It was Shiloh's first shift in a long time at the Mystic Grill. She stood in the back room, tying on her apron. "Hey, Shiloh. You have a table." Another waitress said, poking her head into the back.
"I'll be right there." Shiloh said. The other girl nodded before withdrawing from the back room. Shiloh took a deep breath, pushed the wrinkles out of her shirt, and walked out into the Grill. She spotted Elena and Bonnie sitting at a table in her section and went to take their order. "Hey, guys." She greeted.
"Shiloh. Hey." Elena said.
"You look tired." Bonnie said.
"I feel tired." Shiloh replied. "I can't stop thinking about Klaus... I mean, we have no idea what he's planning."
"I get that." Elena said.
"What can I get you guys?" Shiloh asked, mainly talking to Bonnie.
"Just two coffees." Bonnie said.
"I'll be right back." Shiloh said, heading back to make the coffees.
"Why didn't you tell anyone Jeremy was fired?" Alaric asked from the bar.
"Jeremy was fired?" Shiloh asked.
"How often do you even work anymore?" Damon asked.
"I took a break. There were a lot of things going on, okay?" Shiloh said.
"Where the hell is he going when he says he's working?" Alaric asked.
"No idea. Lexi's here, I'll talk to you guys later." Shiloh said, grabbing the coffees and heading towards Lexi, dropping the coffees off to Bonnie and Elena on the way. "Hey."
"Hey. Have you seen Stefan around?" Lexi asked.
"Not since homecoming." Shiloh said.
"He's not answering his phone." Lexi sighed, taking a seat at a table.
"I'll ask Damon if he knows anything. Do you wanna order anything?" Shiloh asked.
"Maybe later." Lexi said. Shiloh nodded then headed back to the bar.
"Damon." Shiloh said.
"Yeah?" Damon asked, turning to her.
"I don't suppose you have any idea where your brother is?" Shiloh asked.
"Haven't seen him around lately." Damon said.
"So we managed to lose Stefan again, only this time, he has no humanity. I feel like we're failing him." Shiloh said.
"We're doing what we can." Damon said.
"What's Elena freaking out about this time?" Shiloh asked, noticing Elena's angry expression while she dialed a number.
"She just found out baby brother lost his job. Little brothers, what're ya gonna do." Damon said.
"How are you with all this Stefan stuff?" Shiloh asked.
"At least he's not brooding anymore." Damon said.
"Can you be serious here? Damon, if you want us to be friends again, you gotta let me in. You use to tell me things." Shiloh said.
"I can't believe he did this." Elena exclaimed. "He got himself fired and didn't even tell anyone!"
"He probably just didn't want to worry anyone." Shiloh said.
"You're his best friend and he didn't tell you. He's failing his classes, he's out all night. Jenna's going crazy. We don't know what to do." Elena said.
"Don't mind me." The three turned towards the new voice that had joined their conversation.
"Klaus." Elena stated.
"You gonna do this in the Grill? In front of everyone? It's a little beneath you, don't you think?" Damon asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about. I just came down to my local pub to grab a drink with a mate." Klaus said innocently. Another man joined them, standing next to Klaus. "Get a round in, would you Tony?" Klaus asked, smiling at Elena's shocked reaction.
"I'm surprised you stuck around town long enough for happy hour." Damon said.
"My sister seems to be missing. Need to sort that out." Klaus replied.
"Cute blonde bombshell, psycho. Shouldn't be too hard to find." Damon said.
"Truth is I've grown to rather like your little town. Think I might fancy a home here. Oh I imagine you're wondering how does this is affect you. The answer is: not in the slightest. Unless I get what I want and everyone behaves themselves you can go on living your little lives however you choose. You have my word." Klaus said.
"What more could you possibly want?" Elena asked.
"Well for starters, you can tell me where I might find Stefan." Klaus said.
"Stefan skipped town the second he saved your ass." Damon said.
"Well you see that is a shame. Your brother stole from me. I need him found so I can take back what's mine." Klaus said.
"That sounds like a Klaus and Stefan problem." Elena said. Klaus stepped closer to her.
"Ha. Well this is me broadening the scope, sweetheart." Klaus said, then turned his head to the side to look at Shiloh. "Nothing to say, love? No input?"
"Not really." Shiloh said.
"Oh come on, we were having a grand time at homecoming." Klaus said. The original turned to fully face Shiloh but Damon stepped between the two. "Nobody likes a third wheel, mate."
"Then beat it." Damon said.
"We have a lot to discuss. Another time, perhaps." Klaus said, taking his leave.
"Well, that went better than expected." Shiloh said once he was out of the building.
"It did?" Elena asked.
"We're alive." Shiloh shrugged.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Drink?" Damon asked, beginning to pour himself one.
"Yeah." Shiloh agreed, trailing her fingers across the items on the shelves as she wandered around the living room of the boarding house. Damon started pouring another glass. "You have a lot of stuff." Shiloh said.
"I've been around a long time. And Stefan's a pact rat." Damon said, turning around with both glasses in his hands. He stopped, looking at the opposite side of the room. Shiloh followed Damon's line of sight to the doorway where Klaus was standing.
"I think it´s about time we had a drink, don't you?" Klaus asked.
"I´d say we´re overdue." Damon said.
"Well, you`ve been so busy with all your plotting and scheming." Klaus said.
"You know me. Never miss a chance to plan an epic failure." Damon said.
"Don´t be so hard on yourself. Who could have guessed your own brother would betray you?" Klaus asked, winking at Shiloh.
"She wasn't in on the plan." Damon said.
"Right, she wasn't meant to distract me?" Klaus asked.
"Distract? You were with Klaus at homecoming?" Damon asked.
"Well, this is an interesting twist." Klaus smirked. "I think it's time you offer me a drink." Damon shot him a glare, but turned to pour his drink. "You didn't tell your friends of our bonding?" Klaus asked Shiloh.
"Didn't think it was worth mentioning. Especially since it ended with a death threat." Shiloh said.
"Don't make it sound so brief, love. We had fun before your little friends so rudely interrupted." Klaus said.
"Kind of like I am now." Damon said, turning back to the others and handing them both their drinks, then taking his own.
"Cheers, mate!" Klaus said, lifting his glass.
"Down the hatch." Damon replied. The three tipped their drinks back, gulping down the alcohol inside.
"You know, we're actually got a lot in common you and I." Klaus told Damon.
"Really? Well, yeah. Maybe we can bond over our mutual loathing of my brother. Why are you so mad at him? He stole something?" Damon asked.
"My family, the Originals. I had them daggered, boxed-up awaiting the day when I saw fit to wake them. And he went in and pinched the bloody lot." Klaus said.
"That's kinda weird." Shiloh commented.
"I like to think of it as a quirk." Klaus said.
"It's crazy." Shiloh said.
"Careful, love. I'm starting to get a feeling that all of our banter isn't so playful." Klaus said.
"It's not." Damon said.
"Now, now. No need to fret, I haven't come to steal your girl. I'm here for your brother." Klaus said.
"I´d love to find him. Just the trouble is, I sure as hell don't work for you." Damon said.
"You know, your drink stinks of vervain- so I can't compel you. There be no point in killing you because your actually the one with the most help of getting me what I need. And yet it would seem a demonstration is in order. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough when I told you to find Stefan. Well, it seems you people respond best to displays of violence. Why don't you take this as an example of my reach." Klaus said, pulling out his cell phone and dialing a number. "There he is! So, that thing I told you to do- Why don't you go ahead and get on with it?" Klaus said into the phone.
"What was that?" Shiloh asked.
"Can't ruin the surprise, love." Klaus smirked.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Damon and Shiloh arrived outside Elena's house, entering silently and looking around. "Damon." Elena said, immediately approaching him.
"How is he?" Damon asked, looking at Alaric who lay motionless on the couch where Jenna and Jeremy were watching over him.
"He's dead, but he had his ring. Klaus's hybrid hit him. Now we just wait." Elena said.
"Where's your vervain bracelet, Jer?" Shiloh asked.
"I don't know." Jeremy replied.
"It was Tyler! It had to have been. That's why he was hanging out with you. To get you off the vervain." Elena exclaimed.
"Guys, I know everybody is way to use to this stuff, but my boyfriend is kinda dead right now." Jenna said.
"Join the club." Elena muttered.
"He'll be fine." Shiloh assured. "Just wait, he'll wake up soon."
"So the ring is what brings him back?" Jenna asked.
"Yeah, nifty little invention." Damon said.
"He tried to give me that ring earlier. If I'd taken it..." Jenna trailed off.
"Ric knows what he's doing... Most of the time." Damon said.
"Why did this happen?" Jenna asked.
"Klaus is trying to send us a message. He wants us to find Stefan who stole his coffins full of his dead family members." Damon said.
"Coffins?" Elena asked.
"Yep! So all we have to do is find four coffins and- Voila no one else on your family's Christmas list needs to die!" Damon said.
"Wait- That's your big plan? To steal back four dead originals so this evil hybrid doesn't kill me and everyone else we know?" Jeremy asked.
"You got a better idea?" Damon asked.
"Yeah! Let's get the hell outta here! Pack our bags and go!" Jeremy exclaimed.
"Hey, Jeremy calm down." Elena said.
"No, no! I'm not gonna calm down, Elena! This happens every time, no matter what we do! Get on my case about school and work- who cares? None of us are gonna make it out of this town alive." Jeremy said, storming out.
"I'll go after him." Shiloh told Jenna who nodded her head with a grateful smile. Shiloh followed Jeremy out of the room and up to his room, knocking lightly on the door.
"Go away, Elena." Jeremy called.
"It's me, Jer." Shiloh called.
"... Come in." Jeremy said. Shiloh entered the room, closing the door behind her.
"Hey." Shiloh said. Jeremy let out a sigh, looking up at her from his bed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare Jenna." Jeremy said.
"Jer... you don't really believe that, do you?" Shiloh asked.
"The track record isn't looking so good. Vicki, Anna, you. Everyone is either turned, or killed, or both." Jeremy said.
"Being a vampire isn't that bad." Shiloh said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "It actually has it's perks. Kinda like super powers."
"You saying I should turn?" Jeremy asked.
"No, Jer. I'm saying that just because things are changing, I'm changing, doesn't mean it's all bad. Yeah, things do get pretty bad sometimes, but we made it this far. We're alive. We faced off against an original hybrid, and we're all still her. That's pretty epic in my opinion." Shiloh said.
"It honestly doesn't bother you that at any point one of us could die? That we're all in danger, all the time." Jeremy said.
"We always were in danger, we just didn't know it back then." Shiloh said.
"If Stefan and Damon hadn't shown up-" Jeremy began.
"Then Klaus would've killed Elena in the ritual. If she wasn't already killed by one of the many other vampires who have it out for Katherine. We wouldn't know Ric. You'd still be a stoner kid. This town was distended to be a supernatural playground, least know we're more prepared." Shiloh said.
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Jeremy said.
"Of course I am." Shiloh smiled. "I'm your best friend. I'm always right. Now come on, let's go welcome Ric back to the land of the living." Jeremy stood with Shiloh and the pair walked back down stairs to Alaric and Jenna.
"Where'd Elena and Damon go?" Jeremy asked.
"They went to find Stefan." Jenna replied.
"Think they'll find him?" Jeremy asked.
"Lexi has some witches working on a location spell, hopefully that can help." Shiloh said.
"How long does this usually take?" Jenna asked, looking down at Alaric.
"It's different every time." Shiloh said. Jenna nodded and went back to brushing her fingers through Alaric's hair.
"What do we do when he wakes up?" Jenna asked.
"We don't really plan, just sorta happens." Jeremy said. "I'm gonna go out for a bit. I'll be back soon."
"I'll come with you." Shiloh offered.
"You don't have to." Jeremy said.
"Yeah, I do. Cause we both know where you're going." Shiloh said.
"So you're babysitting me?" Jeremy asked.
"Yup. Get your jacket." Shiloh said. "We'll be back soon." She assured Jenna.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"You aren't gonna let me talk to Tyler, are you?" Jeremy asked as the two walked down the road.
"Tyler's a major ass, but right now, he's kinda sired. He doesn't know what he's doing half the time." Shiloh said.
"You're defending him?" Jeremy asked.
"Maybe. I don't know. I don't know how the sire thing works but apparently he can't really control himself. Almost like being compelled." Shiloh said.
"So it's Klaus' fault. How are we suppose to kill the oldest vampire alive?" Jeremy asked.
"I... don't know. Maybe we shouldn't. Maybe we should just stay out of his way, avoid pissing him off anymore." Shiloh said.
"And let Elena be used as a blood bag for his hybrids?" Jeremy asked.
"At least we know he won't kill her." Shiloh said weakly.
"What is with you? You always have to look for the good in people. Sometimes, there isn't any." Jeremy said.
"I wasn't saying Klaus had a good side." Shiloh protested.
"But you were trying to defend him. You don't think we should kill him. You didn't want to dagger Rebekah, you were nice to Katherine, you dated Damon. Shiloh, you make bad choices because you can't see that some people just aren't good people." Jeremy said.
"I know that, Jer. But nobody is born evil. They're made that way by something, someone. And if something can make them bad, then something could make them good too, right?" Shiloh asked.
"You can't save everybody, Shiloh." Jeremy said.
"Shh." Shiloh paused, catching Jeremy's arm.
"What?" He replied in a hushed voice.
"That guy, he's a hybrid." Shiloh said, staring at the man standing in the Gilbert doorway.
"We have to do something." Jeremy said.
"Stay here." Shiloh said, rushing up to the guy as silently but quickly as she could manage. She snapped his neck before he had the chance to notice her presence. His body fell to the ground revealing Elena inside, kneeling next to a coughing Alaric.
"Shiloh!" Elena exclaimed. Jeremy joined the vampire shortly after, pushing past the two and towards the kitchen.
"He´s not dead yet." Jeremy said.
"Where are you going?" Elena asked. Jeremy returned with a large knife, kneeling next to the hybrid. "What are you doing?" Elena asked. Jeremy didn't reply, instead he swiftly decapitated the hybrid.
"Now he´s dead." Jeremy said, standing up. "We´ve gotta get Alaric to the hospital now." He dropped the knife and went back into the house.
"Come on, Elena." Shiloh said, pulling the shocked girl along behind her.
"What just happened?" Elena asked.
"It doesn't matter right now. What happened to Ric?" Shiloh asked.
"I- I don't know."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"You nerves?" Damon asked.
"I guess. I mean, whose gonna tell Bonnie?" Shiloh said.
"I meant about compelling him." Damon said.
"I can do it. Katherine taught me, remember." Shiloh said.
"What about Jenna?" Damon asked.
"Could you...?" Shiloh asked.
"Of course." Damon answered. "And Jeremy?"
"I can handle Jeremy." Shiloh said.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Shiloh? I can do it for you." Damon asked.
"He's my best friend. If anyones gonna compel him, it's gonna be me." Shiloh replied, entering Jeremy's room.
"Shiloh?" Jeremy said, looking confused.
"I sister think it's time we had another talk, Jer Bear." Shiloh said, sitting on the edge of his bed. She took a deep breath before locking eyes with him, compelling the other teenager.
"You're gonna go out of town for a while, Jeremy. You're gonna stay with Jenna in Denver, you're gonna go to a new school, you'll meet new, non-vampire friends. You're gonna take an art class, try out for the baseball team, whatever you want. You're free."
"Tell him he's gonna leave Mystic Falls behind and never think twice about it." Alaric said. Shiloh glanced back at him, then at Elena who nodded in agreement before turning back to Jeremy.
"You're gonna leave Mystic Falls behind and never think twice about it. You're gonna have a better life, Jeremy." Shiloh said.
