The Vampire Diaries: The Dead Rise

Threats

I never thought my phone could be so annoying. Damon and I awoke to the sound of my cell phone ringing. I can hear Damon groan as I scoot over to the edge of the bed to answer it.

"Hello," I say sleepily.

"Where's Stefan," Klaus demands.

"He's not here," I say, sighing. I sit up in the bed, the cool air biting my skin.

"He stole from me," Klaus says, "I need to find him."

"What did he steal," I ask.

"The coffins," Klaus answers, "they're gone." Damon looks over to me and sits up next to me.

"Well Stefan's not here," I say again.

"You're going to help me find him," Klaus says.

"And why the hell would I do that," I ask.

"Because I need you," Klaus pleads, "I know I said that you were free, but Stefan crossed a line when he stole their coffins. They're not just my family, they're yours." I sigh and look at Damon. He nods, but I can read the hesitation in his eyes.

"I'll help you find Stefan Klaus," I say, "but I will not help you kill Stefan, if that's what you were hoping to accomplish."

"I understand," Klaus states, "meet me at the Grill in an hour." I hang up the phone and fling it back onto the nightstand.

"So Klaus finally figured out that Stefan took the coffins," Damon asks.

I nod, "now he wants me to help him find Stefan. If I know Klaus, and I do, he won't stop until he gets the coffins back."

"Would he kill us if that meant getting them back," Damon asks.

I nod, "he'll do whatever it takes. He'll start with Jeremy and Bonnie, no doubt. Then he'll move to Elena and you and lastly me."

"He would kill you," Damon asks.

I nod, "I may be of his own flesh and blood, but he didn't know that 1,000 years ago. His family is more important to him than I am."

Damon sighs, "Do you want me to go with you to the Grill?"

I smile, "he never said you couldn't come." I get up out of the bed and walk over to the closet. I knew that today was going to be cold so I pick out dark jeans and a royal blue sweater. As Damon picks out a shirt, I walk over to the bathroom and brush my teeth. My hair's a mess and my make-up is gone, leaving me to deal with the aftermath. I control my hair and apply fresh make-up. By the time I'm done, I find that Damon has already gone downstairs. I walk out of the room and head down the stairs. When I pass the living room, I see Alaric passed out on the couch. I continue to the kitchen and find Damon pouring blood into two glasses. "Did Ric not go home last night," I ask him.

He shrugs as he hands me a glass, "I think the bourbon did him in." I nod and drink the blood. It feels good to have it back in my system after last night.

"Why don't you call Elena and let her know what's going on," I say to Damon. He nods and takes his phone out as I walk back into the living room. I kneel down next to Alaric and sigh. "Ric, you have to get up," I say to him. He stays still and silent. I raise my voice, "Ric, get up, you're late!"

He jolts awake and looks around in confusion, "Where am I?"

"At the Salvatores," I say to him, "you crashed here last night."

He sighs, "I think I'm going to call in sick."

"You can't," I say to him, "Damon and I are going to meet Klaus at the Grill in an hour and we need you to protect Elena."