HELL TO PAY

I woke up to the feeling of an intense eyes fixated on me. "You know it's rude to stare" I murmured and sighed as I wished that sleep would sweep me away again.

Only, I felt the bed move beneath me, before I felt his warmth close in onto me and his cheek was pressed onto mine. "I can't help it, you're just so…"

"Yeah I know" I mumbled and cracked one eye open, allowing a small teasing smile to break through which he mirrored. Only his smile grew smug, almost like he was victorious.

Urgh…men.

Rolling over on the bed, I lifted my head slightly to peek up at him. "So…" I licked my dry lips and pushed myself back so I could relax on the headboard. "…this happened" I waved a casual hand between us and peered down at him.

He rolled over onto his stomach and adorably looked up at me, peeking through his fallen strands. "Did I rock your world?" he smirked and waited patiently.

I reached up and lightly pushed at his chest. "How much more of an ego boost do you really need?" I mocked and he simply chuckled. "I should get going" I murmured and pushed my feet off the bed, landing on the wooden floorboards.

Suddenly he moved in closer and I felt his fingers lightly brush over my naked back. "I could make you breakfast" he offered and trailed butterfly kisses from my shoulder and then pushed my locks back to nuzzle my neck.

"That would make this more than it's supposed to be" I rolled my shoulder back to push him off.

No attachments.

I welcomed the interruption of a phone ringing. We both whipped our heads round to the floor where it was discarded and before I could reach it, Damon beat me to it. "K?" he asked with an arched brow as he looked over the sixteen missed calls. "Boyfriend?"

"Something like that" I muttered and snatched it off him, not appreciating his snoopiness.

He gave an easy grin and kissed my cheek. "I'll get started on breakfast" he purred and I watched, my mouth parting as he walked out in his birthday suit. He even added an extra swing to his bare hips and I licked my lips unintentionally.

When the phone rang again, I shook my head and focused on answering the call. One hand cradling the phone while the other curled around the silk sheets that smoothed down my curves. His scent was strong, branding his bed while mine was lightly hinted within. "Something wrong?" I asked and fell back onto the warmth of the Egyptian cotton.

"Just checking for updates" Katherine inquired vaguely but I knew she was trying to feign nonchalance.

Playing her own game, I became ambiguous but decided to appraise her. "You did good"

"I hope for repayment" she cooed.

I rolled my eyes at her predictability and then rolled over onto my stomach as my hand delved into my locks. "Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while" I promised with a genteel tone to maintain our strange friendship.

"Must have gone well" she noted and I could tell she was in the city. The sounds of the busting life and speeding cars was roaring in the background.

"Well enough" I replied and tried to suppress the memories of yesterday.

"Did she admit it?"

Her words made it impossible to forget as I was hit with a flurry of memories. One being Esther's desperation as she tried to control me and her children. "I didn't give her a chance to" I answered honestly as it served no purpose to lie to Katherine. "I revealed myself to the whole town"

"Are you sure that was clever?" she asked with a slight note of disdain.

"Probably not"

Tired of lying down and feeling my muscles tense, I rose up and took advantage of Damon's departure to look around his room. There was nothing of value or interest so I ended up by the French windows, casually leaning on it.

All I could see was the stretched forest as the glimmering light streamed down. The shadows now filled with the sunlight that brightened the green. The sky was a serene blue with wispy white clouds sweeping through.

"So where are you now?"

"In Damon Salvatore's room" I replied with a smug smirk.

There was a lengthy silence before she finally gasped. "What?"

Turning the handle, I opened the window and stepped out onto the balcony. "Thought I'd find out what the fuss was about" I replied, wondering why she sounded irate.

"You slept with Damon?" she repeated, gritting the words through clenched teeth.

I straightened up and frowned at her anger. "Why do you sound upset?"

"I'm not upset" she snapped and I rolled my eyes at her childish behaviour. "I have to go" she remarked icily and before I could stop her, she ended the call. We were vampires – the girl code didn't exactly apply to us so she would just have to suck it up. Plus, it was just one night; nothing more.

Still, I knew there would be hell to pay.

With a heavy sigh, I pulled the sheets closer around me and decided to follow the delicious scent of batter and the sizzling sound.

"Smells good" I piped up when arriving in the kitchen. I actually hadn't eaten in a while – well, not human food.

Damon spun around and I laughed at the bikini apron. "I knew you couldn't resist" he smirked and gestured for me to come in. I complied and sat on the island, pulling a plate onto the mat and smiled in excitement as he dropped a few pancakes onto it.

"How's Kay?" he asked and his back was too me again. Now that I was close, I could see his bare behind again and I shook my head at his ludicrousness. "What kind of name is Kay anyway?" he added with an annoyed tone, rivalling Katherine's.

"Nickname" I replied, enjoying his hinted jealousy. "He's fine. A little envious perhaps"

He whirled around and placed the spatula down. "Why? You told him?" he asked with an arched brow.

I nodded, enjoying this much more than I should. "We don't keep secrets" I answered truthfully, allowing him to draw up his own conclusions. "Eternity is long time for regrets" I muttered darkly and peeked up to see the sternness in his eyes. "Plus, it's not like it meant anything" I voiced.

"Glad to know we're on the same page" he replied taciturnly and turned away from me.

We were then saved by the bell.

"Don't touch anything" Damon uttered and walked away to answer the door. I ignored his warning as I added cinnamon to the leftover batter.

I continued to better his recipe but froze at the sound of a very familiar voice. Only this one was more hysterical and crazed. "Damon, I know you're angry but there something you need to know" Katherine's clone exclaimed. "Are you naked right now?" she asked and when met with silence, I imagined Damon's smirk. "Never mind" she added but Damon tried to stop him.

"I don't really want-"

She interrupted him again. "I know but you need to know something" she screamed and I heard her footsteps bound closer towards me.

"What? What do you want?" Damon grumbled.

"It's not me. It's Esther"

Well, now I was interested.

"Elena…" Damon began.

"She doesn't want to kill Klaus. She wants to kill all of them" Elena revealed and I smiled wickedly with her obliviousness. "Last night was all a rouse so she could link them all together, so if one dies…" Her words were muffled and I knew that Damon had covered her mouth. "What is-"

Once again her words were intercepted with Damon's angered hiss. He didn't want me to know, which wouldn't play out very well. For him.

I could hear his footsteps approaching the kitchen but I was gone before he could find me.

Suddenly, I had somewhere to be.

-XxxxxX-

"Isabella…" he spoke when opening the door.

I locked my hands behind my back and rocked on my heels. "Is the offer still on the table?" I inquired with a sweet smile.

"Of course" Elijah was stunned and his eyes widened at my presence. When he realised he hadn't said anything, he took a step back from me and stretched out an arm, gesturing for me to enter. "Please…" he pleaded with a certain eagerness.

I stepped inside with another sugary smile and even brushed down at the white dress. My hair was twirled into a braided ponytail and my feet were tucked into gladiator sandals. It was all so very innocent and I feared that I was laying it on a little thick.

"We were just about to start eating" he informed me.

I nodded pleasantly. "Right on time" I grinned and even accepted his hand, allowing him to lead me into the large dining room where my 'family' was.

Several of them stood up and I caught how Finn stood protectively in front of his mother.

"You came?" Rebekah gasped, still seated but the fork and knife forgotten as they loudly cluttered to her plate.

"I couldn't miss this" I sweetly replied and unlocked my fingers as I accepted the glass of orange juice from the maid, dressed in black and white. Raising it to their surprised faces, I locked onto a particularly shocked blue ones. "After all, we are family" I reminded her and she blatantly gaped at me.

Elijah was the one who fell for it as he too raised his glass. "Always and forever"

A/N: Why is Isabella there? Stir up some trouble? Let's hope so…

So, Bella knows about Esther's plan? Where to now – leave a review.

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