Mom was still upset for the other night and Elena wasn't still talking to her. It was petty. Mom was not at fault if Aunt Miranda and Uncle Greyson lied about her birth.

However, Elena being upset about her birth parents made me question of who my father was. I just had a name. Andrew Bennett. That was something at least, right? Better than what Elena had. And yet, I didn't know how to bring the subject to mom about it. She had never mentioned his name or wished he was there to help her raise me. Was it bad of my part asking mom about a crucial part of our past at this moment? And if I asked, what was I suppose to say? 'Hey, mom. I was snooping around your things the other night because some weirdy banshee thing made me question some things about myself and I found out my dad's name and that he was some kind of warlock. Can you tell me about him and why he isn't present in my life?'

I couldn't do that to my mom. At least not now. Not when she was called a liar recently about parental stuff. I wasn't heartless and besides, as far as I know, mom was oblivious to the whole supernatural thing. I had to go easy on her. Maybe one day I'll began by telling her what I am.

A knock in the door snapped me from my thoughts making me jump a little.

Jeremy gave me an amused look, looking up from his sketching "You okay, jumpy?"

I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, standing up "Yeah. Just thinking"

Jeremy nodded slowly, standing up "Do you have cash?"

Jeremy walked away from the kitchen, going to the living room, walking toward the door, opening it.

"Hey" A guy told him, "It's gonna be $22"

Jeremy looked at me over his shoulder, "Jill?"

"Give me a second" I told him, walking away from the kitchen, toward the coach, picking up my purse, looking for money.

Jeremy looked at the pizza delivery guy, gesturing at him to come in "Uh, here. Come in. Just put it on the table"

I paused briefly, a shivering going down my bak. Every time 'come in' was said to someone, I had a bad feeling. I glanced at the guy as Jeremy walked toward the dinning room. He had some kind of smug smile as he walked in after a moment, following Jeremy, placing the pizza on the table.

I shook off the moment, not wanting to look paranoid and retrieved the money from my wallet, giving him the money, "Here. Keep the change and thanks"

Elena walked in.

The guy nodded, starting to walk backwards, out of the house. "Nah, no problem. And you have yourself a good night"

I smiled slightly, closing the door once he was outside, furrowing my brows, puzzled and confused for a moment.

"Tell me that's food" Elena told us.

"Pizza" Jeremy replied.

Elena smiled, looking at me questionably.

I forced a smile, "Yummy"

~8~

At school next day, Caroline, Elena and I were walking across the lawn together in the courtyard. Elena had gifted Caroline with a necklace. She had told me that morning it had vervain, which was some kind of repellant herb/plant against vampires and that the necklace she wore and the bracelet Stefan had gifted me briefly after we met also had vervain. To think he had been protecting me since the beginning with Elena made me try to slightly soften my harsh attitude toward him. Slightly. I was still mad at him for putting Elena's life and all of ours at risk. And I was still mad at Elena for the way she treated mom but pretending everything was okay was a talent in our family. No one could tell Elena and I were tense with each other.

Caroline admired the necklace, "It's so pretty. Thank you. God, it'll go with, like, everything. What's the occasion?"

"No occasion" Elena told her. "Just a little friend gift"

"Yeah" I nodded, "Because, we are your friends. And we give each other stuff. Like I totally want to start my friendship with you again. With a pretty shirt that brings out the color of your eyes"

The three of us sat down at a table.

Caroline gave me a smile, "Really?"

Elena chuckled, smiling.

"Deadly" I told her "It's in my locker"

Caroline cooed, "Lesbian friend gifts? Cause we're freaky like that?"

Caroline winked at us, sarcastically.

I smiled "I told you we were friends, didn't I?"

"Like that is super weird" Caroline told me. I bit my lip. She smiled "I totally love it. We should hang out more"

"Obviously" I told her.

Caroline looked at Elena.

Elena smiled softly, "Your friendship is important to me"

I frowned slightly. "Huh. I always thought you were sentimental but not this much"

Caroline nodded in agreement, "Why are you being so mushy?"

Elena gave me a look, turning to Caroline "Because you've been avoiding me" I raised my eyebrows at Caroline "And I wanted you to know that whatever is going on with you and Matt, it's ok"

I nodded slowly in understanding. Right. Care's still feeling weird about hanging out with Matt because he is her best friend's ex. I admired that Caroline was sticking up with the girl's code. But I was also upset about it. She really didn't need Elena's approval if she wasn't dating the boy anymore.

Well, isn't easy to tell I'm not Elena's big fan today?

Caroline made a face, sheepishly "I was gonna talk to you about that. I was, but there's just not much to say. You know, we've hung out a couple times. That's it, but...I just feel like we've peeked as friends" Elena nodded. "This is weird. I shouldn't be talking to you about this. It's weird" She looked between us "It's weird, right?"

"Not at all" I answered, shrugging.

Elena laughed "It's a little weird" I gave her a look. What a way to make her fell even worse, Lena... "But if it's what you and Matt want, then it's not about me"

"But it's all about you" Caroline replied. "Matt's not over you, and we all know it"

I grimaced. That had been way to obvious for the entire summer and even when Stefan got in the picture. Even if he were with Caroline, Matt needed a closure from Elena she hadn't given him. Matt is a good guy. He deserved more than that.

"I'm with Stefan now" Elena told her, unwrapping her sandwich "Matt understands that. He knows he has to move on"

Caroline looked unconvinced.

"What Matt needs is closure" I told them. Both girls looked up at me in confusion. "You and Matt need to have a talk, Elena. One where you both make things between you are over clear or he will never be ready to move on from you"

~8~

Caroline and I were hanging out at her house. After our talk, we all went to classes and when school was over, Bonnie and Elena went to the Grill, leaving us alone and as promised, I gave Caroline a shirt that combined with her eye color. After that, she practically kidnapped me to her house.

"You do remember I don't do the whole dance thing, right?" I asked, watching Caroline as she practically raged around her closet, looking for something.

"Well, as your friend, is my duty to actually make you go" Caroline replied without looking up. "Ugh, I swear I saw it over here!"

I frowned in confusion, looking around, seeing a dress laying on her bed, pointing at it "Uh, this?"

Caroline looked at me over her shoulder, rolling her eyes. "No. I'll be wearing that" I stared at her in confusion, opening my mouth. Caroline raised a finger. "I'm looking for this dress I bought earlier when I bought mine with the plan if I didn't like what I wore, this would be my plan B. But I do like what I'll wear, so I figured it'd fit you" I closed my mouth, shaking my head amused. Caroline shouted in triumph, "Aha! Here it is!"

Caroline turned to face me, grinning.

"Care..." I told her warningly.

Caroline pouted, "You will look fantastic! Like we'll be the most pretty girls ever"

I sighed "No"

Caroline sighed, looking down. "Oh, okay" I bit my lip at her sad voice. "I just thought that now we are friends, we could do things like this. I guess, uh, I was wrong"

I closed my eyes, groaning, "Ugh, you're evil" I pointed at her accusingly, opening my eyes. Caroline didn't react. I threw my hands up "Fine! I'll do it!"

Caroline looked up, grinning "Oh, my God! That's fantastic"

I crossed my arms, amused "You are unbelievable"

Caroline smiled.

~8~

Caroline and I agreed we'd meet up before the dance began so we'd give each other our final touch before going. The feeling I had around Caroline was nice. It felt like having a best friend again. It felt like having Darla again. Darla who died in that fire almost a year ago where only me and her brother had mysteriously survived. Now I knew why. My witchy powers saved us. But I had lost my best friend.

Mending my friendship with Caroline was something I didn't regret. At all.

I smiled slightly to myself, shoving the dress Caroline found for me to mom's car. (Mine was still crashed so mom let me borrow hers). My phone started to ring. I pulled it out from my pocket, holding it up to my ear as I walked around my car toward the driver's seat.

"Hello?" I said over the phone.

A guy's voice came through the other line "Hello, Jillian"

I paused, not recognizing the voice "Hey, who's this?"

"You hit me with your car" The guy told me. I froze. "Is that a new one?"

I looked around, seeing a man in a hoodie leaning against a post in the street a few houses away from Caroline's.

"What do you want?" I asked, retrieving the car keys from my pocket.

The man began to approach me slowly.

"Your cousin Elena mainly" The guy answered. "But Banshees, they're the best" I quickly unlocked the car, opening the door, getting inside "You both got away from me. You won't next time. Tell that to Elena"

I ignited the engine, driving away, speeding down the road, leaving the man behind. My heartbeat erratic as I dialed Elena's number.

"Hello?" Elena answered at the second ring.

"Where are you?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Elena noticed my fear, "Jill? What happened?" My grip in the wheel tightened. "I'm at the Boarding House"

I wanted to scoff. Of course she'd be with her boyfriend.

"I'm on my way" I told her, glancing toward my rearview mirror "Something happened"

~8~

I felt like shaking still.

It didn't take me too long to arrive at the Salvatore Boarding House and to tell Elena and Stefan what had happened.

I had my arms around my waist, looking up at them "Why does he want Elena? A-and why would he go after me? Is it a way to get to her? Or is it just my banshee side that attracts the psycho vamps?"

Stefan grimaced.

"And if he wants to kill us, why call first?" Elena asked nervously, rubbing my arm comfortingly.

"What part of psycho vampire you didn't understand?" I asked.

Stefan walked around the coach we were sitting to face us, nodding "She's right. We are predators, Elena"

"Reassuring" I murmured.

"We hunt" Stefan continued "We stalk. It's often as exciting as the kill"

"You speak as if from experience" I pointed out, frowning.

Stefan didn't answer, sitting on the table in front of us, pulling out a very familiar pocket watch "I want you to take this"

Stefan handed it to Elena.

Elena frowned, looking at it. "This is Jeremy's pocket watch. How did you get it?"

"I took it from Damon, who took it from Logan, who must have taken it from you" Stefan answered

I frowned.

Elena opened it up, observing the contents confused, handing it to me.

"This doesn't look like the watch I saw before" I told them, "Its different. What happened to it?"

"Well, it's not just a watch" Stefan answered "It's a...it's a sort of compass, but it points to vampires"

Stefan gestured at the watch/compass. I gave it to him. He showed us how the compass worked, grabbing Elena's hands, placing the compass in them gently. The needle whirred around on the compass and finally clicked into place, pointing at Stefan.

We looked up at him in shock.

"Why did my father have it?" Elena asked.

I grabbed the pocket watch, seeing the needle whirring around the compass, stopping, pointing at Stefan.

"Gilberts were one of the founding families, and back in 1864, they were among those who sought to eradicate the vampires." Stefan answered "The compass was used to find us"

"Did you know them?" Elena asked

I stood, walking around the living room, watching the needle point at Stefan no matter where I went.

"Yes" Stefan answered "I want you to keep this. At least one of you must have it. That way, you'll know if you're ever in danger"

I nodded, walking closer "Right. That's better than to wait until my freaky spidey senses tingle warning me of danger"

I handed Elena the compass, starting to walk away.

"You're both gonna be okay" Stefan told us "You need to protect each other"

"Thank you Stefan" Elena told him sweetly.

I rolled my eyes, walking away from the library, giving them privacy.

~8~

Slightly reassured, Elena and I returned home. I saw mom inside dressed with a cute '50s outfit, cleaning up the living room.

Mom looked at me "Spoke to the insurance company. Car's totaled. You can keep using mine for now"

I sighed, smiling.

"So you're coming to the dance?" Elena asked.

Mom smiled, walking around the couch, leaning against it "Alaric asked me to help chaperone"

"Cute" I told her smiling. I noticed the lack of reaction from Elena and rolled my eyes at her childish behavior, noticing the tension between them. I didn't want to be there to face another discussion from them. I clapped once, startling them "Well, I'm actually heading to Caroline's to get ready. I just came for my stuff"

Mom looked proud "That's my girl. I'll see you there then" She smiled, looking at Elena. Elena wasn't still looking up at mom, picking up an apple but not eating it "Will I see you there too, Elena?"

Elena looked up accusingly, "Why didn't you tell me, Jenna?"

I looked at Elena angrily and startled by the sudden change of topic.

Mom was startled too, her voice quiet "Your mom was gonna do it eventually. I never thought I'd have to"

"If my mom were here right now and I asked, she'd tell me the truth" Elena told her.

"Don't be a bitch" I snapped.

Mom shook her head "Honey" She told me softly. I pursed my lips. Mom looked at Elena "Your dad was about to leave the office one night when this girl showed up. She was sixteen, a runaway, and about to give birth. He delivered her baby, and he gave her a place to stay, but a few days later, she disappeared. And there you were. Your parents were trying so hard to have a baby. I-it just wasn't happening. All Miranda ever wanted was to be a mom"

I frowned. So that's it? Only being upset about not knowing the truth about your parents and acting betrayed was enough to get mom talking? Why was that not fair to me? I deserved the truth about my father too.

"Well, why were my parents' names on the birth certificate?" Elena asked.

"Your dad was a doctor, Elena" Mom answered "He took care of it. They didn't wanna lose you, so they kept it quiet, told as few people as possible, but if anyone ever wanted proof, they had documentation"

"What else do you know about her?" Elena asked, hopeful "The girl?"

Mom hesiated, glancing at me. "Just her name. Isobel"

I was starting her, mouth gape in disbelief. Why was she telling her all of this but never bother to tell me about my dad?

That wasn't fair. At all.

~8~

I began angrily shoving my make up, some accessories, hair product, my heels and everything necessary to get ready at Caroline's to a bag.

Mom hesitantly walked inside my room, knocking on my door "Jill?" I didn't answer. "Hun, I know you're upset. Talk to me"

"I've always admired you" I began, straightening up, throwing my iron in my bag, "Your strength. How you've moved on from every guy that has broken your heart. How you've raised me and how I turned out but there had always been one thing I always wondered but never asked in consideration of your feelings"

"This is about your dad, isn't it?" Mom asked after a moment.

"I've asked before. You never answered" I told her, turning to face her, feeling my eyes burning with tears but they didn't fall "And I stopped. Yet Elena asks once about her parents and you spill everything without a second thought. Why is that different?"

Mom looked down. "I never knew Isobel. I never really knew what they went through, my sister and Greyson, I mean. It wasn't that hard to tell her"

"But it is hard to tell me about my dad?" I asked quietly.

Mom sighed softly, walking inside, sitting in my bed, patting the bed so I could sit. I sat next to her. "We were young, Jill. I thought he was the love of my life" She scoffed, rolling her eyes "And then he left. Broke my heart. It is not easy to talk to you about that guy"

"Did he-?" I trailed off, suddenly feeling small.

Mom smiled sadly, knowingly, "He knew about you"

My breath hitched at the back of my throat, my burning eyes slid to the floor, not meeting mom's eyes "So, he just, what? Left? Didn't want anything to do with me?"

Mom didn't answer "See why it was hard to talk to you about him?"

"My dad hated me" I breathed out, stunned, shocked and sad. It had passed my mind when I first saw his name in my mom's stuff but hearing that being confirmed hurt like hell.

"He was terrified about something" Mom said quickly, hugging me at my reaction, guilty for saying something that hurt me "Not you. I don't think he'd ever hate you"

"No, don't defend him" I snapped, starting to cry silently.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart" Mom whispered, hugging me tightly. I rested my head in the crock of her neck, hugging back "I never meant for this"

"No, it's not your fault" I mumbled in her neck "I wanted to hear it. I-I just didn't know it was going to h-hurt this much"

Mom held me silently, "I know"

I no longer wanted to hear anything about that asshole. I hated him. He had no right to hurt my mum, to hurt me. Us.

~8~

"You've been too quiet"

I looked up from my heels after I put them on, seeing Caroline frowning at me.

"I'm focused on this" I replied, standing up.

The two of us were now ready for the '50s dance at school. I normally didn't go to any dance at school but I needed the distraction. These past few days had been rough and Caroline was my normalcy right now. If I had been told that a month ago I would have laughed.

"Look, I know we're still working on the whole friendship thing" Caroline began hesitantly. I brushed back the curled waves from my '50s hairstyle behind my shoulder. "But, whatever is bothering you, you can tell me"

I smiled slightly, "Thank you" Caroline nodded, looking at her mirror, applying lipstick. I hesitated, "Mom told me about my dad"

Caroline paused, looking at me in shock "Wasn't your mom like very tight lipped about his existence?"

I nodded, "She was. But, uh, I confronted her about it after-" I stopped, not wanting to be me the one who told Caroline about Elena being adopted. It wasn't up to me who knew and who didn't.

Caroline nodded slowly, understandingly "And? What happened?"

I sucked in a deep breath, feeling like crying again "I wished I never asked"

Caroline frowned in sympathy, walking closer, wrapping her arms around me, "Don't say more. I get it. That's why, you and I will party like there's no tomorrow. Okay?"

I nodded in her shoulder, unable to stop smiling.

~8~

I'll be the first to admit Caroline had done a very good job at the dance.

As soon as we got there, we found Bonnie who took us to the dance floor and we began dancing to the music lively, laughing, having fun in our friend-date. Anything to stop thinking about that man who ruined my mom's and I's lives.

By the hour of being at the dance floor, we were slightly tired out, walking off of the dance floor after the song finished. Caroline, Bonnie and I had our arms linked, smiling brightly. Bonnie was in the middle of us. 

"Who would have thought a dance was this fun?" I asked. 

Caroline smiled, "Me! I told you it was fun. But you never listened"

"Until the start of this year, Jill had been clear on keep ignoring you and not being your friend" Bonnie told her. She looked at me teasingly, "But where did that Jill go? Now you two are besties and I can not longer feel guilty spending time with each one of you separately worrying of giving you equal time"

I instantly felt guilty for that. I never knew Bonnie felt like she had to meassure her time because of me being stubborn and believing I could hate Caroline. Turns out I couldn't. 

"I'm sorry, Bon-Bon" I told her, pouting. 

Bonnie smiled, shaking her head "That's all in the past, isn't it?"

Caroline smiled, "Obviously, right, Jill?"

I smiled, "Obviously"

We noticed Elena standing by the punch table alone, exchanging a look, walking closer. 

Elena smiled slightly, fidgeting with her earring "Having fun?"

"No" Caroline answered. I pushed her lightly, amused. She chuckled. "Well, with her as company, anyone has fun"

"You flatter me, Miss Forbes" I fluttered my eyelashes, jokingly. Caroline and Elena chuckled. Bonnie smiled. "What Care meant is that the dance is boring, but our company is making it awesome"

"Yeah" Caroline agreed, scoffing, gesturing at her appearance and mine "But this took about two hours each, so we at least staying half of that"

"I'm totally obligued to do that, by the way" I told them. 

We laughed. 

Bonnie noticed someone several feet away, "What's Damon doing here?"

Caroline, Elena and I followed her gaze, seeing Damon and Stefan standing together.

My smile faded. Why do I feel I cannot trust Damon anymore? He saved me from that vampire once. He seemed a nice guy on our trip to Georgia but from one moment to the other I felt that act was just an act and I couldn't trust him anymore. Why?

Elena looked back at us "He wanted to come" I looked unconvinced. "I promise. He'll behave"

Caroline tilted her head, "So what is this, like, a threesome now, you and the Salvatore brothers?"

Elena gave her a look, "No, but if I'm gonna be with Stefan, then I have to learn to tolerate Damon. It's not like I can kill him"

I narrowed my eyes. 

Bonnie was still looking at Damon, "There's a thought."

I looked at Bonnie, realizing she didn't trust him as well. I felt relieved I wasn't the only one. 

Caroline looked at Bonnie, "Mmm. I'll help."

I smirked, raising my glass, "Count me in, girlfriends"

Bonnie, Caroline and I clinked our cups together. 

Elena looked down, shaking her head, smiling. 

~8~

Bonnie, Caroline and I were still around the punch table. 

Damon approached us "Hi, girls" I eyed him warily. "Bonnie. Wanna dance?"

"I'm out of here" Bonnie told us, starting to walk away. 

Damon stood in her way. "Please give me another chance"

Bonnie pushed past him. 

"Bck off, Damon" Caroline told him, following Bonnie. 

I shook my head, strting to walk way. 

Damon held my arm, "Little Red" Gosebumps rose in my arm, and not the good kind. I glared at him. "I thought we were getting long? What happened to our bonding time in Georgia?"

"I don't know, Damon" I told him, ripping my arm away from his hand. "You tell me. Why did I scream? What did you do?"

Damon didn't respond, looking away for a moment. 

I nodded sarcastically, knowing he wouldn't answer, turning, starting to walk away, past Elena and Stefan. 

"Jill..." Elen trailed off, reaching out for my arm. I side stepped past her, walking away, ignoring her. "What did you say to my cousin and friends?"

"I was perfectly polite" I heard Damon tell her before I was out of reach. 

~8~

It was the middle of the dance when I sensed a heavy gaze in me, starting to look around. 

I walked closer to where I saw Jeremy had been talking to a girl before she walked away, "So new girlfriend, huh?"

Jeremy jumped startled, turning to face me, making me laugh, crossing my arms.

Jeremy gave me a look, crossing his arms, "Not funny, Jillian"

"You should have seen your face" I told him, chuckling. 

Jeremy shook his head, sighing "Whatever. What are you doing here? You hate this kind of stuff"

"So do you" I pointed out. Jeremy pointed at me as if to say 'touche'. I sighed, smiling "Caroline and I are friends now and she hooked me up into coming"

Jeremy chuckled teasingly, "Aw. Girlfriend goals"

"Speaking of girflriends..." I trailed off, smirking. 

"Yeah, no" Jeremy told me, shaking his head "I'm not having that conversation with you"

"Who was that girl?" I asked, nudging his shoulder, wriggling my eyebrows "She looked into you. Why rejecting her?"

Jeremy gave me a look, "Would you date a stalker?"

I raised my eyebrows, "Wait. That girl was being stalkerish?" Jeremy nodded. I whistled lowly, "Damn"

"Yeah" Jeremy told me. "Creppy"

"Totally" I agreed. "But she looked hot"

Jeremy smirked, "Do you wanna date her, cuz?"

I rolled my eyes, shoving him aside, amused "Shut up. I was totally gonna say go for it, no matter how creppy she was but now I won't"

Jeremy laughed, smiling. 

I smiled back. 

Elena walked closer in panic, "Jill" She looked at Jeremy, forcing a smile "Hey, Jer"

Jeremy forced a smile too, "Hey, sis! Having fun?"

I gave them a look, "Could you two be more weird with each other?"

They rolled their eyes.

Jeremy turned, starting to walk away, "Gotta work on this if I want that extra credit. See you both at home"

 "Haven't you two talked?" I asked in frustration, "You're siblings, for Godness'sake"

"I'm not here because of that" Elena told me, looking around. "He's here"

I inmediately realized what she meant, looking around nervously. "How do you know?"

We began walking away from the punch table, linking our arms. 

"Remember the pizza guy?" Elena asked. I nodded slightly in confusion. Elena gave me a pointed look.

 The pizza guy was the vampire.

 I widened my eyes in shock. "But.. Jer invited him in"

Elena nodded nervously, "Stefan and Damon said they'd have to stop him. He attacked me at the house, Jill"

I looked at her worriedly.  "Are you okay? He didn't hurt you?"

Elena seemed touched at my concern. Our argument from Georgia seeming to be shoved aside for the moment. "Yeah. Stefan came in time to scare him off. They believed he'd be here at the dance too. I saw him earlier. Stefan went to look for him. I was looking for you and Damon. He went after you once. He may try again"

I nodded, nervosuly. My phone rang, pulling it out. I exchanged a look with Elena, answering.

The vampire's voice was on the other line, "Hello, Jill. Elena"

I looked at Elena in worry, mouthing 'It's him'. 

"Put me on speakers so Elena can hear, Jill" The vampire told me. I did as told, looking at Elena. Elena bit her lip terrified, leaning closer. "There. Better. Now, here's what you two are going to do" Elena looked around her for the source of the call. My gaze remained on the phone, intently. "There's an exit door behind you. You have five seconds"

"No" Elena told him. 

I looked at her. 

"Or your brother dies" the vampire told us. I took a deep breath, looking around, searching for jeremy. I slapped Elena in the arm, nodding toward where I saw Jeremy serving punch in another table. The vampire was standing nearby, on the phone with us. "I can snap his neck so fast I bet there's not even a witness. Now, start walking"

I narrowed my eyes toward him in anger. Oh, he did not threaten my cousin. "Don't you dare touch him"

Elena and I started backing away toward the door without taking our eyes away from him.

"Keep walking" the vampire told us "Through the door."

Elena and I backed away toward the door. We made sure the vampire began following us, walking away from Jeremy before loooking at each other in worry, hanging up my phone, turning around, running out through the door. 

~8~

We ran through the dark, deserted hallway, looking behind us to see if the vampire was following us. We turned into another corridor, coming to a set of doors. We attempted to open the doors but they were chained shut from the outside.

I looked down the hallway, seeing the vampire stalking closer calmly. I grabbed Elena's arm, pulling her toward another hallway, opening the door to the cafeteria.

~8~

We ran inside, across the room, trying to open all the doors. They were also locked. 

The vampire opened a set of double doors, walking in, rushing toward Elena. Elena tried to run away. He grabbed her by her hair. Elena screamed, struggling to get free.

I turned to them worriedly, throwing my hand toward the vampire, feeling an overwhelming sense of anger, feeling the need to release it. The vampie suddenly flew through the air, dropping Elena to the floor, flying to a table across the room, landing hard on the floor. I ran toward elena, helping her stand up, not feeling as shocked as the first time I did that. 

Elena breathed heavily in fear, gripping my arms tightly, shaking slightly. 

The vampire stood, growling at me, stalking closer. Elena and I backed away frantically, holding each other in fear. Elena knelt, picking up a pencil, putting it in front of her defensively. I put my hand in front of me, as if for protection, making the vampire growl angrily. He rushed closer, grabbing my wrist, flinging me across the room, making me roll on the ground. I groaned in pain, struggling to get up, seeing the vampire had pushed Elena against the wall, about to bite her.

"NO!" I yelled out. 

A bubbling sensation began in my throat, feeling my scream gaining strength and intensity, glass shattering.

The vampire flinched, groaning and screaming in pain.

Elena used the moment to stab him in the chest with the pencil, missing his heart. The vampire let go of her, putting his hands on his ears as I continued to scream. Blood began pouring out of his ears. Elena winced, putting a hand in her ear but out of that, she didn't look as hurt as the vampire. She backed away from him, bumping into a mop bucket. She turned around, grabbing the mop from the bucket, using her knee to break the handle in two to create a stake. I stopped screaming, suddenly feeling dizzy and weakened, staying on the ground. The vampire recovered, lowerind his hands, seeing blood coming from his ears, pulling out the pencil from his chest, straightening, stalking toward Elena. Elena thrusted the stake toward him. He was too quick, catching her wrist, taking the stake out of her hand, tossing it aside, going in to bite her neck. Elena screamed.

I saw Stefan appearing, puling him away from Elena, tossing him to the floor. 

The vampire stood up. 

I weakly tried to get up. 

Elena breathed heavily in fear.

Damon was also in the room, holding the second piece of the mop Elena had broken, shrugging "Hey, dickhead" The vampire looked at Damon, "Nobody wants to kill you. We just wanna talk"

The vampire smirked, turning to face me in the ground, rushing toward me.

Damon rushed closer, staking the vampire in his stomach, making him fall to his knees, breathing heavily in pain. 

I closed my eyes in relief. 

Damon tilted his head, "Now you feel like talkin'?"

Stefan and Elena walked closer, kneeling next to me, helping stand up. I leaned weakly against Elena. Elena held me close, grabbing my shaking hands. Stefan stood next to us, protectively.

The vampire looked at Damon, "Screw you."

Damon drove the stake in deeper, making him groan in pain. "Wrong answer" 

"Why are you doing this?" Stefan asked. 

The vampire looked at me and Elena, smiling devilishly "Because it's fun."

Damon drove the stake in a little bit more. "What do you want with Elena and Jillian?"

"Elena looks like Katherine" the vampire answered. Stefan and Damon exchanged a look. The vampire smirked, looking at me. "The banshee is very powerful. Who wouldn't want her? If a pure banshee was powerful, being a witch is even more. Have you heard the blood of a banshee gives you more strenght than normal, human blood? I bet your blood is heaven, darling"

Elena tightened her grip on me, pulling me backwards. Stefan stood in front of us, hiding us from the vampire. 

Damon glanced at us in acknowledgment, deciding to ignore the part of my blood. "You knew Katherine?"

"Oh" The vampire smirked in amusement, looking from Damon to Stefan, "You thought you were the only ones" He laughed "You don't even remember me"

Damon leaned forward, hands on his knees. "Tell me how to get in the tomb. Hmm?"

"No" the vampire told him. Damon leaned back, driving the stake further into his stomach, making him groan in pain. I looked down. Elena looked away. "The grimoire" 

"Where is it?" Damon asked.

The vampire tilted his head, tauntingly. 

Damon drove the stake in deeper into his stomach, making him gasp in pain. 

"Check the journal" The vampire told us. "The journal. Johnathan's journal. Johnathan Gilbert's"

Damon stood straight. 

"Who else is working with you?" Stefan asked impatiently.

"Who else is there?" Damon asked. 

 "No" the vampire told us "You're gonna have to kill me."

Elena looked disappointed.

I sighed, leaning my head on elena's shoulder.

Damon rolled his eyes in annoyance. 

Stefan sighed, nodding. 

Damon removed the stake from the vampire's stomach, waiting for a moment, driving the stake through his heart, killing him. 

I flinched, waiting for the innevitable, frowning when I felt no need to scream.

The vampire fell to the floor, desiccating. 

Elena watched in shock.

"Why did I not-?" I asked shakily. "I screamed the death. Why this time I didn't?"

Damon and Stefan looked at each other for a moment.

"He was already dead, Jill" Stefan told me softly. "Vampires are already dead. There was no need for you to scream his dead"

"So, only humnas?" I asked in understanding.

Damon nodded. "Yup"

I nodded slightly, still shaken up. 

Elena rubbed my arm comfortingly, "Now, how are you gonna find the others now?"

"He had to die" Damon told us. 

I looked at him, "But-"

"Jill" Stefan told me. Elena and I looked at him. Stefan nodded, "He's been invited in"

We heard a clunk from out in the hall.

We looked toward the door, seeing Mr. Saltzman through the window. He walked away after a moment.

Stefan looked at Damon, nodding toward the door. "Go. I got this"

Damon walked out of the cafeteria. 

Elena and I looked at the vampire's body. 

Stefan passed an arm around our shoulders, leading us away, looking back at the body for a moment. 

~8~

Stefan had taken me and Elena home. 

The whole situation had left me shaken up. I had immediately closed off the windows of my room, locked the door and laid under the covers, holding the grimoire of my father. 

Sure, I hated that sperm donor asshole but the magic he gave me had actually saved me tonight. For once, he did something right. He gave me something to protect myself and I needed that protection at all costs if I was going to be surrounded by vampires because of my connection to Elena who was involved with one. I needed to be prepared. I was a witch too. And this grimoire pointed out Andrew as a warlock as well, and maybe he knew I'd inherit his magic, that's why he left his grimoire with mom, so I could learn it. 

No matter what, I needed to know how to protect myself and the people I loved. And that's why, when Stefan returned again to check up on us after getting rid of the body, I didn't come out. 

I was too busy reading upon Andrew Bennett's grimoire.

Dear child of mine...

I know you probably hate me for leaving you and Jenna but I panicked. There are certain reasons why I did what I did and I don't know if you'd ever listen to them. When Jenna told me she was pregnant, my first thought was I screwed up. And not my life. Yours. My child. 

 In our family there's this curse. It is passed down through generations and when I was told this, I swore to myself I wouldn't condemn my children to it. I couldn't bare the thought of a child going to suffer what my mother, your grandmother went throught for years. I fled as soon as Jenna told me of your existence. I was a coward, I am a coward... But, do I really wanted to witness my child's existence being cursed? Specially if you turn out to be a girl. No, I didn't. And I still don't want to.

My child, if you are a girl, I'm truly sorry for all this burden I'm giving you. It should have been me. If I could, I would have taken that gene with me, but sadly I can't. So I stayed away, I hope you are a boy though. This way, leaving you won't be as hard as it was and I'll be able to sleep in peace. However, that doesn't hide or take away my love for you. 

I do love you, child of mine. I never stopped loving you.

I'm sorry I can't be there to watch you grow up and be an extraordinary person. If you are a girl, I truly hope the gene skipped past you like it did with my grandmother and you only inherited the magic gene. For that, I leave this to your mother so one day you'd know to harness this gift. 

With Love,

Andrew. Your father.

The letter was folded between the pages. It made me hate him the most but even more determine to prove him wrong. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction to see me crumble, to feel my Banshee powers being a burden. I was going to prove this wasn't a curse.

I was going to use this curse and turn it to a weapon to protect myself and the people I love. 

So, screw you Andrew.