Part 20 (1/2)

Damon snapped, almost automatically, ”Because I wasn't invited!”

Memory swept over Bonnie. Herself standing outside Vickie's house, Damon standing beside her. Stefan's voice:Vickie, invite me in . But no one had invited Damon.

”But how didKlaus get in, then-?” she began, following her own thoughts.

”That wasTyler 's job, I'm sure,” Damon said tersely. ”WhatTyler did for Klaus in return for learning how to reclaim his heritage. And he must have invited Klaus in before we ever started guarding the house-probably before Stefan and I came to Fell's Church. Klaus was well prepared. That night he was in the house and the girl was dead before I knew what was happening.”

”Why didn't you call for Stefan?” Matt said. There was no accusation in his voice. It was a simple question.

”Because there was nothing he could have done! I knew what you were dealing with as soon as I saw it. An Old One. Stefan would only have gotten himself killed-and the girl was past caring, anyway.”

Bonnie heard the thread of coldness in his voice, and when Damon turned back to Stefan and Elena, his face had hardened. It was as if some decision had been made.

”You see, I'm not like you,” he said.

”It doesn't matter.” Stefan had still not withdrawn his hand. Neither had Elena.

”And sometimes the good guys do win,” Matt said quietly, encouragingly.

”Damon-” Bonnie began. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he turned toward her. She was thinking about that moment when they had been kneeling over Stefan and he had looked so young. When they had been just Damon and Bonnie at the edge of the world.