GILBERT HOUSE

Jeremy took a step backward as his heart pumped furiously. His two previously dead girlfriends followed his every move as he backed into the kitchen, wondering what was happening. Should he alert Alaric? No, he didn't want Alaric to get in any danger.

'You're being quiet now?' Vicki was the first to speak. 'No "hello"? No "I missed you boo"?' She made a pout.

'You always were the quiet one,' Anna teased, all the while closing in on him.

Jeremy was too shocked. He bumped into the counter and grabbed the knife.

'You're not Vicki and Anna!' he rasped, waving the knife threateningly at them.

Vicki raised her hands in mock surrender. 'Oh it's us, Jer. Don't be in denial now.'

Anna walked deathly close until he could feel her breath on his face. 'It was nice seeing you again, Jeremy. We'll be in touch.'

As quickly as they got in, they were gone. Jeremy was dumbstruck and his face was still cold from shock. The knife clattered in the sink as he ran to get his phone. He dialled Bonnie's number and pressed the phone to his ear.

'Hello?' he strained.

'Bonnie's not here, Dear,' the voice knocked the wind out of Jeremy.

It was Jenna.

SALVATORE BOARDING HOUSE

Elena packed her hair ponytail as she stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror. She could hear Damon shuffling about downstairs and she knew he was also worried about his brother. She picked up her iPhone and checked for messages. She ran a hand through her hair as she opened the door-

'I don't think he'll be replying anytime soon.'

Elena jumped, almost dropping her phone. Damon was standing in front of her.

'Gosh, Damon, shouldn't you be resting? You almost died,' she said, regaining composure.

'Yeah well, Klaus's blood has got me back on my feet again,' he said, wiggling his eyebrows. 'And if I may add, it tasted like crap.'

Elena punched him in the gut and he feigned pain. They walked into the foyer.

'What are we going to do about Stefan?' Elena slumped onto the couch, her head in hands.

'Typical Stefan,' Damon mumbled, 'Always putting others first. I'll have to check the edges of town. That's where they're most likely to be found. Let me get my jacket.'

Damon headed upstairs and Elena held a cushion to her chest. Her life had been completely unravelled. She was losing everyone that she kn-

Creak!

Elena dropped the cushion and stood, carefully walking towards the source of the sound: the main entrance. She swallowed her fear as she stretched her hand toward the doorknob.

WHOOSH! Jeremy breezed in, eyes wide and crazed as a lunatic. Alaric followed in quickly but calmly, hands in his pockets. He shut the door.

'Hey Elena,' Alaric said as Jeremy fidgeted and paced behind him. 'We need to talk. Where's Stefan? Is Damon okay?'

Elena was worried. 'Damon's fine. Stefan's with Klaus now. We were going to look for him. What's happening?'

Before Alaric could speak, Jeremy blurted, 'I don't know. Back at the house, I saw Anna and Vicki!'

Elena shook her head. 'Calm down, Jer. Anna and Vicki are dead.'

'Do dead people taunt you in your kitchen?' Jeremy grabbed his head. 'And then Jenna called.'

Alaric looked away. Elena noticed but said nothing about it.

'What do you mean Jenna called? Why is all this happening?'

Alaric finally spoke. 'Jeremy got shot. Bonnie forced the witches to help. They said there would be consequences.'

Elena's eyes widened. 'You got shot? How-?'

'It was my fault.'

Elena, Jeremy and Alaric looked up to see Damon on the last step, his eyes filled with guilt.

'I left him to get shot by Sheriff Forbes.'

MYSTIC GRILL

Bonnie and Caroline sat at a table in the middle of the Grill at 10 for breakfast. Caroline was perky and light-headed while Bonnie fiddled with her straw.

Caroline noticed how sullen she looked. 'You okay?'

Bonnie looked up and faked a smile. 'Perfect.'

Caroline raised an eyebrow. Bonnie's shoulders heaved.

'I don't know, Caroline. I guess I'm just worried about Jeremy. Remember what I told you about the safe house—'

'You mean where your witchy buds gave you the old 'consequences' line?' Caroline mused. 'I don't buy it.'

Bonnie was surprised. 'Really? Or are you just giddy with Lockwooditis?'

Caroline released a bubbly laugh. 'I'm sorry. I guess I'm just relieved that I don't have any more secrets. Tyler is a nice guy though, but I'm not sure where we're going.'

'Everything's just peachy,' Bonnie said drably.

Caroline sighed. 'I'm sorry, Bon. Look if anything's suspicious, you've got me, Vampire extraordinaire. I'll mow down anything that comes our way!'

Bonnie's mood lightened. 'Girl power, huh?'

Caroline raised a fist. 'We run the world!'

SALVATORE BOARDING HOUSE

'You have to stop beating yourself up over this, Damon.'

Elena sat next to Damon on the couch trying to make him feel less guilty. Jeremy had his head in his hands on another seat while Alaric brooded with a shot of tequila.

'Look, Elena, it's entirely my fault. It's my fault Stefan's with Klaus and it's my fault Jeremy's having this Ghosts of Girlfriends and Aunts Past sequel.'

'No, Damon,' Elena said, rubbing his arm. She caught Jeremy and Alaric raising eyebrows at the gesture, but they quickly looked away.

'Soo…' Alaric said, 'We've got ghost vampires on the loose and Stefan MIA.'

DESERTED FIELD

Klaus walked majestically through the field, emphasizing every step. The world was at his fingertips and he was virtually unstoppable. He was king, and he thought of the irony that no one knew who he was. That was subject to change though, and the world would tremble at his feet.

He reached a dip in the ground level that led into a valley. He snapped his fingers and Stefan walked briskly to his side.

'This is a historic site, Stefan,' he said casually as he pointed to the valley. 'It has a special purpose in your retraining as my wingman. Does it look familiar to you?'

He watched Stefan try to piece things together in his head, and chuckled lightly when realization dawned on his face.

Stefan choked on his words. 'Monterrey.'

Klaus began to perambulate. '1887-1917. A nice town really. Happy people. Happy life. Until you showed up in town, that is.'

Stefan shook his head. 'It was a mistake.'

Klaus begged to differ. 'It was a masterpiece. Bodies strewn carelessly on doorsteps. Infant limbs clutching pillows. A true masterpiece.'

Stefan's eyes were dark with guilt. 'Why did you bring me here?'

'A part of your training,' Klaus circled Stefan. 'You see, a year ago, this town began to rebuild.'

Stefan was still confused. 'And?'

'And you're going to destroy it again.'