At the Salvatore Boarding House, in the living-room Damon was tied up to a chair, he couldn't move an inch. He could see his ring laying on the floor as Mason was watching him across the room, but Damon didn't know that.
"Oh, you got to be kidding me." Damon scolded as he saw a iron poker on his chest.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" Mason asked, but he knew that Damon couldn't hear him.
"Oh. Stefan. Claire." Damon called as Stefan appeard in the doorway smirking "Low blow, Stefan. Low blow."
"What the hell happened to you?" Stefan questioned completely amused.
"Whatever twisted ripper game this is, leave me out of it." Damon replied firmly.
"I didn't do this." Stefan shook his head.
"Quit screwing around!" Damon hissed.
"I didn't." Stefan told him honestly as he inspected the chains "It's pretty mess up though, isn't it?" He replied as pulled out the iron poker from his chest. "Or maybe it's just your girlfriend being kinky." He smirked as Damon scowled at him. The younger Salvatore started to pull the chains but then stopped and walked away without a care in the world.
"Yeah, not to worry. I'll just untangle myself." Damon called out.
Mason narrowed his eyes and opened the curtains to let the sun in, Damon screamed in pain his skin burning.
Everyone was preparing for the Ilumination Night in the town square. They were hanging lanterns on the trees as Carol Lockwood, the mayor was a giving a speech to the volunteers and citizens of the town.
"As a long-time member of the historical society, I am especially proud to be kicking off this day of festivities. Thank you, volunteers." Everyone started clapping along with her "Tonight, we turn of our town's lights and flare up our lanterns in honour of the night of illumination started by our founders 150 years ago. Here's founding family member Tobias Fell with a history lesson..." He ran up to stage.
Alaric and Jeremy were in the crowd listening to the speech, the younger boy looked over at his history teacher "What are you doing here?"
"Tobias Fell is the head of the history department. I didn't have a choice." Alaric shrugged.
"Alright, that explains what you're doing here." Jeremy replied.
"Well, I'm the one who can fail you if you don't help me out." Alaric told him as Elena joined them.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. What did I miss?" She asked, as Anna appeard next to Jeremy.
"Just a bunch of historical lies." Anna scoffed talking about Tobias Fell.
"You didn't miss anything." Jeremy answered his sister.
"The first illumination was held in celebration with the new found prosperity that Mystic Falls enjoyed after the way." Tobias informed them.
"After the founders stole from all the vampires." Anna rolled her eyes as Jeremy cracked a smile.
"What's so funny?" Elena looked at him.
He just shook his head and looked up to the stage as Tobias Fell continued to give them the speech about the town history, Anna saw Jeremy smile and she smiled too taking his hand.
Claire opened her eyes slowly and groaned, rubbing her eyes she started to look around and frowned. She was in the auditorium that she used to sing with her mother, the same place where Klaus kept her captive for the sacrifice. She didn't know how did she got here, because she was pretty sure that she was in the boarding house last night, then another memory came back. She saw her dead mother, she saw Ava Muratore standing in front of her, with that incredible smile on her beautiful face. But it couldn't be true, her mother was dead. This has to be one of Klaus's twisted games just to mess with her.
She heard music coming from the stage, it was like someone was playing piano. The melodic sound yet powerful calmed her down, she walked towards the source of the music. And her mouth dropped open when she looked up to the stage. There she was again, in all her glory playing the piano softly. When she stopped playing, Claire walked up into the stage walking slowly towards her mother.
"Mother?" Claire whispered.
"My beautiful little girl." Ava replied proudly. She was still as beautiful as Claire can remember. Claire had Ava's features but her father's eyes.
"Oh my god, I want to hug you and hold you closely right now." Claire replied as she felt tears sprung in her eyes.
"What's stopping you?" Ava questioned.
"I'm afraid that you'll disappear if I touch you." Claire replied in a low voice. Her mother was a ghost, that she had figured out quickly, because there was no other explanation.
"I assure you that I won't, I would never leave you baby girl, even in my death. I was always with you in your worse and best moments." She told her.
The tears finally fell freely on her face as she smiled brightly, she ran at human speed towards her mother as Ava opened her arms to receive her loving daughter. Claire was crying on her mother's shoulder as Ava kissed the top of her head.
"Shhh, I'm here baby girl. It's ok." She tried to sooth her.
"I am so happy to see you again. I missed you so much mama, so much." Claire sobbed.
"I know, I missed you too Claire." Ava nodded, holding her daughter tightly.
Back at the town square, Caroline and Bonnie were hanging some lanters and talking about what happened last night with Vicki "So when you and Claire did the spell to send Vicki away, did you get rid of Anna, too?"
"I wish. All we did was block the magic that was helping Vicki get a physical foothold here. Jeremy's still got a direct line to the other side, and as long as he wants to see Anna and she wants to see him, she's still here." Bonnie replied with a bit of jealousy on her voice.
"Ok, you don't think I can actually resist commenting on that." Caroline looked at her.
"There. You commented." Bonnie noted.
"Bonnie-"
"What do you want me to say, Caroline? I went against the balance of nature when I brought Jeremy back to life, and now I'm paying the consequences." Bonnie told her.
"Well, I want you to say you're not ok with it." Caroline argued
"I'm a thousand times not ok with it." Bonnie huffed "I just don't know what to do about it."
Damon's car pulled up as Caroline and Bonnie walked over to the dark-haired vampire. "Greetings, blondie, witchy. I think you and Claire got your voodoo wires all crossed when you got rid of Vicki Donovan."
"What do you mean, why?" Bonnie asked.
"Because I'm pretty sure I just got spit-roasted by Mason Lockwood's ghost." He spat.
"What?" Bonnie creased her eyebrows,
"And why would you think that?" Caroline questioned.
"Maybe because he changed me to a chair and shoved a hot poker in my chest." He shrugged "Let's just say I'm having d j vu."
"I thought you said that ghosts couldn't physically interact with people." Caroline looked at Bonnie.
"They can't." Bonnie assured her.
"Yeah, well, I don't have time for a vengeful Lockwood. When I kill someone, they're supposed to stay dead. Whatever you screwed up, fix it." He told her. "And by the way, any ideas of Claire's whereabouts?"
"Well, you two live in the same house. You should know." Caroline rolled her eyes.
"Thank you for stating the obvious blondie, it's not like I was being tortured by a ghost or anything." He replied sarcastically.
"Didn't she sleep at the boarding house last night?" Bonnie asked.
"I don't think so, I didn't even heard her this morning." He told her. "You need to call her and fill her in with the this ghost situation... It's just too weird that she would sneak out at night without telling me."
"You don't think that anything happened to her, do you?" Bonnie frowned, she was now worried about her friend the last time that Claire disappeard without telling anyone was when she was kidnapped by Klaus.
"No. If it was Klaus would had known, and Claire know is drinking Zophole to build up a tolerance so he wouldn't catch her with her guard down." He explained her.
"We'll try to call her, to see if we can reach her." Caroline replied, Damon nodded and started his engine driving off.
Alaric, Jeremy and Elena were sitting outside of the Grill, as Elena pulled put Stefan's journals out of her bag "Hey, Jer, I need you to help me with something."
"What's up?" Jeremy looked at her.
"I've been going through Stefan's old journals. Every single time that he's gone off the rails in the past, his best friend Lexi's been the one to bring he back." Elena told him.
"So where is she now that we need her?" Alaric asked
"She's dead." Jeremy assumed as looked at his sister "And you want me to try to reach her, don't you?"
"I thought if I knew how she did it, maybe I could help him." Elena replied.
"I don't even know if she's on the other side." Jeremy argued.
"Is that what it's called?" Elena questioned.
"That's what Anna calls it." Jeremy nodded "There's no like an official brochure or anything."
"So what is it, like some sort of supernatural purgatory?" Alaric quizzed.
"Well, Anna said it's like being here with all of us, only we can't see her or hear her. And she can't interact with anyone. She's all alone." Jeremy told them as Anna appeard next to him.
"Vicki could interact." Alaric scoffed "She blew up my car."
"Vicki has help from a witch on the other side. Anna... she's doing this all be herself." Jeremy replied
"I'm just saying, maybe we learned our lesson about summoning dead people."
"I still can't believe that you're here." Claire smiled at her mother.
"Well, I guess that I have you and Bonnie to thank for." Ava nodded. "But you do realize that I'll have to go back eventually right dear?"
Claire's smile faltered a bit, she just had her back. The female hybrid wasn't ready to let her go just yet. "I don't know if I'm ready to let you go again."
"Claire when you and Bonnie did that spell to send Vicki back to the other side, the original witch took advantage of that and let the door open, then the ghosts with unfinished business-"
"Came back to finish them." Claire finished for her mother. "I don't understand, I don't usually be this clumsy with magic."
"Don't worry about it, we can deal with that later. Now I just want to spend some quality time with my daughter."
"You're right." Claire nodded, she eyed the piano across the stage and walked towards it. She sta on the bench and ran her fingers across the keys, she felt her mother sit beside her.
"Remember when you used to sing to me at night?" Claire smiled genuily.
"Of course, how could I forget?" Ava replied.
"Can you sing with me?" Claire looked over at Ava. She nodded and Claire started to play the keys, filling the room with a melodic sound.
(Bold- Ava's part)
Let's take a better look Beyond a story book And learn our souls are all we own Before we turn to stone
Let's go to sleep with clearer heads
And hearts too big to fit out beds
And maybe we won't feel so alone
Before we turn to stone
And if you wait for someone else's hand
You will surely fall down
If you wait for someone else's hand
You'll fall, you'll fall
I know that I am nothing new
My words might not seem much to you
But brother how we must atone
Before we turn to stone
She stopped playing the piano and looked oevr at her mother, Ava took her hands and kissed them.
"Why did you sacrifice yourself? Just to let me live? I'm a monster, a atrocity against nature..." Claire replied in a small voice.
"Are you hearing yourself right now Claire Muratore?" She took her chin to make her look up. " I sacrificed myself, because I love you. You're my child Claire, isn't that the job of a mother? To protect your child from everything?"
"It's just I blame myself everyday for your death."
"Don't you dare blame yourself for something that it wasn't your fault. I made the choice, no one forced me to. The witches weren't happy but I don't care. I'll be damned if a little voo-doo juju tells me what to do in relation to my daughter." She scoffed. There was the trait about Muratore women, they were so brave and loyal, it is one of qualities that Claire admired about her mother.
"I was so alone, I missed you everyday... I had to adjust myself, trying to protect myself from Klaus..." Claire countered with tears in her eyes.
"Claire you have to understand, that everything I did it was to protect you." Ava grabbed her face.
"I know, I'm sorry mama..." Claire whispered. Ava embraced her child, rocking her back and forth while she whispered nonsense on her ear.
Matt was in the town square talking with Bonnie and Caroline about his dead sister, Vicki. "I haven't seen Vicki, I swear. I sent her back like you told me."
"Are you sure? Because she has just as much reason to haunt Damon as Mason Lockwood does." Bonnie looked at him.
"She's gone, Bonnie. If she was here, I'd know it." Matt replied firmly.
"Why do you think it's Vicki and not Mason?" Caroline asked.
"Because if any ghost other than Vicki Donovan has a physical foothold on our side, then that means Damon's right and something has gone really, really wrong." Bonnie sighed.
"I've have enough of this ghost stuff to last forever. So you guys can leave me out of this one." Matt replied an turned to walk away.
"I feel so sad for him." Caroline whispered "It took a lot for him to send his sister away."
"Yeah." Bonnie nodded.
"So much strength for a man." Caroline mused.
"I've got a ghost problem to deal with, Caroline. Save the Jeremy lecture for later." Bonnie groaned as she grabbed her bag, it opened by itself stumbling to the floor, when she was about to gather her stuff the grimoire shot open.
"Ok, did your grimoire just-" Caroline began
"I think so." Bonnie nodded and grabbed her grimoire readin the page.
"Ok, please tell me that's a recipe for witch cookies."
"It's a manifestation spell. It's used to reveal veiled matter." Bonnie informed her.
"What's veiled matter?" Caroline frowned.
"Ghosts." Bonnie noted.
Claire and Ava were back at the Salvatore Boarding House, with the sudden visit of her dead mother, Claire hadn't had time to think about Damon or to wonder where he is. They were just talking and laughing, doing all kind of mother and daughter stuff. Claire had changed her night dress to new clothes, she was wearing a caramel blouse, black skinny jeans with a brown belt, black leather jacket and brown high heels. Her hair was done in curls and she wore pink lipgloss.
"You know, I will never understand the new century clothes. It seems a bit revealing to me, for what I've seen you wearing. At least know you are more covered." Ava huffed.
"The world has moved on mother, a lot of things changed." Claire chuckled. "Besides I love fashion, can't help it."
"Oh I know, I always remember when you were a little girl you loved to play dress-up." Ava smiled at the memory.
"And father used to tell me that I was the most gorgeous little girl he has ever seen." Claire smiled fondly.
"And he was absolutely right. He would be so proud to see that you are a grown woman right now. And a very beautiful one." Ava kissed her forehead.
"I miss him mother, I wished I could see him just like I can see you." Claire whispered.
"He has found peace my dear, he died human so it's only fair that he deserved the right to rest in peace." Ava told her.
"You're right. I'm glad he's in a better place." Claire nodded. They heard a phone ringing, it was Claire's phone. She grabbed and saw million of texts and calls from Damon, Bonnie and Caroline. She wanted to smack herself mentally, because she just disappeard and didn't say anything to anyone.
"I'm guessing your lover is worried about you." Ava replied walking over her.
"How do you know, I have a lover?" Claire creased her eyebrows, she didn't mention to her mother that she was dating.
"I'm a ghost remember? I can see and hear everything." Ava reminded her.
"Right. I forgot, but I also have texts from Bonnie, she must be aware from the ghost situation by now." Claire noted.
"You two will have to fix that later, who knows what will happen if all the ghosts are wandering around, among the living." Her mother sighed. "Right now I just want to know who is the lucky man who has my daughter's heart."
Claire smiled brightly thinking about Damon, her mother was certainly right. He did stole her heart, as corny it sounds, she is so in love with him and she is convinced that he is the one.
"His name is Damon. And he couldn't be more perfect even if he wanted to." Claire smiled.
"My oh my, my baby girl is so in love! And for what I've seen he is very much in love with you too." Ava told her.
"Yes and we are really happy, despite everything he is the one who understands me, knows me, respects me and he made me believe in love again." Claire sighed in hapiness, this was so out of character for her. She wasn't used to talk about feelings and love, but with her mother it seemed so simpl, she was her confident and with her she just could be herself.
"And what about Nikklaus?" Ava questioned carefully.
"What? You can't seriously think that I have feelings for him, other then hate." Claire scoffed.
"Claire, I know this not because I'm a ghost, but because I'm your mother. And mothers always knows these kinds of things." Ava replied.
"Maybe so, but I love Damon. There is only space for one man in my heart and that's Damon Salvatore." Claire replied firmly.
"I believe you my dear, but I also believe that you feel something for Nikklaus. There was a time where you did love him."
"No, what Klaus and I had it wasn't love. It was lust and bloodlust, he does not know what love is mother. It wasn't real." Claire shook her head.
"I just want the best for you my dear, whether it's with Damon or with Nikklaus. You deserve hapiness in your life Claire." Ava cupped her cheek. Claire took her hands and kissed them, she missed her words of comfort.
"Claire, it's time to get to the real world."
Bonnie and Caroline walked down to the cellar of the old witch abandoned house "So this is where you brought Jeremy back to life?" Caroline looked around.
"Yeah. Sorry, I know it's creepy, but we needed a private place around here to do the spell." Bonnie explained.
"Hmm. There's not chance it's haunted by the hundred dead witches who were horrifically burned to death in this very spot, is there?" Caroline titled her head to the side.
"They're not here anymore. And they made it clear they were never coming back." Bonnie replied.
"Right. A pinky swear?" Caroline looked at her best friend.
"Caroline..." Bonnie rolled her eyes.
"I'm just making sure." Caroline held up her hands in defense.
"Did you try to call Claire again?" Bonnie questioned.
"Yes, but she's not picking up." Caroline huffed looking down to her cellphone.
"Well, try harder. I really need her for this spell." Bonnie sighed. The blonde nodded and tried to get a hold of Claire.
Jeremy walked into the restrooms of the Grill, with Anna following him behind. "What's wrong?" She asked.
"Why did you tell me to lie?" Jeremy questioned.
"Elena is Bonnie's best friend. She won't like what's going on between us." Anna replied.
"What is going on between us? I mean, how are we able to touch? Vicki had to use magic to do that." Jeremy told her
"I don't know. Honestly, I have no idea." Anna shook her head.
"The witch on the other side that gave Vicki her foothold, is she helping you now?" Jeremy looked at her eyes to search the truth.
"What?" Anna frowned "No! I'm all alone, Jeremy. I told you that."
"Swear to me." Jeremy replied.
"I swear. I'm not any danger to you or anybody, I promise. Hey. I need you to believe me." She grabbed his hand.
"I shouldn't even be talking to you. This is not ok." He walked away from her to stand in front of the mirror.
"Then send me away. I'm only here because you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you." She told him firmly.
"I don't know why this is happening or when it's going to stop. But before it's done... I have to do this." He bent down and kissed her passionately.
"Ready?" Caroline finished to light the last candle "Do you need to do-" Bonnie was chanting softly under her breath "Right. Ok." The blonde nodded. And a gust of wind began to brush around the house.
They heard someone coming, the two friends looked at each other. Caroline walked towards the entrance of the house and she was about to vamp out to scare off the intruder, when Claire came out from the shadows.
"Oh my God, Claire! You scared the hell out of us." Caroline breathed.
"Sorry, I've been MIA guys. Something unexpected happened." Claire told them.
"We were calling you nonstop. What happened?" Caroline questioned.
"I'll explain later, I'm aware of the ghost situation and I'm here to help you Bonnie." Claire walked over to the younger witch.
"Good, we need to fix this and fast. This is the spell." Bonnie showed her the spell on her grimoire and Claire nodded. They joined hands and started to chant the spell as Caroline just watched from distance.
"I'll grab Jeremy." Alaric told Elena, once they were inside of the Grill.
"I'll be right back." Elena replied and walked towards the restrooms. Alaric was walking to the bar and Damon joined him.
"You know, I've had enough vampires today, thanks." He huffed.
"Oh, come on. Have a drink with me. We've got trouble." Damon told him.
"No, you've got trouble. See, we're not a team. You tried to kill me." Alaric hissed "Alright? We're not friends. I don't like you."
"Ah! But remember back when you liked me and we conspired to kill Uncle werewolf Mason Lockwood?" Damon mused.
"Yeah, and?" Alaric looked at him.
"I think he's still a little pissed." Damon nodded.
Bonnie and Claire were continuing to cast the spell more louder this time, as the wind was more powerful around the house "Hum, guys I don't like this-" Suddenly the two witches felt two pairs of hands holding them "Oh my God. Is that you-" Caroline began.
"Grams." Bonnie whispered.
"Mother." Claire breathed.
Elena walked into the restroom and was surprised to see her brother with his ex-ghost lover kissing "Anna?"
Stefan was walking on the street with his smug face when he saw the reflection of a blonde girl on the reflection of the car behind him. "Lexi?"
Alaric and Damon were drinking up the bar when Mason appeard next to them with a glass of whiskey. "Mason." Alaric frowned.
"God, I miss whisky." The dead wolf replied, he drank the whiskey and smacked the glass on Damon's head.
"Told ya." Damon turned to Ric.
"Hi." Lexi grinned.
"You're dead." Stefan replied perplexed.
"Well, technically, so are you." Lexi shrugged.
"Then how can I see-"
"See me? Yeah, I have no idea." Lexi retorted "And I have no idea how long it's going to last, so let's get right to the point." She sighed "You're off the rails. Big time."
"Look, I don't know how you're here, but you need to leave me alone, ok?" Stefan spat.
"Now what kind of friend would I be if I didn't help you out of this mess you're in?" Lexi mused.
"I don't want your help." Stefan snapped.
"You know, you say that every time. 'I don't want you help, I don't want to get better, leave me alone'." Lexi mimicked his voice.
"Well, maybe you should listen this time." Stefan scoffed.
"Or maybe I should do this." Lexi smacked his head against the window of the car, knocking him down unconscious.
"Wait, you're Claire's m-" Caroline started.
"Mother, yes. Ava Muratore, you must be Caroline and you're Bonnie. Nice to meet you both." Ava smiled.
"Oh my god, I can't believe that one of the most powerful witches is here." Bonnie whispered. "I can't believe you're here!" She turned to Shelia.
"Now stop your crying, we don't have time for tears." Shelia told Bonnie and looked over at Caroline "Nice to see you again, Caroline."
"Hi, Ms. Shelia." Caroline was a bit intimidated by the two olders witches.
"I've see you honored your promise to Emily, taking care of my grandchild Claire." Shelia nodded.
"Of course, I promised to teach future witches like Bonnie." Claire replied. Then Shelia turned to Ava who was still holding hands with her daughter.
"You have a extraordinaire child Ava." Shelia smiled and Ava thanked her with a nod, Bonnie was still overwhelmed by the two witches.
"A fine mess you've made, Bonnie." Shelia told Bonnie and Claire "The witches told you there'd be consequences to bringing Jeremy back and you did it anyway."
"I didn't have a choice." Bonnie replied "I love him and I... I couldn't just let him go."
"I understand." Shelia nodded "But you and Claire cracked open the door to the other side. There's an old witch here. She took advantage of it. She took advantage of both of you. When you did the spell to send Vicki Donovan away, she wedge the door wide open. Giving a free pass to anybody with unfinished business."
"I'm aware of that now." Claire nodded.
"How do you know this?" Bonnie turned to Claire.
"My mother covered it, already." Claire told her.
"And, witches talk." Shelia cut in "Even on the other side. Who do you think makes all the rules?"
"What does the witch want?" Bonnie whimpered.
"That's Original vampire business, not yours." She countered. "I don't want you getting in the middle of that."
"And we're here because you both upset the balance of nature. And it's your duty to set it right. You need to close that door." Ava added.
"How do we do that?" Elena was on the phone with Caroline as she glared at her brother and Anna.
"Apparently the old witch can draw power from this side because of her talisman." Caroline replied.
"Talisman... my necklace?" Elena quizzed.
"It's some ju-ju power source. And I know you're not going to like this, but Bonnie and Claire need to destroy it."
"I just walked in on Jeremy kissing the reason I'm completely ok with that." She scoffed.
"What! Are you kidding?" Caroline hissed.
"I wish. Look, I don't have the necklace. Damon has it somewhere. Text him. I'll call you right back." She hung up.
"Elena-" Jeremy began.
"You need to disappear or evaporate or whatever it is that you ghosts do." Elena looked at Anna.
"Hey, it's not her fault." Jeremy defended her.
"You're right, it's yours." Elena snapped at Jeremy and Anna disappeard all of the sudden "How did this happen?" Elena asked.
"I don't know. Ok? I don't know. It just... it did. Elena, please. You can't tell Bonnie." Jeremy begged.
"Don't worry." Elena narrowed her eyes "I'm going to let you do that. Right after I help you send the ghosts away." She walked out of the room and bumped into a blonde girl, she looked up to see Lexi.
"Looks like today was a good day to be thinking about me, Elena." Lexi smiled.
"Lexi?" Elena asked.
"Mm-hmm... Come with me." Lexi told her.
"Where?" Elena questioned.
"Ripper detox 101. Crash course." Lexi replied and grabbed her hand.
"I-"
"I'm sorry, did you not just say how desperate you were for my help saving Stefan's life?" Lexi looked at her and Elena sighed.
"Let's go." They walked out of the Grill.
"I'm never gonna find that damn necklace." Damon huffed, checking his phone.
"One of you will pay for this, right?" Mason asked as he downed the alcohol down to his throat. "Cheers."
"Let's get to it. I killed you. You want revenge. Get in line." Damon spat.
"Actually, I want an apology." Mason replied.
Alaric gave a huge laugh "Good luck with that. Unless your name is Claire and you can start fire with your mind , it's not happening."
"Don't you have a family to haunt?" Damon questioned the dead werewolf "You know your nephew has turned into a mindless hybrid Minion."
"That's why I'm here." Mason nodded. "To help Tyler."
"Well, sorry to break it to you, buddy, but Tyler can't be helped. At least now while Klaus is alive. Which is, like, always." Damon scoffed.
"Not necessarily." Mason told him "Not if you found a weapon that could kill him."
"There is no weapon that-" He stopped and looked at him "What do you know?"
"I know you and your hot little girlfriend need to apologise." Mason narrowed his eyes.
"You got to be kidding me." Damon hissed.
"Are you incapable of remorse? Just apologise!" Alaric snapped.
"You're right. I didn't have to kill you. I do a lot of things I don't have to do. Claire and I had a mutual goal that's why she helped me kill you."
He laughed loudly and nodded his head. "Good enough. Meet me at the old Lockwood cellar. Bring a shove. Come alone."
"What, you're going to bury me alive?" Damon frowned.
"Don't tempt me." Mason looked at him and walked out of the bar.
Stefan was tied to a chair on a cell as Lexi and Elena were watching him from the door "Klaus really did a number on him, huh?"
"He compelled him to turn off his humanity." Elena replied.
"Well, we're just going to have to convince him to turn it back on. I have to warn you, it's not going to be pretty." Lexi looked at her.
"I can handle it." Elena nodded as Lexi kicked his chair to wake him up. "Wake up, sleepyhead." He woke up and looked at her confused.
"How you feeling?" Lexi asked with a huge smile.
"What is this?" Stefan wiggled against the chair "Let me out of here!"
"Shh." Lexi shushed him "Inside voices, please. I'm trying to get inside your head."
"Elena. Get ride of her, please." Stefan begged.
"No." Elena replied firmly.
"First step, drying him out. Starve away the blood lust. Strip away the temptation." Lexi replied.
"This isn't going to work, Lexi." Stefan shook his head. "You can't do this."
"You heard the not pretty part?"
"I heard you." Elena nodded.
Lexi looked Stefan straight into his green eyes "What are you doing?" He growled when he felt his hands disiccate "What are you doing, Lexi!"
"Doing what I do best, sweetness. I'm saving your life." Lexi beamed.
Mason was down at the old Lockwood cellar with a latern as Damon arrived with a shovel on his hands.
"I'm surprised you showed." Mason replied.
"You put a snag in my only other Klaus lead. So I'd say I'm highly motivated." Damon shot back.
"Mikael? Yeah. That didn't turn out so great, did it?" Mason mused.
"How do you know so much?" Damon questioned.
"There's not much to do on the other side, but sit around and watch other people screw things up."
"What are we looking for?" Damon asked him.
"There's an old Lockwood family legend about a weapon that can kill an Original vampire. Like the rest of their secrets, they kept it buried." Mason told him and he took the shovel from him to smack against the wall attempting to break it but it wouldn't budge.
"Oh, come one, give me the thing." Damon grabbed the shovel "Move." He told him and smacked the shovel against the wall as it crashed down making a small entrance.
"Go for it." Mason told him.
"You first." Damon looked at him.
"What, you think I'm leading you into a trap?" Mason scoffed.
"The thought crossed my mind." Damon sneered and Mason went first with Damon following behind.
At the Salvatore Boarding House, Caroline was on the phone with Elena as Bonnie and Claire were trying to find the necklace. The blonde hung up and looked over at them "What are you talking about?" Bonnie asked.
"Um... Lexi's back, so Elena wants us to hold off on destroying the necklace." Caroline told her.
"You said boyfriend dramas. Plural. What is it, Caroline?" Bonnie frowned.
"Elena caught Jeremy kissing Anna." Caroline sighed and told her the truth.
"What?" Bonnie whispered.
"I'm sorry, Bonnie." Claire looked at the younger witch.
"He kissed her?" Bonnie asked.
"She's got a foothold now, so she probably things that she's here to stay. But you, me and Claire, Bonnie, we're going to find the necklace. Ok? Ok." Caroline told her firmly.
In the town square everyone was gathering for the ilumination night, as Jeremy was searching for Anna.
"Anna!" He called "Anna!" He suddenly bumped into a man. It was Frederick, one of the tombs vampires who tortured Stefan a long time ago "Sorry. Hey, man sorry about that." He apologised.
"No problem, buddy." Frederick purred.
Carol was searching for someone too as she spotted Alaric and walked over to the history teacher "Have you seen Tobias Fell?" Carol asked "He's supposed to do the lighting ceremony."
"No." Alaric shook his head.
Stefan was still struggling as he was becoming weaker by the second, he looked over at Elena with pleading eyes. "Elena." He rasped "Elena. I'm hurting. Please help me."
"Don't listen. Shut him out." Lexi told her.
"I am helping you, Stefan." Elena nodded.
"I'll do anything. I'll change. I promise." Stefan told her.
"It's a lie. He'll say anything right now." Lexi cut in.
"Elena, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Just make it stop. Please, just make it stop." Stefan begged.
"You have to separate yourself from your emotions. Don't let him play on them." Lexi looked at her.
"Hey, look at me. Look at me." Stefan rasped and she looked at him "Elena. I love you, ok? I love you. I love you so much. I love you so much, Elena."
"I'm sorry, Stefan, I just don't believe you." She hissed.
"You know what? I don't want your help, anyway." He growled "I wish I'd never met you. Every single moment that I've spent with you has been a complete and total waste."
"You see that? That's the ripper talking. Once he's weak enough, you have to cause him pain. Make him feel things. Anger, rage, anything. You have to make him see past the blood." The blonde explained as she shoved a stack on his chest and pulled out "Think of it as a regime. Day in day out. Like running the treadmill. Like making coffee. Until he's ready to be saved."
"I will rip you apart, Lexi!" Stefan yelled.
"You can't. I'm already dead." Lexi mused and she staked him again.
"I can't..." Elena shook her head and ran off the cellar and Lexi watched her leave.
Elena was outside to get some air and try to breathe when she saw an ambulance carrying a body bag and she walked over to see what was happening.
Caroline, Bonnie and Claire were still trying to find the necklace but with no luck, the female hybrid walked into her and Damon's room to search in the closet. And Caroline sighed in frustation "Ugh! I give up. It's not anywhere is this room." Caroline scoffed, Bonnie's phone began to vibrate she walked to see who was calling and when she saw that it was Jeremy she refused to answer. Caroline answered for her "What do you want, Jeremy?"
"Caroline? Did you find the necklace?" Jeremy asked.
"Not yet. Wait, what's going on?" Caroline frowned.
"Ghosts of the tomb vampires killed Tobias Fell. You might want to find that necklace before they start going alphabetically though the founding families." He told her.
"Well, it's not where it's supposed to be. Unless someone took it." Caroline replied.
"Who?" Jeremy asked.
"Well, who do you think?" Caroline scoffed. The young boy turned to look at Anna with a suspicion look.
"I didn't." Anna shook her head.
"She said she didn't take it." Jeremy informed Caroline.
"Oh, and you believe her." She rolled her eyes.
"I didn't take it, Jeremy." Anna hissed.
"You know what, yeah, yeah, I do believe her." Jeremy nodded.
"You know what, you're an even bigger idiot than I thought. So wake up, Jeremy, before you lose everything." She hung up.
Damon and Mason were making walking through the hidden part of the Lockwood cellar, as the vampire was growing suspicious by Mason's intentions by the second.
"I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop." Damon replied "Your motives are deceptively pure."
"You talk the talk, but you'll do anything for your brother. You won't screw me over as long as we have the same agenda." Mason nodded.
"I'm supposed to believe you're not going to screw me over?" Damon rolled his eyes and they reached a part where they had to choose right or left "Alright. Which way?"
"I don't know. Flip a coin." Mason suggested.
"Aren't you supposed to be all-knowing?" Damon asked.
"I'm a ghost. I'm not God. Go left." Mason told him and Damon chose to go right "Or not... You have trust issues. Anyone ever tell you that?"
Damon narrowed his eyes and suddenly a load os stakes fired through his body as he screamed in pain, feeling the wood sinking in his body "Yo. Help a brother out? Mason?" He called, but he wasn't there anymore.
"Where is Anna now?" Elena asked Jeremy.
"I don't know, ok? I don't even know for sure if she took the necklace." Jeremy replied.
"She was the only person who heard us talking about it. Of course she took it. Ok? We have to get it back." Elena told him.
"I know, but-"
"But what? What, Jer?" Elena spat.
"I can touch her, Elena. I can kiss her again. And I know it's wrong, and I know that I shouldn't feel this way, but I do. I love her. I've always loved her." Jeremy admitted.
"But it's not real. She's dead. Gone. Everything that you're holding on to is the past, Jer." Elena replied "Are you going to love a ghost for the rest of your life?" She looked over at Jeremy's shoulder to see Anna "He's at the beginning of his life, Anna. You're just holding him back. You know that." Anna showed him the necklace with a look of regret on her face.
"Call Bonnie. Tell her that you have the necklace. Get her and Claire to send the ghosts away."
Claire was driving her car while Caroline was on the passenger seat speaking on the phone and Bonnie was in the backseat. "Jeremy's got the necklace. He's going to meet us at the with house."
"Finally, we need to get done with this." Claire huffed.
"What's going on up there?" Bonnie asked looking to the window, as Claire and Caroline tried to look harder.
"It's Mrs. Lockwood's car." Caroline explained as the two vampires saw Frederick one of the tombs vampire walking towards the car
"Bonnie? I'm going to get out of the car." Caroline told her.
"What?" Bonnie hissed.
"And Claire is going to drive the hell away from here." Caroline replied
"No way! I am not leaving you !" Bonnie scoffed.
"Bonnie we need to take care of this once and for all, Caroline is a vampire. She can handle herself, right now is not the time to screw around." Claire told her firmly.
"And you've got your ghost boyfriend drama. Elena has hers. And right now the mother of mine is about to be ghost bait." Caroline explained. "So you need to go with Claire and send them all back to the other side, ok?" The younger witch sighed but she nodded, the blonde climbed out of the car as Claire started her car and sped off.
Frederick looked over at Caroline and smiled, the blonde vampire changed her face and stalked towards him with a look of anger on her face.
Lexi was walking around Stefan as the younger vampire was sweating big time "Quit fighting me, Stefan. I know you're in there."
"Not anymore, Lexi." He growled and Elena walked in.
"You know you say that every time. Until I make you feel again." She shoved the stake into his stomach.
"You wasted your whole life taking care of me. Now you're dead and you still have nothing better to do." Stefan spat.
"We're running out of time." Elena told her.
"You've got to get me more." Lexi turned to look at her.
"I can't." Elena shook her head.
"No! No... not until I break through." Lexi replied.
"I can't, Lexi. They have the necklace. They're going to close the door." Elena informed her.
"The necklace." She whispered "Ok. That necklace. At least tell me you remember how you felt about that. You found it hurting your darkest time. And you said, when you made it through, that that necklace represented hope."
"Ironic, then, that it's about to be blown to pieces." Stefan shrugged.
Damon and Mason were still walking through the Lockwood cellar, when they arrived to a part where an invisible barrier kept Damon out but Mason could pass.
"God! This is not happening." Damon groaned.
"What now?" Mason asked.
"I can't get through. It's like I'm not invited in." He growled "Wait!"
"I'm not stopping just 'cause you're stuck." The wolf told him "I'll let you know what I find."
"Yeah, but-"
"Looks like you're gonna have to trust me." Mason countered.
Bonnie and Claire were setting the lights on the abandoned house, when Jeremy bursted into the room.
Her face was void of emotion when she saw him, he held the necklace and she snatched from his hands . She threw it to the fireplace as she joined hands with Claire chanting under their breath. And suddenly they felt two sources of power when Shelia and Ava took their hands and chanted along with them.
Carol was starting to open her eyes carefully, when she saw Caroline fighting off the tomb vampires.
When Frederick grabbed her throat ready to kill her, she struggled to get out of his grip and suddenly he disappeard within air.
At the old Lockwood cellar, Mason was staring at a wall in amazement "So?" Damon called. "What'd you find?"
"It's in-" Then he disappeard his lantern on the ground.
"No, no, no! No! Where'd you go? Mason, Mason!" Damon called with anger written on his face.
Anna was walking on the street, tears falling down on her face. When suddenly she saw her mother, she felt such joy in her heart "Mom?"
Pearl grabbed her daughter, hugging her tightly. They both cried together and disappeard from the place.
At the abandoned house the four wicthes were watching the necklace melt away. Shelia turned to look at Bonnie "You are stronger than all of this. I'm so proud of you." She smiled as Ava turned to Claire "Mother." She whispered with tears falling down.
"It's ok baby girl. It's my time to leave, but don't you ever forget that I will always be there for you. I will always protect you and watch you." Ava told her, Claire hugged her mother not wanting to let go. The older witch kissed her forehead with tears in her own eyes. "I love you baby girl."
"I love you too mama." Then the two wicthes faded away, leaving Bonnie and Claire heart-broken.
Damon was sitting on the Lockwood cellar as Alaric arrived "You're here. It's about time."
"Didn't have anyone else to call?" Alaric scoffed.
"No, actually, I don't. 'Cause I need a non-vampire to get in the cave, and aside from Claire you're pretty much the only one I trust." Damon replied.
"Well, you have a crappy way of showing that." Alaric sneered.
"Look, if Mason Lockwood can get over the fact that I killed him, can't you cut me a little slack, Ric?" Damon huffed.
"I shouldn't have to get over it. I was your friend, Damon." He told him "You shouldn't have done it in the first place."
"Well! Sometimes... I do things I don't have to do."
"You're going to recycle that same crap ass apology you gave Mason Lockwood?" Alaric narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah. Well... I didn't mean it with him." Damon grinned at him, as Alaric shook his head and entered into the deep cavern.
"So what are you going to do, Elena?" Stefan's voice was weak "You just going to stand there? Waiting for me to dry out?"
"No, I'm going to go home, take care of my brother, be a friend to Bonnie and everything else that I have to do."
"That's good for you. You know, I was wondering when you were going to give up. Lexi gave you... enough of a glimpse into your tragic future." Stefan spat.
"I haven't given up Stefan." She turned to him "I still have hope. But there's nothing that I can do until you get yours back." She touched his face "Hey. You can break through this. Fight for it. Feel something. Anything, Stefan. Because if you don't, you're going to lose me forever. I won't love a ghost for the rest of my life." She walked out of the cellar.
Claire was outside of the abandoned house as she dried her tears. She then remembered that her cellphone was off and she turned back on and saw the messages from Damon. She decided to call him, since she haven't seen him all day.
"You have some serious explaining to do Mrs. Muratore"
"Hello my lovely girlfriend, how are you? You are ok right? I missed you too, babe." Claire tried to joke so Damon wouldn't notice that she had been crying.
"I was worried sick, Claire. I even thought of the worse..."
"Where are you?" She asked quickly.
"At the old Lockwood cellar with Ric, long story. Why?"
"I need to see you." She whimpered.
"Why? What is going on? Did something happened?" He asked frantically.
"I just need to see you, I'm going to meet you now." She hung up and sped off of the house towards the Lockwood cellar. When she arrived she saw Damon sitting with a worried face, he got up and walked towards her.
"God, you scared me. Where were you all day?" He questioned.
"I saw my mother." She whimpered.
"What? How?" He asked then he figured out. "You saw her as ghost, didn't you?"
She nodded her head and tears sprung on her eyes again, he quickly embraced her and sooth her hair.
"Shhh, it's ok babe. I'm here for you." He whispered.
"Damon, I was so happy. For the first time in centuries I felt like my life was whole again, I was able to touch her, hug her, talk to her... And now she's gone again." She sobbed. "I'm alone again."
"Hey, hey. Look at me!" He grabbed her face. "You are not alone, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
"Don't ever leave me, please Damon, don't leave." She begged.
"I won't. I promise, I'll be by your side every step of the way. I'll never leave you, Claire." He promised her kissing her cheek then her lips softly.
"I love you so much. She would had loved to meet you, and comment how handsome you are." She chuckled.
"I'm sure if your mother is half the amazing woman that you are, I would had loved her too." He smiled.
"She is Damon. She is an incredible woman and a perfect mother. She is so beautiful, strong, brave and amazing." Claire told him.
"It reminds me of a very beautiful woman that I have now in my arms, I guess is a part of Muratore women charm." He smirked and she laughed softly.
"Thank you for never leaving me." She whispered. He pulled away to look at her ocean blue eyes, she was so gorgeous, no woman should be allowed to be that beautiful.
"It's you and me Claire. Forever."
I'm sorry for the wait, but my computer is wrecked and now I'm using my sister's. Ok, now here it is chapter 7, what did you think about Claire and Ava's reunion? A little mother-daughter moment don't you think? And the last scene with Damon was so beautiful, they are just so perfect . I know some of you are asking for more scenes with Klaus and Claire but right now is not possible, all I can do is give you flashbacks. Starting on the next chapter, I promise that is going to have a little Klaus x Claire flashback ;)
