I sat patiently at the counter, counting down the minutes left before I had another manic vampire episode. Damon was going to cut it close and I could feel my chest tightening at the thought. Of all times, he couldn't be late now.
As I desperately watched the clock hands continue to climb further up the face, my ears attuned to a low guttural purr as the Camaro came up the drive.
I sighed in relief.
Once it was in a humane hearing range, I turned to my guests.

"This might be my ride home." 

Tyler's parents got up from their places and approached the front door.

"That's Damon Salvatore." I heard Tyler's mother say quizzically.

Tyler leant towards me,
"So, what now?" He whispered.

"I go home with Damon."

Tyler visibly tensed up,
"and then...?"

"It will all be fine. I'll come back for my things. Just don't mention any of it to your parents, please."

"I won't. I promise." I nodded to him.
Suddenly tapping my hand, I changed my focus to his parents.

"Damon, come on in." Mrs Lockwood said politely, almost flirtatiously. If only she knew what she was letting in.
He strode in, blue eyes sparkling, clearly enjoying his role in rescuing the damsel.

"Look at you," he exclaimed shaking his head at me, "I told you that thing is a death trap."

"They certainly are," Mayor Lockwood added.

Damon then grabbed me by the shoulders. I yelped in pain before giving him a stern look. He was going to blow my cover if he kept grabbing me.

"Oops. Sorry." He said with a chuckle directed towards Mrs. Lockwood. Tyler noticed as well. We shared the same expression before Tyler's expression hardened, glowering at Damon.

"It's fine."
If I wasn't 'injured', I would have elbowed him in the groin. It was very tempting but alas how dare I treat my 'knight in shining armour' that way.

"Okay, I think it's about time I got you home to your brother," He said, aiding me as I stood.

"What's his phone number? I would like to call and let him know what's happened," Mrs Lockwood asked. A nerve twitched just below Damon's right eye.

"It's no use. He won't answer."

"Where does he live then, I would like to stop by in the morning and let him know." The nerve twitched again. If it had only been her and she didn't have vervain on her then Damon would have probably killed her by now.

"He lives in the old house on Cobble road, but I wouldn't waste the trip. He has crippling anxiety. The poor guy might as well be dead. He never leaves." He glanced my way. Goosebumps rose on my arms as his blue eyes caught mine. They had a sense of purpose.
Was Damon trying to tell me something?
Had he found Dmitri?
I took it partly as a clue, and partly as ammo to kick him in the shin. He must have been eavesdropping on me! I said that exact reason to Tyler just the other day at school.

"That poor man. he's lucky to have a sister like you."

"I'll make sure to let her brother know that you helped her."

I winced, moving away from my seat, sugar coating the theatrics.
"Thank you, Mayor Lockwood, Mrs Lockwood, Tyler. I greatly appreciate the hospitality."

"Happy to help someone in need," the Mayor replied. Tyler and Mrs Lockwood simply nodded.
I gingerly followed Damon out the door before halting at the mat. The Beemer was still in the pickup.

"If you don't mind, Tyler, can my bike stay here tonight?"

"Sure. I can look after it until you're feeling better." He replied, quickly glancing to his parents as he said it.

My mouth curved into a smile,
"I'll also return the jacket." He returned a lop-sided smile before steeling his expressions, glancing away. His mother raised a brow, a grin forming.
I exited into the crisp, early morning air. The sun had begun making a glow in the night sky. Dawn would soon be upon us.

"Good night," Mayor Lockwood waved before shutting the front door.

From my side of the door, I tapped into my vampiric senses, listening in on their little family talk.

"Who's that girl, Tyler?"

"Her name is Valerie, Mom."

"She's nice." Did she truly believe that?

"She just goes to my school, mom."

"Okay, dear."

I continued my way down the grass.
Another pulse of light-headiness hit me. The next wave of hunger was starting. Damon noticed, grip on my arm growing tighter.

"Worried I'm going to shrug you off?" I asked through gritted teeth.

He raised a brow,
"I don't doubt you're stronger than me." He kept me walking forward. "I would hate for you to do something foolish now."

"I've got it under control."

Leading me to my side of the car, light still shone out through an open curtain of the house. Mayor Lockwood still stood there keeping watch of us. Damon revelled in every second of it. He made extra effort to help me into the passenger seat before calling back,
"Good night, Mayor Lockwood."
Waving goodbye, he sat in the car.
"What happened?" He asked, an intense scowl now replacing his cheery expression.

"I was staked while traveling along Mill road."

"Somebody definitely knows what you are." He looked away, concern forming on his face. I'm not sure why though. He hadn't particularly cared till now.

"More people know than I wanted." He gave me a condescending growl. He knew about Tyler.
Turning the key to the ignition, the Camaro roared into life.

"Will your bloodlust wait till we get home?"

"Yes." I could wait a few more agonising moments. Other than that Damon was the only source of blood in this car. I banished the thought. Even if I had said I couldn't wait, he would have just dropped me off in the woods and told me to feed, which I wouldn't do.

Leaving the Lockwood driveway, he turned the Camaro onto the Estate road before planting his foot down.

"Did you compel Tyler to forget?" He asked.

"No, he's not going to tell."

He exhaled, "I hope you're right," eyebrows rising as he said so.

The sky had turned a hue of purple as we passed under the paling streetlights of town hall.
I thought hard on Damon's words back at the house.

"Is what you said true?" I asked aloud.

"Depends on what I said."

"He's on Cobble Road." He went quiet, not bothering to look at me.
What wasn't he saying?
 I attempted to ask louder, a finger rudely coming up in front of my face, telling me to shush it.

"He might be. I'm still looking into some things. If I am right though, the crypt is under the old house."

My eyes widened,
"You actually found him!?"
I couldn't believe it.
Damon had found a solid lead to my brother. He had been helping me this whole time.
Damon had to have his own motive in this but I didn't care.

"Now, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I said might have."

It was me pouting this time.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" I started unravelling the useless bandage on my head.

"Do you not remember falling off your motorbike earlier tonight, Valerie. Your big bro can wait one more day." I wanted to object so much; I would rip the door off the Camaro in a heartbeat and start running if I could but as much as I wanted to demand for Damon to turn around, he was right. The blood stores had to be replenished otherwise hangry Valerie would cameo soon, and she wasn't near as nice.

A new feeling swept over me though.
Over the exhaustion and hunger was an excitement I hadn't felt in a long time.
I might actually find him this time.