Two cheerleaders led the parade with a banner, the Marching Band following behind as Mrs. Carol Lockwood said, "Let's give a big hand for the Mystic Falls High School Marching Band."

"And for a little local history, Mr. Saltzman's students have recreated Virginia's Battle of Willow Creek." Jeremy was on that, Confederate soliders as Tyler pretended to shoot Jeremy and Jeremy pretended to die.

"Landies and gentlemen, please welcome our stunning Mystic Falls Court and their handsome escorts." Elena and Stefan, Caroline and Matt. Ouch. "This is Caroline Forbes, Miss Mystic Falls. Aren't they beautiful?"

I saw Elena waving to Bonnie, and Damon stepped in the way, right before talking to Bonnie.

*

The last float to go was the football players, four cheerleaders surrounding them. "Let's cheer for the Mystic Falls High School football team."

That was how the parade ended.

*

I hadn't seen much of anyone since the parade until night and I saw Anna. "You're still around?"

"There's something you need to know," Anna told me. "The vampires from the tomb are planning to attack tonight."

"How do you know this?" I asked.

"We went to them," Anna answered. "They think we're with them but we're not. They want the Founding Families dead."

"When is all this supposed to happen?" I asked. 

"When the fireworks start," Anna answered.

I sighed at the long pause as I told her, "John Gilbert wants to use the invention on them."

"Then we can't be here!" Anna said.

"It doesn't work. It's been deactivated."

"Well, then a lot of people are gonna die."

"Where are they right now?" I asked.

"They're already here, Kaylin," Anna answered.

Damn it.

*

In Town Square, I saw Alaric and walked toward him. "Ric!"

"Yeah?" Alaric asked.

"You keep those nifty little vampire darts in the car?" I asked.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Alaric asked.

"Because this square is crawling with tomb vampires," I answered. "I think we might need a stake or two."

"Yeah, I got it."

He was already going toward the car as I saw Damon, strode quickly toward him when I saw Stefan and Elena too, grabbing Damon's collar and pulled him with me toward Stefan and Elena.

"Kaylin, what the hell are you doing?" Damon asked as I pulled us to a stop in front of Stefan and Elena.

I looked at Elena. "Saving her life." I looked over all of them. "Fifteen words or less . . . Tomb vamps are here, Founding Families are their target."

"That's only nine," Damon said. "I can say the last six." He looked at Stefan, talking about Elena. "Get her out of here, now."

Both Damon and I started to leave as Stefan called, "Wait, what are you doing?"

"That's more than fifteen words, guys," I said, already leaving.

I had to make sure Matt and Caroline got out too.

*

When I saw them leaving with Tyler, I sighed of relief. I didn't know why, but I knew that I would always protect both of them. 

*

I was walking out of the Grill when it felt like a thousand tiny needles were continuously stabbing and pricking into my brain, and I held my head as I sank to my knees, groaning and screaming, laying on the ground.

*

I could barely even hear as one deputy stuck a syringe full of vervain into my side and carrying me to a building's basement.

* 

I laid weakly on the floor of a basement when I heard John say, "The device is done. The only thing keeping them down in vervain. We don't have much time. Let's finish this."

A deputy was pouring gasoline over every square inch of the floor, over the vampires.

I saw Damon.

I saw Anna, weakly shaking my head. "No."

As John made a move to walk upstairs, Anna gripped his ankle, making him look down. "Anna." He looked to the deputy. "You can head up. I'll take it from here."

The deputy left as Anna tried to move, John retrieving a stake.

Anna shook her head. "Please . . .no."

"No," I whispered as a tear slipped down the corner of my eye.

John drove a stake through her heart, saving her the pain of the flames.

John continued to pour gasoline, all over the stairs so there would be no escape.

John left us all to burn as Damon whispered his sister's name. "Kaylin."

"Damon . . . " I trailed off as I tried to crawl toward him as John set fire to the stairs, the flames trailing down each step, no escape, some vampires beginning to burn as the flames spread over the floor.

Damon and I were watching weakly,  looking at Anna.

She was gone.

*

Damon crawled toward me. "We're gonna be okay."

"Don't lie to protect me now," I said I looked toward Mayor Lockwood, completely fine except for being a human in a vampire-filled burning basement.

"Mayor," Damon said. "Is that you?"

Mayor looked over all three of us, recognizing Damon from being on the Council, recognizing me from being Matt's ex. "What are you doing here?"

"We're vampires," I said so simply, and he looked toward us in shock. "What's your excuse?" He didn't answer. "No, really."

"The vervain didn't effect you," Damon said. "You're not a vampire." 

Both of us asked at the same time, "What the hell are you?"

Mayor Lockwood slid away right into the tomb vampires' leader. "Mayor Lockwood."

He snapped his neck as Damon and I watched weakly.

*

As I tried to stand, a burning beam fell in front of me, trying to block the way before it fell the rest of the way to the floor.

*

I heard the door open at the top of the stairs, and the flames suddenly started to diminish as Stefan ran downstairs to find us. "Damon! Kaylin, come on, hurry!"

Stefan had one of Damon's arms  then one of mine, Stefan rushing us out of the basement and out of the building and outside.

*

Damon, Stefan, and I burst out of the door behind me.

"Oh, my God," Elena said as she caught Damon, Stefan holding me as Damon and I cougheing repeatedly.

And I exhaled as I let it sink in that all the tomb vampires, and Damon and I were okay.

Bonnie hadn't deactivated the device, but she had saved me and Damon. 

I'd say that was a fair trade.