Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries.

A/N: Sorry for the wait! Thank you guys so much for the awesome reviews—they really help. (-:

Also, you can now follow me on tumblr if you're interested (and yell at me what you guys want (-;) camrynrose13 dot tumblr dot com (-:

I have been so busy lately—I've finally returned to school and all that, so I have a lot of makeup work to finish and it's unfortunately captured much of my attention. Still, I am setting aside time to write—I couldn't possibly get away from these stories! We're introduced to another minor character and a partial sub-plot that's imperative to the furthering of the story from here. Kindly review! (-:

Ten

Jonas tried to remain focused on the road before him, but his thoughts continued to return to his last glimpse at a freshly dug grave, beside two similar, yet older, ones. The final resting place of his victim.

Erica.

His knuckles turned ashen as he clenched the steering wheel. For countless years, he'd known Erica. She babysat Luka when he was just a toddler. She had been a friend of Lily's—Luka's mother—before she passed. In one flick of a moment, all of that had been wiped away; she no longer was anything, now, but a memory and a corpse. An object of immeasurable guilt.

The talisman sat on the seat beside him, glinting in the fiery setting sun as an ever-present reminder of the wrong he committed, of Erica's sacrifice. He tried to tell himself that it was worth it—Ana was worth it. Erica's death was not in vain, but for the greater good.

Right?

Swallowing hard, he forced himself to concentrate on the signs welcoming him back in to Salem. His phone lay still on the console beside him; Luka and Ana had long since given up on that means of contacting him. More guilt pressed upon his heart: they had to be senselessly worried by now.

And if Ana was already affected by the spell he performed, he could not imagine the confusion it would generate.

He passed a sign reading: Psychic Readings, Spiritual Healing, Doctor Demelza Linden, M.D. A familiar tall dark-haired figure was emerging from it. Anger bit at Jonas, scorching and raw. Thoughts of protection and fear returned to him: the vampire Elijah was the reason he had to go to lengths to ensure Ana's security. If he was deceiving them—and he certainly was—then Ana could fall into the Originals' hands. She would become their pawn in the eternal game of power.

He was so intent on this rage that he barely noticed the change in the speed of his car until it was almost slowed to a full cessation; the steering wheel shifted of its own accord, pulling him to the side of the road. The engine coughed and sputtered briefly before each needle on the dash fell to zero and the power clicked off. With confusion, he stared blankly at the typically reliable automobile.

Then a figure stepped into his peripherals.

Immediately, Jonas tensed. His eyes darted to the face of his intruder, fully expecting the Original vampire that now plagued his life. His jaw slacked in surprise, his fingers numbed to cold, and a wash of panic fell upon him.

Approaching him was an elder of Salem's Council—an assemblage of the most prominent families in Salem, those who had the strongest roots of magic. The main purpose they served was to establish an authority fit to dealing with those who practiced dark magic or imposed wrongfully on the lives of others with such abilities. Their reach was far and wide, their rule absolute. They were wrathful and ruthless, but a necessity all the same.

A touch of wrinkles creased the elder man's face, imposing a solemn expression from years of obvious significance. Light, almost imperceptible freckles splashed over his cheekbones; his hairless head appeared polished in the sunset. Deep, dark eyes peered down at Jonas through the windshield, holding an air of knowledge within that shook him to his core.

Without taking his eyes off the elder, Jonas slowly opened his car door and stepped out. Caution imbued his stance to the bone; he was stiff and wary.

"Jonas," the man inclined his head in way of greeting, momentarily eyeing the vehicle. "Car trouble?"

Jonas was not attracted to dry humor or asinine tricks by means of spells. The frown he didn't realize he wore deepened.

"Jedidiah," he said in a carefully restrained voice. "Is there something you need?"

The knowing look returned to Jedidiah's eyes. "Are you going to play stupid with me, Jonas? I'm insulted."

Feeling suddenly nauseated, Jonas had to ground himself. "What do you know?" His voice was as tight as his clenched fists.

"I thought you were wiser," Jedidiah said in a nearly chastising tone, his eyes like laser beams centered on a target. "The Council has had eyes on Doctor Demezla Linden for some time, Jonas. She has a peculiar gift, even for this town." No triumph appeared in Jedidiah's eyes at Jonas's chosen silence. Instead, he looked disappointed. He continued. "She got a call from your son earlier today." Jonas could not have been tenser. "For Ana."

"Is she—"Jonas began, his eyes turned wild and fearful.

"She's fine," Jedidiah cut him off shortly. "The good doctor is quite astute, even in her given state. She knew better than to leave the girl as she was."

Jonas shook his head with impatience. "You'll understand, Jed, but I don't have the time to explain. I have to return to her—she has to know."

"By informing her of her absurd birth condition, you'll be infringing on the terms of our agreement," Jedidiah stated with forced indifference. A sliver of the old friend Jonas had once been close to shone through, but it was not enough to reach and kindle. "The Council knows, Jonas. There was a shift in nature. They're preparing to take action against her."

Appraising his old friend's candor with widened eyes and an open mouth, Jonas processed this. "Against her? She's just a girl, Jed! She's hardly any older than Luka!"

Jedidiah's mouth tightened into a firm line, but sorrow cast deep in his eyes. "You should have considered that. I thought I owed you a warning out of old friendship, Jonas. But there's nothing I can do." With one last unconcealed look of discord, Jedidiah returned to the sidewalk and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. In his wake, the car roared to life.

Jonas stared into the middle-distance. The entirety of his actions crashed upon him, rocking his heart and shattering whatever peace and reassurance he had achieved. No longer did he hold any doubt about this evil.

Everything came with a price.

Frigid cold seeped into Ana's soul, shrouded her heart and all thought process. She stared at the Latin script for seemingly hours, oblivious to Luka's constant exclamation of curses across the room.

It faded in and out, a lapse of movement caused by a disturbance in the psyche. In one instant, she could comprehend the ancient language; yet in the next, it was completely foreign to her.

What the heck was going on?

Luka cursed fervently once more; the intensity ensnared Ana's attention and she flinched. After taking in his furrowed brow and look of frustration, she blinked. "What's wrong? Do you know where they are?"

Luka dropped the talisman onto the yellowed map with an angry snap of his wrist. He scowled down at it.

"Nothing."

Ana's forehead creased. "What do you mean 'nothing'?"

"I mean I've tried the spell a hundred times," he muttered, scratching at his head. "I've got nothing. But it's not like with Dad—she isn't blocking herself. Something just isn't right."

Ana was beginning to realize that lot of things suddenly weren't right.

Images flew through Jonas's mind, fleeting yet searing and painful. Images from years past, from the very near future; Erica's horrific expression forever imprinted on her deathly pale face; Jedidiah's look of knowing—knowing that what Jonas did was incorrigible.

He drove on autopilot, too numbed to pay proper attention to his surroundings or the angry honking that ensued on his trail. When the house came into view, he didn't bother to slow down until he reached the driveway, and even then, he forgot to turn off the car in his haste to reach the door.

Throwing it open, he didn't have to look far to find a familiar face.

Luka stared up at him from his place before an old map; his mouth hung open, his eyes disbelieving. Relief cooled Jonas's burning panic momentarily as his son flew to his feet and embraced him. Then a shock of gold hair caught his attention, and he was staring into the eyes of Ana, wide and almost fearful.

A moment of pure terror captured Jonas, and he thought: she knows. She already knows. But it passed as she ran and threw her arms around him, holding him tight and murmuring, "Oh my God, I was so worried. Are you okay?"

He was rendered speechless, staring at the two of them, who returned his look with one of expectance and earnest relief. Ana didn't know. She clearly had no clue. His eyes fell upon the symbols marking her skin in a faint green tint. He felt an odd mix of despair and joy.

Jedidiah's words returned to him, regarding Doctor Linden's work: She knew better than to leave the girl as she was.

Ana was powerful. He hadn't realized it before, what the cost of such power was.

She was now at risk.

No Elijah this chapter, but he'll be in the next. So, what do you think? Please review(-:

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