy grinned sardonically. "The wife questioned what would happen if she didn't follow with the dates commands."

Alaric pointed at her and made an 'ohh' noise.

Jenna was red in the face from containing the burst of giggles desperate to flee themselves. Jeremy nudged her with his elbow for her to behave, catching Damon's sharp gaze. He smirked and turned his face away. He was enjoying the vampires' torment immensely.

"Would you just get on with it!" Damon burst out.

"Alright, keep your pants on!" Darcy yelped. "The date just happened to see a familiar individual enter the bar, a well-known somebody. She pointed out to the person, claiming that woman just happened to be the town's Sheriff and if she breathed the word "vampire" the wife would be dead before she was able to leave the premises."

"The wife's a vampire?" Stefan demanded incredulously. "It's not Katherine, is it?"

"Come on, Stef, like Katherine is the type to marry someone," Damon snorted.

"Then who is it?" Stefan inquired, anxiously. His eyes swept around the occupants in the room. "If it's not Katherine, then who is she?"

"Patience, my Dear, Stefan," Darcy soothed moving over and caressing his cheeks and jaw with her hands. She bopped him on the nose and then stepped away and took a seat at the table. "Your questions will be answered in due time."

"The estranged husband and his date fled from the bar once the woman was stunned, falling for the trap... However," Alaric lingered. "They were caught before they could enter their getaway vehicle. The estranged wife pinned her husband to the car. And when he asked what she wanted from him."

"She said she expects a meeting with her daughter, and if she didn't get her way, she would start killing the town's residents... starting with his students," Darcy added.

"Students?" Damon repeated, staring at Alaric. Finally, the pieces connected were starting to form a picture in his mind.

"His date came to his rescue... You see, before they left, she had picked up the coffee that she doused with vervain, intending to indulge in it herself," Alaric carried on.

"But really... she knew the wife would follow and was all a part of her plan," Darcy revealed.

"She threw it, didn't she?" Stefan palmed his face. "Tell me she didn't?" he begged.

"Yep. Striking her right in the face," Darcy grinned, all too proud of herself.

Stefan pointed his finger at her. "Wipe that grin off your face. What were you thinking?"

"Attracting a target on her back, I perhaps," Alaric shook his head, disappointed.

"Oi! Don't turn on me now, Ricardo! It got us out there, did it not?"

"Just about. I almost died in that death trap you call a car!" he turned to Damon and Stefan. "She drove all the way home, 90mph! Hitting every curb, pothole, and speed bump in the streets, with virtually no streetlights! We're lucky to be alive."

"I don't know why you're complaining. You're here alive and breathing right now, aren't you?" Darcy raised a brow.

"That's not the point. But now we have a vampire on our trail if we don't comply with her request!"

Damon waved his arms, causing them to glare at him for his intrusion. "While I'm loving this turn of events, and quite jealous of the fantastic tale... We still haven't learnt who the wife is."

"Who happens to be a vampire," Stefan adds.

"Oh, this is gonna be good," Jeremy commented, munching on an apple. Jenna hummed in agreement, still red in the face.

"Let me introduce the hosts of the story," Darcy flounced over to Alaric. "Our good old buddy here, played the estranged husband," placing a palm on her chest. "And my fabulous self played the date," she glanced up at Alaric. "Want to do the honours next?"

"

Alaric shot her a deadpanned look and then peered at the brothers. "And the wife was played by...." He waited. "Isobel."

There was a moment of silence before chaos detonated in the room. Damon let out an uproar and stomped over to the sofa, flopping down, complaining about how they have all the fun, and he doesn't. And poor Stefan was almost in tears, with induced anxiety and stress. He pulled at his hair and slumped down in a seat next to Darcy, head burrowing in the crook of her neck.

"Please tell me the prior ten minutes never happened," he whined into her ear. "And you never threatened a vampire?"

Hands weaved through his honey strands, causing Stefan to lift his head and peer into her blue eyes. "I'm not going to apologise because I'm not sorry. Isobel wants to meet Elena and she went after Alaric. That's not okay."

"You know you can't protect everyone, right? You need to put yourself first for once, and not cover everyone's backs," Stefan picked up her hand and placed a chaste kiss upon the smooth skin. "Think about yourself and us if you get hurt."

"I know I can't protect everyone, but I can try. But something tells me this is more than just Isobel and Elena. Somethings amiss here, and I won't settle until I've figured it out," Darcy whispered, her stare straying to the folder on the table.

Damon stood up and approached the pair, sitting in the chair on the other side of Darcy, so she was sandwiched between them. "Now, that's out the way with mind confessing what had you threatening to mutilate poor Uncle John Gilberts testicles," he said, staring at the side of her face with his chin propped on his hand. "Not that I oppose, of course."

Darcy released a deep breath, feeling his muscles tense of John's name. Alaric, Jenna, and Jeremy joined opposite them; the latter gained her attention. "After arriving home, Jeremy disclosed something to me and that could be a bigger problem here," she gestured to the folder on the table, "And this is our homework."

Damon snorted and peered over at the youngest Gilbert. "Explain."

Jenna placed a comforting hand upon Jeremy's shoulder, making him gulp visibly and shift in his seat. "Anna was around earlier; we were talking and kissing..."

"Was it good?" Damon asked, grinning.

"Damon!" Stefan warned. "Not now."

"Such a bore," Damon rolled his eyes. "So, you Anna were talking and kissing, what happened after your teenage snogfest?"

"Anna told me her mother was in love with Johnathan Gilbert and that he betrayed her."

"Betrayed her how?" Stefan inquired.

"Do you remember the night Pearl came to your and gave you that mysterious box?" Darcy asked Damon.

Damon frowned and nodded. "She stole something from John. Pearl said it belonged to Johnathan Gilbert."

"Right. They had some sort of odd relationship going on and he confided in her about his passion for inventions," Darcy continued.

"He had told her he created a device that detected the town's vampire element," Damon said.

"Yeah. And we thought that's what Jeremy's pocket watch did, still does. She was meant to steal that, wasn't she?"

Damon hummed, nodding, his eyes lighting up. "The night Johnathan took the vampires; Pearl had seen the watch in Johnathan's hand and the dial pointed to her."

"And that's how he betrayed her. The watch pointed out she was a vampire and the next she's captured and thrown into the tomb," Stefan joined the dots.

"And then Pearl hands the box over to you, willingly? With no obligations. Don't you think that's peculiar?" Darcy raised a brow.

Damon shook his head in thought. He did think about the situation, but what can he do about that? Pearl offers him the device and says to consider it as an apology. What was she apologising for?

"She said it was an apology of some sorts, for what her lackeys did to Stefan," he elaborated.

Darcy made a noise of divergence. "That may be so, but also not according to what Anna told Jeremy."

"Pearl told John she gave you the device-John called it an invention-and now he wants it back," Jeremy said.

"And no doubt, he's going to start sniffing around again," Alaric muttered.

"John has mentioned there were more Gilbert journals. I bet that's how he knows everything," Jeremy piped up, earning curious stares.

"More Gilbert journals?" Stefan asked curiously.

"I had a bunch and there's more at the Lake House," Darcy agreed and then trailed off. "Well, I did until I found out the dirty slimy ball bag went through my stuff and stolen them."

"Are you sure?" Stefan questioned, frowning,

"I'm pretty sure when thick journals go missing, they are pretty hard to ignore," she gritted her teeth. "The nerve of him, stealing my keys and breaking into my things."

"Earlier, you said Anna told you John wanted her and Pearl dead? Did she say why?" Damon asked.

Jeremy shrugged. "She just said he was a hater."

Damon scoffed. "Isn't that the truth? She's got that right."

"So, what's all this stuff for?" Alaric asked, gesturing to the duffel bag and folder on the table.

Darcy grinned and pulled the folder closer to her. "Well, John may have stolen the original journals, but I learnt it's always handy to have a backup," her grin turned broader as she opened the folder and showed them the writing on the first page of the thick piles of sheets.

The Journal of

Johnathan Gilbert

"You copied them?" Jeremy laughed in disbelief.

"You betcha," Darcy smirked, which wiped off as she felt lips press to her cheek.

"Hold on," Jenna rose a hand, shooting a stern glare at Darcy. "So, all the smashing and the rage was for nothing? You had this all along and still chose to break something upstairs. I know it was a lamp, by the way, I can tell by the sound."

"Yeah, about that." Darcy winced. "John also might find his room trashed. I'll hand over the expenses to John."

Alaric snorted and covered his mouth when Jenna shot him a glare. He raised his hands. "What? I think that's a great idea. He did steal from her. He's lucky she's calmed down and not slaughtered him."

"Oh, he's going to pay. Don't you worry," Darcy promised, eyeing the bag with a leer.

"You beautiful woman! Have I told you how much I love you?" Damon grinned, snatching the folder of her and flipping to the next page. He glanced at his brother. "We chose a smart one here, brother. We did well."

Stefan could nothing but laugh in agreement and gaze at the woman he adored beside him because Damon is right; Darcy is damn spectacular and continues to drop them surprises. Funnily, he thinks they don't stop there. More will be sure to expand in the future.

"Before we begin, I just want to say it's not a coincidence that Isobel happens to be in town and John just happens to want the device," Darcy halted their cheerful expressions, staring at them with an intense look. "I want you all to know I'm not holding you at this table, but I plan to cover these pages and unearth the story beneath the devices Johnathan made. You don't need to help. You're free to go. Alright?"

"Not happening, Princess. We're in this together. If you're going to slave through these pages throughout the night and not get an ounce of sleep, we can at least help you out. Besides, if one counterpart can detect vampires, think what the other could do," Damon announced.

"Damon's right, guys. This will be tedious work, but it's essential we find out what the purpose of the invention is. If you don't think you can help or don't want to, then leave now before it's too late," Stefan spoke up.

"I'm in," Jeremy declared.

"I'm in," Alaric started earning a high five from Darcy. "But, please, can we try and not kill someone this time?"

"No promises," Damon and Darcy chimed. "Might I remind you; you were the one responsible for the last kill," she watched smugly as Alaric's expression changed to a scowl.

Then five pairs of eyes trailed over to Jenna. Her eyes showed hesitation, causing Darcy to move seats and sit next to her. She ignored the slight whine from the raven-haired vampire and held Jenna' hands in her own. "Jen, you don't have to help. No one's going to hold this over you, me the most."

Jenna shook her head, peering into Darcy's calm eyes and finding the strength to voice her concerns. "It's not that. I want to help. I'm just worried someone's going to get hurt. You, Jeremy, and Elena. Crap, even the vampy guys and Ric. When did I even start to care about them? And what if Isobel hurts Elena? Even though that's a possibility and we can't hide the fact her mother wants to meet her, I'm worried for her."

Darcy smiled as Jenna ranted and let her continue to release the pent-up frustration. "It's okay to worry just as it is to care. You're only human, it's allowed. And never hold back your fears, you will never know if someone has an answer to your concerns if you don't voice them," she paused to release a deep breath. "And for Elena, if she really wants to meet Isobel, then that's her decision. No one can take that away from her, I just hope she's open to the possibility of getting hurt. Because she will. The brief meeting, I had with Isobel only showed the person she is. She lacked emotions, she didn't care to ask about her daughter, only requesting for a meeting. And if the outcome is hurt, then we will be there for her."

Jenna smiled at her tearfully. "We're lucky to have you. You continue to amaze me. You always know what to say and say the right things. How do you do it?"

Darcy grinned. "You expect amazing things from amazing people, right?"

Jenna laughed and slapped her arm. "Conceited bitch."

"You got that right!" Darcy chuckled and clapped her hands. "Alright, operation Scooby Gang begins now."

"Yeah!" Damon let out a whoop and fist-bumped the air.

*•*•*•*•*

Another chapter will be posted tomorrow! Keep an eye out... things get a little dark, and Darcella will come through... All I can say is pray for Isobel's soul when she gets her hands on Jeremy, and maybe there will be a long-awaited confrontation between Darcy and John. Things will get bloody. I'll post a warning beforehand for those who don't like blood and gore.

I want to apologise for the late update. I did promise to finish the book last week. However, I've been very sick all week and had to be tested for Covid. Thankfully, the test came back negative and it's just a bad case of Flu. I'm on the mend, so updates will resume, while I'm slowly recovering.

A shout out to new readers! Welcome. Don't be shy and say hi!

Also, I'd like to thank you all for the amazing outcome of the last chapter. The response, the comments and the votes were mind-blowing, still is! Thank you so much!

Tell me what your thoughts? 💜

Oh! I almost forgot. Alaric's face claim has changed!

Jensen Ackles portrayed as Alaric Saltzman.