Tyler lay on his back in the grass, staring up at the sky. He hadn't moved in hours. The moon had come and gone and it was now morning. No more pressing weight on his bones or the painful stretches and tearing of his skin.
Just… quiet. Caroline returned from the treeline, her footsteps light but hesitant as she approached him. "How is he?" she asked softly.
Brandon stood nearby with his arms crossed, with a relaxed posture tilted his head toward Tyler. "See for yourself." Caroline knelt beside Tyler. "Hey."
Tyler turned his head, blinking. "Hey, Care." She tried to smile but he could see didn't quite land. Her eyes were glossy, tears barely held back.
Tyler frowned immediately. "What happened?" Caroline hesitated, then sighed. "It's Matt. He… he broke up with me."
Tyler's chest tightened at that. He pushed himself up on one elbow despite the soreness still clinging to his body. "I'm, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. If it wasn't for me—"
Caroline shook her head quickly. "No. Don't. This isn't your fault. None of it is."
She glanced over her shoulder at Brandon, then back at Tyler. "He actually saved all of us last night."
Caroline stood and turned fully toward Brandon. "Thank you. Seriously. And, uh… who do you work for, by the way?"
Brandon opened his mouth. "I'm Brandon, and I work for lor—" He stopped himself.
A fraction of a second passed.
"…I work for Master Michael," he corrected calmly. "And I'm a werewolf. Same as you, Tyler."
Tyler stared. "Okay, then how the hell were you so calm? It was a full moon. I was losing it and you were just… standing there."
Caroline nodded rapidly. "Yeah! You were totally fine. And that thing you did with your face, what was that?"
Brandon's expression didn't change, but something like pride flickered briefly in his eyes. "I can control my transformation during the full moon. What you saw was a partial transformation."
He looked directly at Tyler.
"And you'll be learning it. With me." Tyler's breath caught. "Wait, are you saying… you can teach me how to not transform anymore? Like, at all?"
Brandon opened his mouth to answer… His phone rang. He raised a finger politely. "Excuse me."
Brandon stepped a few paces away and answered. "Yes?"
A familiar voice crackled through the line, smooth and unmistakably amused.
"Hypothetically speaking," Michael said, "how would you recommend disciplining a juvenile who keeps trying to rip his own spine out once a month despite repeated lessons?"
Brandon sighed. "You could start by not calling him a juvenile."
"Oh, come now," Michael replied dryly. "If he's still howling at the moon instead of mastering it, the term fits."
Brandon's tone sharpened. "He's stable and alive if that's what you're worried about. Although, he does have a lot to learn."
"Tsk. You're no fun," Michael said. Then, more businesslike, "He's with you now?"
"Aye," Brandon replied.
There was brief pause after he answered that question before the next question.
"…Did you achieve your goal?" Brandon asked.
Michael exhaled on the other end. "Almost. It would seem there are seven Hell Gates open on Earth. I managed to close three."
"And I burned off quite a bit of Cade's damned souls."
Brandon's eyes narrowed slightly. "Understood."
Michael continued, "Get a few things ready. The next gate is close. Very close. I want our people looking for it immediately."
"Understood," Brandon said again, voice firm.
"And Cade?" Brandon asked and Michael chuckled softly.
"Oh, he's still kicking," he said. "But he's got wounds to lick."
————————————————-
Elena gasped. Her body jolted violently as breath tore back into her lungs, her hands flying up as panic seized her before thought could catch up.
"What, what happened?" she cried, her voice raw and broken as she latched onto Stefan instinctively. "Stefan, what's going on?"
Stefan wrapped his arms around her immediately, steadying her as Damon hovered a step behind.
"You died," Stefan said gently. "But you came back."
Elena pulled back just enough to look at him, confusion written across every line of her face. "That's not an explanation."
Stefan swallowed before continuing. "Alaric and Bonnie filled us in. The plan changed. We were supposed to kill Klaus with Elijah's help."
Damon scoffed loudly. "Keyword being supposed."
Stefan shot him a look but continued. "Elijah betrayed us. He took Klaus and ran."
Damon folded his arms. "Called it. Loudly. Repeatedly. But nooo, 'Elijah's honorable,' 'Elijah can be trusted.'" He gestured around the room. "And look where that got us."
Elena winced, then asked quietly, "What about Michael?" That was when Alaric entered the room with a very much tired expression showing his lack of sleep.
"He was… doing something else," Alaric said.
Damon rolled his eyes. "That's comforting."
Elena looked between them. "Doing what?"
Alaric hesitated. "Bonnie said he was casting a spell. I mean, I saw it too, but she said it wasn't just any spell. It used the energy released when Klaus broke his curse."
Elena's breath hitched. "Used it for what?" Stefan shook his head. "We don't know. Bonnie said it was massive. Maybe even bigger than the curse-breaking itself."
Alaric nodded. "The entire area went up in flames because of it." Elena stared at the floor, shaken. "So not only does he have magic… all that and we achieved nothing?"
Damon tilted his head. "Not entirely nothing."
She looked up at him, confused and then froze as she turned and saw Jenna who stood in the doorway.
"Elena?"
Elena was on her feet in an instant. "Jenna…?" Her voice cracked. Jenna nodded, tears spilling freely now.
Elena rushed to her, crashing into her arms as both of them broke down, sobbing into each other.
"I thought I lost you," Elena cried. "I saw you change after Greta turned you into a vampire. I—" She pulled back just enough to look at her aunt's face. "How is this possible?"
Stefan straightened. "Michael swapped her out. Used a duplicate."
Elena blinked. "A duplicate?" Stefan nodded.
"…Olivia," Elena whispered causing Stefan to frown. "What?"
"I saw her," Elena said shakily. "After Jenna turned, she changed into a woman named Olivia."
Understanding dawned on Stefan's face. "That was the body Michael used. Jenna possessed it."
Elena hugged Jenna again, tighter this time, like letting go might undo everything.
"I didn't even know what was happening," Jenna said softly. "The last thing I remember was Michael telling me he wanted to talk outside the Salvatore house. Then everything went black."
She took a shaky breath. "When I came to, I was looking at a car. Then I saw you and Stefan come out of the house and… the rest just happened."
Damon smirked faintly. "Clever bastard." The moment softened then Jenna pulled back slightly.
"I'm sorry, Elena."
Elena frowned. "For what?" Jenna hesitated. "…It's about John." Elena tilted her head, confused and then Jenna told her.
———————————————
Michael stepped out of the Grill with a disposable cup in his hand. 'Seven Hell Gates huh,' he thought dryly.
He turned and walked straight into someone.
"Oh, sorry," a woman said.
Michael looked up and saw the Sheriff, Liz Forbes. She squinted at him. "You."
Michael laughed nervously. "Uh… meee?"
She crossed her arms. "You left before we could finish our conversation last time."
"Yeah," he said smoothly. "My bad. Emergency, family matters I had to attend to. You know how it is."
She didn't look convinced at his excuse. He cleared his throat and offered a polite smile. "Michael Keller."
Liz nodded slowly. "I see." She glanced past Michael toward the Grill. "I'm here to see my daughter."
Michael lifted his cup and took an unbothered sip, then said lightly,
"Ah. Right. The reason you're pretending this is a normal day and not a 'my-world-is-on-fire-but-I-have-parental-duties' kind of morning."
Liz narrowed her eyes.
He tilted the cup toward her in mock salute. "Relax. If this were a hostage situation, you'd already know. Subtlety is a dying art."
She studied him carefully as he drank, then caught the pause, the choice of words he'd used. Liz's jaw tightened. "Let's cut the bullshit. Who are you exactly?"
Michael looked at her for a long moment.
Then he shrugged, utterly unconcerned.
"Well, since you asked politely," he said, "I'll tell you."
"I'm a little over two thousand years old. A supernatural entity. One of the first watchers of the supernatural world and humanity. I know what really happened… as opposed to what your history books wrote after watering it down and dramatizing it for comfort."
Liz's hand drifted toward her gun which Michael noticed but Ignored it.
"I am he who has been," he continued calmly, "and who will most likely always be, the fire-bringer. The one who tries, very patiently, to keep order when things get… messy."
He glanced at her hand. "By all means, Sheriff. If it helps you feel better."
She stopped moving after he said that with little to no concern in his tone.
"And," he added casually, "god-brother to the Originals."
Liz blinked. "The Originals?" Michael took another sip of his drink. "Oh yeah. The original vampires. First of their kind. The Old Ones, as some people like to call them now."
He paused, smirked faintly.
"Not that old seeing as I'm considerably older but yes. That's them."
He shrugged. "Not the full story, obviously. But that's enough for today."
He drained the cup and held it up. "Anything else?"
Liz watched him with open caution and disbelief at all he'd just told her.
Michael sighed. "You think I'm dangerous."
"I know you are," she said flatly. "So why are you here? Are you here to cause trouble?"
Michael tossed the disposable cup into a nearby dumpster with perfect aim, shoved his hands into his pockets, and faced her fully.
"You're worried about the citizens," he said. "About this town." She didn't answer.
"You shouldn't be," Michael continued. "I'm not here to kill anyone. If I were" He paused. "Then this town wouldn't exist anymore."
Liz tensed instantly at the implications of what he said.
Michael winced slightly.
"…Yeah. Probably not the best way to phrase that."
He exhaled. "What I meant is relax."
"The supernatural," he went on more gently, "the ones you're afraid of, they're not all monsters. Fear is warranted, sure. Healthy even. But letting it consume you?" He shook his head. "That's how you lose perspective."
Liz's posture eased just a fraction and she listened to what he was getting at, "And you already know this," Michael said quietly. "You just don't want to admit it."
She frowned. "What are you talking about?"
He met her eyes. "Your daughter." Liz stiffened.
"Yes," Michael said softly. "She's a vampire. And not just any vampire." He smiled at her and this time without the usual mockery.
"She's one of the most remarkable vampires on the planet. Control like hers? It's not learned. It's chosen. Every day."
"Your fear is noted," Michael continued, his voice turned calm and kind. "But don't let it decide who you love. She's still your daughter whether you like it or not."
He then took a stepped back.
"Always remember that, Elizabeth no matter what anyone else tells you."
Then he turned and walked away, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
A moment later, Liz entered the Grill.
"Mom?"
She looked up and saw her daughter. Caroline stood there, eyes bright and wet.
"I heard everything," Caroline said quietly. "We need to talk."
Liz's breath hitched then she nodded, a tear slipping free despite herself.
"Yeah," she said softly. "Yeah… we do."
———————————-
Back in Mystic Falls, the door to Alaric's apartment was closed, the curtains drawn, and Katherine lay sprawled across the bed, eyes half-lidded as the television droned on in the background.
Two days, it's been two long, infuriating days.
Her patience was never legendary to begin with and it had finally thinned to nothing.
A voice suddenly suddenly cut through the noise.
"You know, in this generation, too much television is considered very bad for you, children."
Katherine stiffened, then slowly turned her head and saw Michael standing near the doorway, hands in his pockets with a lazy expression.
"Michael," she said flatly. "What are you doing here?" He tilted his head. "Not who you were expecting?"
Her eyes narrowed. "I'm supposed to be free."
He blinked once. "Elaborate." Katherine shot up into a sitting position. "Two days. I've been waiting two days. I'm supposed to be free of Klaus' compulsion by now. What the hell is going on?!"
The way Michael looked at her coolly, unimpressed and that made her immediately flinch.
"…Sorry," she said quickly, adjusting her tone. "So. What happened?"
"There were a few complications," Michael replied, already moving around the apartment.
He peered at a shelf, then a table. "Please feel free to worry though. It's not the fun kind of complications."
He chuckled under his breath, then paused, glancing around again. 'Ah. Almost here.'
His gaze swept over the room. 'Damn it. I need to look good before they get in.'
"Complications?" Katherine repeated, irritation bleeding back into her voice as she watched him inspect the place like he owned it.
"Doesn't really matter," Michael said easily.
He pulled a chair back and sat down, legs crossed, elbow resting on the arm, chin propped on his hand in an effortless, infuriatingly confident pose.
Then he pointed casually at the door.
Katherine followed his gaze. Her expression shifted instantly. She smoothed her hair, straightened her posture, and schooled her face into something far more pleasant, hoping, praying that Klaus hadn't heard her earlier outburst.
"Well," she drawled as the familiar presence filled the room, "if it isn't the Original brothers. Took you long enough."
Elijah stepped inside first, composed as ever, his dark eyes immediately assessing Katherine with quiet judgment before flicking to Michael.
Michael met his gaze, still seated with and amused and unbothered expression in his face.
Klaus followed a moment later, closing the door behind him with deliberate calm. His posture was relaxed, two days unchained and wild will do that to you.
Michael smiled.
"Oh good," he said lightly, rising to his feet. "The prodigal hybrid returns. Curse broken, two brothers reunited again and yet here we are. Truly inspiring." Klaus smirked despite himself.
Elijah's eyes narrowed. "You knew," he said.
Michael looked at him. "If you mean the part where Niklaus lied about the family having a divine sit-down with Poseidon? Yes, Elijah. I knew."
Elijah's jaw tightened. "And yet you let it happen, you let me believe and almost kill him."
Michael clasped his hands behind his back as he stood up, calm and unyielding. "I told you to either kill him or let him leave. That choice was yours. I had no part in it."
Klaus chuckled softly. "Is that so?"
Michael met his gaze without flinching. "It is so, Niklaus."
He sighed. "I helped them because I promised I would. And I kept that promise."
Klaus's smile faded slightly. "Oh? I recall you making a similar promise to me a millennium ago."
Michael's expression didn't change. "And yet you still live, do you not?"
Klaus looked at him without saying anything, unable to deny hes not wrong.
"I could have done what Elijah could not two days ago," Michael continued evenly. "I could have ended you myself."
His eyes shifted to Elijah. "But I didn't. I let him handle it because I knew that despite everything you've done to him…"
Michael's voice lowered and became sharper as he spoke to Klaus.
"He will always protect his little brother. Even when that brother betrays him. Again. And again. And again."
Klaus's jaw tightened, a frown pulling at his features as the weight of the words settled in.
Elijah said nothing.
Finally, Katherine pushed herself upright on the bed, clearly done with being ignored.
"This is all very fun and interesting," she said sharply, eyes flicking between the three men, "watching a family therapy session between immortal brothers. But hey, I'm still here, you know.
Klaus smiled faintly.
"Still alive. Still talking," he replied smoothly. "You should be thanking me, love."
She was on her feet in an instant, fury flashing across her face.
"You don't get to keep me on a leash indefinitely, Klaus."
"Enough. Katarina. Be quiet. Your elders are speaking." Elijah said to her.
The tone alone shut her up.
She caught the unamused look on Elijah's face and strangely, the amused one on Michael's. For a fleeting second, she thought how alike and unalike they were. Both terrifying. Just in very different ways.
Klaus didn't even spare her a glance. He moved toward the kitchen, opened a cabinet, and retrieved a glass. He poured blood into it with unhurried precision, as though Katherine's anger were nothing more than ambient noise.
"Freedom," he said casually, lifting the glass, "is a privilege."
He took a sip.
"One you earn."
Michael chuckled and wandered back to his chair, dropping into it and leaning back as though settling in to watch a play.
Katherine folded her arms. "And what exactly am I earning it for this time?"
Klaus turned, studying her the way one studies a chess piece not yet committed to the board.
"You know very well what you are," he said calmly. "A survivor. A liar. And occasionally… useful."
Elijah stepped closer, his expression hardening, "You were spared for a reason, Katherine," he said. "Do not mistake that for mercy."
Klaus tilted his head, considering her.
"Now?" he said softly. "Now we see whether you're worth keeping around at all."
Elijah glanced toward his brother. "We have other matters to attend to first brother."
"Ah, yes yes ," Klaus agreed, setting the glass down. "Much more pressing ones."
His gaze lingered on Michael for a few moments longer.
Michael simply smiled back at him.
It was an easy smile. Relaxed. And for reasons Klaus couldn't quite place, it unsettled him far more than hostility ever could.
Then in a blur.
Klaus was suddenly behind Elijah. Elijah turned just in time for the dagger to slide into his heart.
'ARGHHHHHHHH'
"I will keep my promise to you, brother," Klaus said quietly as Elijah screamed with wide, eyes.
"I will reunite you with our family." Elijah collapsed, dagger still embedded.
Michael clapped once. Then again.
"Bravo." Klaus turned sharply. "Why didn't you stop me?"
Michael looked genuinely amused.
"For the same reason I didn't stop Elijah when he said he'd kill you, Niklaus."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You see, I don't control your actions. That's for you and him to decide… of course only when it doesn't affect me in any way"
Klaus stared at him, jaw tight.
"Well then, brother," he said slowly. "What now?"
Michael's gaze shifted to Katherine.
"You can leave, Katherine," he said lightly. "My brother and I need to have a few words."
She opened her mouth to speak then stopped.
Her eyes flickered for a bit and her posture shifter when the command was issued.
The word echoed in her mind, absolute and undeniable.
Without another word, Katherine turned and walked to the door. It closed softly behind her.
Michael turned back to Klaus, smiling. And this time, there was nothing friendly about it at all.