"How could he do that to me? Why?" Elena asked
"Hey. We've never talked about this. What this all means." Stefan said
"It doesn't matter." Elena replied
"Of course it matters. Hey. It matters. I want you to go somewhere with me." Stefan retorted
"Stefan, I can't." Elena said
"No, no, it's not far, ok? It's just for the day. I promise." Stefan said
A while later, the front door opened and Stefan and Elena stepped out onto the porch.
————————————-
Elena glanced toward the driveway just in time to see a dark car pulling away from the curb, its taillights disappearing down the road.
"Did someone just leave?" she asked.
Stefan's eyes shifted to the side of the house and narrowed.
Michael was standing near the edge of the yard with Jenna. Jenna's posture looked stiff, guarded and she looked like someone holding herself together by sheer will.
Stefan frowned. "Michael… who was that?"
Michael turned, unbothered. "Associates of mine." That answer did absolutely nothing to help.
Elena immediately moved toward Jenna. "Hey, are you okay?"
Jenna hesitated. Just a beat too long, "Yeah," she said finally, forcing a small smile. "I'm… I'm okay."
Then, almost abruptly, she looked past Elena. "Excuse me," she murmured, and headed back inside the house.
Elena turned back, confused, watching her go. "What happened with her?"
Michael's expression softened, just slightly. "I told her something she needed to hear."
Stefan stiffened. "About what?"
"You don't need to worry," Michael said calmly. "She'll be fine." Elena wasn't convinced, but before she could press further, Michael tilted his head. "Where are you two headed?"
"I'm taking Elena somewhere private," Stefan replied carefully.
Michael nodded once, then looked directly at Elena. "Actually, come with me for a moment." Stefan opened his mouth. "Michael—"
"This isn't for you," Michael said, tone flat but not unkind. "And don't eavesdrop."
Something in his voice made Stefan stop.
Elena hesitated, then nodded. "It's okay, Stefan. I'll be right back."
Backyard
They walked far enough that the house faded behind trees and shadow far enough that no one could see or hear them.
Michael stopped and turned to her, "So," he said lightly, "Damon gave you some of his blood."
Elena sighed, the weight of it crashing back down on her. "Yes. And he had no right to. He doomed me to eternity Michael. I didn't choose that."
Michael exhaled slowly. "Elena."
She looked up at him, eyes shining with anger and fear, "He was selfish," she continued. "He was stupid."
"Yes," Michael said plainly. "He was."
"But," he added, "he was also afraid."
Elena frowned. "Afraid of what?"
Michael tilted his head, studying her. "Of losing you. Of watching you die and knowing there would be nothing, nothing, he could do to stop it."
Her breath hitched.
"Oh yes," Michael went on calmly. "The big, terrifying vampire brother? Terrified. So he did the only thing he knew how to do."
Elena looked away, swallowing hard.
Before she could respond, Michael held out his hand. "Give me your hand."
"What, why?" she asked.
"Trust me."
After a moment, she did, "This is going to hurt for a while," Michael said.
"Hurt, what do you—"
A claw slid from the tip of his index finger, glowing faintly with heat.
Before Elena could pull away, he made a precise slit across her wrist.
"—the hell!" she gasped as heat flared through her skin.
Michael caught her wrist instantly, firm but careful, placing his other hand over the wound.
"Venez sanguis," he murmured.
Elena sucked in a sharp breath as something moved beneath her skin.
There were dark bulging veins, traveling toward Michael's palm.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, panic rising in her.
"Removing the vampire blood from your system."
The blood obeyed and streamed upward, drawn from her veins like liquid shadow, hovering above Michael's hand.
Elena stared, stunned. "You can use magic?"
Michael didn't even look at her. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone." He smirked faintly. "Let's keep it our little secret."
The blood condensed into a tight sphere.
Then flames ignited and devoured it completely.
Elena gasped as the heat washed back over her wrist but instead of pain, her skin glowed. The wound sealed itself.
"What the—" she breathed.
Michael met her eyes.
Then his gaze sharpened.
"Cede."
The power slid gently into her mind.
"You will not speak of my magic, not until I allow it or until I show it myself."
The command settled deep into her mind and Michael released her wrist.
Elena blinked, steadying herself, the moment already slipping away like a dream she couldn't quite remember.
"I, I should get back," she said suddenly. Michael stepped aside. "You should."
Michael watched her go, he looked to the sky and sighed.
'Now, I think it's time I speak to your mother.' Michael thought before he blurred away.
[Mystic Fall's hospital]
Carol was sleeping, while Tyler was watching her and went out into the hallway and ran into his werewolf friend Jules "What are you doing here?" he asked
"I should be asking you that. I told you not to come." Jules said
"She's my mother. I had to." Tyler replied
"Now we have to get out of here; Lock ourselves up before tonight." Jules said before she looped her arm into his and they walked out into the parkinglot where they ran into Caroline, causing her to look at them in surprise
"Tyler? Jules." Caroline said
"I'll give you a few minutes." Jules said "Just a few, Tyler."
"I got it." Tyler said before Jules walked away and Tyler turned to Caroline "She's just making sure I'm safe."
"So what, are you two, like, friends now?" Caroline asked
"She's been helping me. How are you?" Tyler asked
"I heard about your mom. I just came to check in on her." Caroline said
"She's banged up, but she'll be ok." Tyler replied
"And you? Um... How's everything with you?" Caroline asked
"I'm hanging in there." Tyler said
"Good." Caroline nodded
"Yeah. I should get going. Jules and I need to get on the road." Tyler said before he made to leave
Caroline turned towards him and asked "You're leaving again?" Tyler stopped and turned back toward her and made to speak only for him, and Caroline to groan in pain clutching there head as Greta walked out from behind a car when the two went unconsious she injected Caroline with vervain, before she had some men who were compelled by Klaus earlier to take the two.
[Mystic Grill]
Matt was leaving a voice mail to Caroline "Hey, Caroline, it's me. I thought you were coming back to meet me. Look, I need to talk to you. It's important." he hung up and saw Damon walking toward the bar
Alaric entered and walked over to Damon who just ordered a drink and said to the bartender "I'll have the same."
Damon looking down said "I screwed up."
"Yeah. Yeah, you did." Alaric said with a nod
"Gentlemen? Why so glum?" a voice asked causing Alaric and Damon to look toward the voice to see that it was Klaus
"Ugh. Klaus, I presume." Damon groaned
"In the flesh." Klaus said before he looked to Alaric "Thanks for the loaner, mate."
Damon stood up "Any reason you stopped by to say hi?"
"I'm told you and your brother fancy my doppelgänger. Just thought I'd remind you to not do anything you'll regret." Klaus said
"Ha. Thanks for the advice. I don't suppose I could talk you into a postponement, by any chance, huh?" Damon replied
"You are kidding?" Klaus asked before he looked to Alaric "He is kidding, right?"
"No, not really." Alaric said
"I mean, come on, what's one month in the whole grand scheme of things?" Damon asked
"Let me be clear... I have my vampire. I have my werewolf. I have everything I need. The ritual will happen tonight. So if you want to live to see tomorrow, don't screw it up." Klaus said before he walked off
Damon sighed and sat down "That was fun."
"You're going to screw it up, aren't you?" Alaric asked
"You think if I took his werewolf out of the equation, she might... Get over the fact that I tried to turn her into a vampire?" Damon asked looking at Alaric
"I think it won't matter, because you'll be dead." Alaric said
"But without the werewolf, he can't perform the ritual tonight, which means I would have bought her one month before the next full moon."
"And you'll still be dead." Alaric retorted
"Are you gonna help me or what?" Damon asked
"What do you want me to do?" Alaric asked
Alaric's Apartment
Katherine stood in front of the open fridge, scowling as she shuffled blood bags around.
"Wow," a voice drawled from behind her, dripping with sarcasm, "you'd think a girl who drank the place dry would at least pretend to be surprised there's nothing left."
Katherine jumped and spun around.
Michael stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, with an amused expression and a relaxed posture.
"…You," she said, eyes narrowing.
He took a step closer, unhurried. "Hello there, Katarina." His lips curved faintly. "I don't know what I was expecting, but for some reason… you look different from Elena. Less innocent. More… expired."
She bristled. "Who are you?"
Michael began to stroll around the apartment, casually inspecting the space. "Aww, come on. You already know." He glanced over his shoulder. "I'm sure my god-brother has mentioned me at least once."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Michael." In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of her.
"Exactly."
Katherine startled back a step with her heart pounding in her chest.
"My, you're jumpy," he remarked lightly.
"What do you want?" she snapped. "Klaus isn't here."
"Oh, I know," Michael said pleasantly. "I didn't come for him. I came to see you."
She frowned. "Me?"
"The famous Katarina Petrova," he continued with his tone almost playful. "The one who ran and left it all behind. Including her progeny."
Her breath was caught in her throat at that, "What?"
"Oh yes," Michael said, finally turning fully toward her. "You fled without waiting, without even checking to see if any of your descendants survived the wrath of little Niklaus."
"Little?" she scoffed.
He waved it off. "Details." Then his gaze sharpened.
"Tell me something, Katherine. How does it feel, betraying every ally you've ever had? Friends. Lovers. People who genuinely wanted to help you."
She opened her mouth to lie.
"Cede."
The word hit her like a weight pressing down on her chest and her eyes glazed slightly.
"I did it to survive," she said flatly. "I don't regret it, not if it meant I lived."
Michael laughed softly.
"Oh my." He clapped once, slow and deliberate. "What an utterly despicable creature you are."
Her jaw clenched. "What did you do to me?"
"I heard what I needed," he replied calmly while ignoring her question .
'Just as I thought,' he mused silently. 'Too selfish for you, Nadia.'m
For a fleeting moment, he considered telling her she still had a daughter. Wondering if it would matter.
It wouldn't
And if it did, it would only put his adopted daughter in danger.
'Unacceptable'
Katherine swallowed. "What are you going to do with me?"
Michael met her gaze, eyes cold. "Nothing. I'll leave you to my cute little god-brother."
He stepped back, smile thin. "But we will be seeing more of each other from now on, Katarina. And for your sake, I sincerely hope you don't do anything that might annoy me."
Fear raw and unfamiliar took a hold of her as she felt the change in pressure and heat of the room.
His eyes burned molten red.
"If you ever cross me," he said softly, "I will desiccate you so completely that no amount of blood will wake you. You'll exist in darkness,misery and fit. Forever."
The word forever echoed in her mind and she breathed with a bit of struggle, if Klaus is a monster, she thought in terror, then this man is the devil himself.
She was alone.
The room was silent.
"What…?" she whispered, clutching her head. "What just happened?"
Her memory slid away like smoke through her fingers.
The last thing she could recall from Michael we're those red eyes.
Katherine stood there trying to catch her breath before she heard the sound of a key in a lock, before she sped to the door to see Alaric "Look who's dumb enough to come back."
"Well, somebody had to invite him in. Damon. Would you like to, uh, come in?" Alaric said before Damon walked around a corner and walked into the apartment
Later
Katherine was making coffee, when Klaus arrived "Everything ok?" she asked as Klaus looked at her suspiciously
"What have you been doing?" Klaus asked
"Making coffee. Do you want some?" Katherine offered before Klaus rushed over and grabbed her neck and compelled her
"Tell me what you've been doing."
"Making coffee." Katherine croaked out, as Klaus looked into her eyes, before he released her and she turned around holding her neck
"Wait." Klaus said causing her to stop and turn back to him "Take off your bracelet." hesitantly Katherine took it off and gave it to him "Now, I want you... to walk over to the window and stand in the sunlight."
"But I'll burn." Katherine said
"You don't have a choice." Klaus replied before Katherine walked over to the sunlight and immediately started to burn causing her to scream, as Klaus sipped the coffee before he looked at her with a smile while she continued to scream "That's enough."
Immediately Katherine rushed out of the sunlight and crashed into a while breathing heavily as her skin healed "Guess I was wrong." Klaus shrugged before he walked over into the sunlight and crouched down before her "All right, then. I need you to do something for me."
[The Tomb]
Damon arrived at the tomb, before he stopped and looked around when suddenly a gunshot sounder off, hitting the tree next to him, turning around Damon saw Matt standing there with a shotgun aimed at him "Where's Caroline?" he asked
"Listen, man. Not a good time to play the hero." Damon said with his hands in the air
"Where is she? And what did you do to her?" Matt asked
Damon walked forward cautiously with his hands still in the air "I'm just here to rescue her." he said before he suddenly rushed forward and snatched the gun from Matt, before he smacked him in the face with it, knocking Matt unconscious. Damon then started to unload the shot gun "Your lucky I already screwed up once today or you'd be dead."
Damon paused and crouched down and picked up a bullet to see it was made of wood
Inside
Tyler and Caroline were looking at each other chained up "The whole Sun and Moon curse is fake?"
"That's what we learned. Klaus still needs to do the sacrifice, but it's just not for that." Caroline said
"And you think that's why she grabbed us? For the sacrifice." Tyler said
"Yes." Caroline answered
"He's going to kill us?" Tyler asked
"I think so. Yes." Caroline said sadly
"This whole time I've been gone, Jules has been helping me come to terms with what I am. How to deal with it. I guess none of it matters anymore."
"Why didn't you say good-bye? You just left." Caroline asked
"You want to talk about this now?" Tyler asked
"Well, if we're going to die, I might as well know the truth. Why did you leave me?" Caroline asked
"I knew you hated me. I thought you deserved better than having someone like me in your life." Tyler said
"I was hurt. You know, you turned your back on me when I needed you. But... I could never hate you, Tyler." Caroline replied causing Tyler to smile, before they heard the door of the tomb open, and looked to see Damon
"Damon?" Caroline asked as he walked toward her
"Your boyfriend's outside with a rifle loaded with wooden bullets. You have some explaining to do." Damon said as he broke the chains
"What, Matt?" Caroline asked
"Matt knows about you?" Tyler asked
"No, I..." Caroline started
"Shh. Tomorrow's problem." Damon interrupted before he helped her get up "Let me just get you out of here."
"Wait, Damon No! I'm not leaving without him." Caroline said
"Ohhh." Damon sighed before he looked to Tyler "It's getting dark soon. How fast can you get the hell away from here?"
"I need to get to my family's cellar. I can lock myself up." Tyler said
"I'll help." Caroline offered before Damon walked over to Tyler and crouched in front of him
"Don't make me regret this." Damon warned before he broke Tyler's chain before they went outside to see that it was already dark, and Caroline saw Matt on the ground waking up and rushed over to him "Hey, Matt!" she said before she looked over to Damon "Hey. Did you hit him?!"
"Did you already forget about the part with the gun and the wooden bullets?" Damon asked before Tyler suddenly growled and held his chest before he looked up to the moon
"It's starting." Tyler said
"Grab boy wonder and let's go." Damon said before he walked off, as Caroline helped Matt stand and the three made to follow Damon
"Come on." Caroline said
Salvatore House
Stefan pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. The night was quiet, too quiet.
He stepped out first, circling the car to open Elena's door. She smiled softly as she took his hand.
"Thanks for today," she said.
Stefan nodded, but before he could reply, something twisted in his chest and he felt a presence.
His expression hardened instantly as he stepped in front of Elena, shielding her with his body.
"Klaus," Stefan said coolly.
Klaus stood a few feet away, utterly relaxed, hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You've got me all nervous, Elena. I thought perhaps you'd done something… stupid."
Stefan's jaw tightened. "Then again," klaus continued, eyes never leaving Elena, "I'm sure my god-brother already has something planned. But with you standing here, I think it's pretty clear what this is about."
Klaus chuckled. "Oh, it's very clear." He tilted his head, eyes sliding past Stefan to Elena. "He chose me over you, my dear."
Elena stiffened.
Klaus extended his hand toward her. "Now then… are you ready?"
"I'm ready," Elena said quietly, taking a step forward.
Stefan immediately grabbed her arm, pulling her back behind him. "No."
Klaus raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't," he said calmly. "No reason for you to die too."
Elena moved out from behind Stefan, placing herself in front of him despite his grip loosening only reluctantly.
"No. Stefan, hey, hey, it's fine," she said gently, meeting his eyes. "I'll go. No one needs to get hurt. There's no reason for you to get hurt."
Stefan shook his head, panic flickering beneath his restraint.
Elena reached up, cupping his face, and kissed him.
"I love you."
Stefan swallowed hard, resting his forehead against hers. "I love you," he whispered before kissing her again, slower this time like he was memorizing her.
"Close your eyes," Elena said softly.
Stefan hesitated, then obeyed.
When he felt her fingers slip from his hand, dread surged through him.
He opened his eyes.
The driveway was empty.
Moments Later
Stefan burst through the door of his house to see Alaric "There you are. I got here, the house was empty."
Stefan looking around asked "Where's Damon?"
[The woods]
Damon, Caroline, Matt and Tyler were walking, as Tyler was in pain "What's happening? Is he ok?" Matt asked
"He better not wolf out on us." Damon said before his phone rung and he answered it "Bad time, little bro."
"What the hell are you doing?" Stefan asked
"Saving the day. I figured you'd understand. Just tell Elena to stay put." Damon said
"She's already gone, Damon." Stefan replied causing Damon to stop
"What?" he asked
"Klaus came. He took her." Stefan said
"I'll take care of it." Damon replied before he hung up just as Tyler clutched his ribs and fell to his knees, before he raised his arms, as his hands suddenly popped out of place as his wrists broke,and repaired themselves
Tyler panting looked up to the others and said "I don't know if I can hold it off, you guys have to get out of here."
Caroline stepping forward said "Tyler, it'll be ok."
Tyler suddenly groaned but managed to yell "Go!"
"You've got time. We're almost there, just..." Caroline started but Tyler looked up his eyes now were yellow, and he suddenly got up and rushed over toward Caroline but Damon tackled him. Tyler above him, started snarling at him, before Damon pushed him but before Tyler could strike again, a powerful hand grabbed him from behind and hurled him several feet away.
"Damon!" Caroline yelled.
"I'm fine," Damon grunted, pushing himself up.
He looked up and froze.
A man stood between them and Tyler, eyes glowing a feral yellow. The air around him felt… heavy.
Damon narrowed his eyes. "Okay. Who the hell are you?"
Tyler snarled and tried to leap again, but the man turned and roared a deep, commanding sound that vibrated through the trees.
Tyler faltered, dropping to one knee, trembling.
The man looked back at Damon. "I'm Brandon. Lord Michael sent me to help."
Damon blinked. "Lord… ?"
Tyler suddenly screamed, clutching his head. "Get out of here!" he yelled, forcing the words out as if they burned.
Damon moved fast. He tossed Caroline a bundle. "Get to the Lockwood cellar. If it held him in, it'll keep him out. If it doesn't use these."
Brandon shook his head calmly. "No need. I'll make sure he doesn't get out."
Before their eyes, his face shifted, bones rearranging, features sharpening as dark fur crept along the side of his face alone. He stopped halfway, a partial transformation, his wolfish features looked terrifyingly controlled.
(Teen wolf transformation)
"I'll drag him to the cellar myself."
He glanced back at Damon. "Get out of here. Now."
Damon hesitated only a second, then nodded. In a blur, he vanished down the forest path.
Brandon turned slowly, eyes locking onto Tyler.
A smirk curled across his half-shifted face.
"Now then, pup," he said calmly, "it's time I teach you some discipline."
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