Never Let Me Go (Book 8, Vampire Diaries)

Chapter 7__The Next Time I Hurt Somebody, It Could Be You

Alaric and Matt had cornered Damon in the Grill and staked him, because they knew that he was easily taken over by mind control from Sybil or Cade, far more easily than Stefan and I could ever be controlled. Alaric wanted to protect his children.

Stefan had invited me to Christmas Eve at our house to join others.

I walked into the house, taking off my jacket, looking at Caroline and Alaric in the foyer. "Hello."

"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked.

Stefan walked in. "I invited her." Caroline and Alaric looked at him in surprise. "She's the one that arranged the deal with Cade, offering herself, Damon and me as replacements for the twins. She saved them."

"No need to thank me," I told them, shrugging slightly. "Not after everything."

Sybil and Damon walked in.

"Ho, ho, ho," Damon told us. "Merry Christmas, Ric."

Alaric looked at Damon in shock. "I killed you."

"You what?" Caroline asked.

"Yeah, I saw and felt that through the connection in the mark, by the way," I told them. "He and Matt took a whack at Damon. They even buried him."

"I can't tell you how hard it was to get all of that dirt out," Damon told us. He chuckled. "I know. I know. Christmas just got merry."

I glared at Sybil. "Would be merrier if she wasn't here."

"And here I thought that you were starting to like me," Sybil told me.

"I told you before, I don't like you, and I sure as hell don't want to be your friend," I told her. "Excuse me. I need a drink."

I walked away.

  ******** 

 Damon, Sybil and I were sitting in the living room.

I was glaring at Sybil, drinking bourbon.

Caroline walked in with a tray of drinks. "Eggnog?" She handed one to each of us. "I didn't have time to poison it."

"Well, you already poisoned the bourbon with milk and cinnamon, so..." Damon trailed off.

Stefan walked in. "Ric's gonna stay with the girls for awhile."

"You don't have to hide them," Damon told us. "I'm honoring the deal. We work for Cade. Munchkins go unharmed."

"Well, Ric's not exactly in a trusting mood right now, and, uh..." Stefan trailed off, looking at Sybil. "Neither am I."

"My sister kidnapped them," Sybil told us. "I saved them from a life of serving Cade when I cosigned Nicola's plan. So, put away your umbrella, Stefan. I don't need your shade. A simple thank you will suffice."

"Thank you," Caroline told her. "She's right. You can't fault one sibling for the sins of the other. Right?"

"I appreciate that," Sybil told her.

"Damon, what are you doing with Sybil?" I asked.

"I found him after he woke from death," Sybil told us. "Help him come to terms with the deal that he has made."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure you have."

I took a drink of eggnog and bourbon.

"Nicola, why don't you come with me, and we'll go get some of the old family tree ornaments?" Stefan asked.