11 End of the Line
Jenna Sommers stood in the middle of the Mikaelson's living room watching the blood get drained out of her niece. With the way this day had started she really shouldn't be so surprised that it would end this way.
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Klaus had paced the room for what seemed the millionth time and it was beginning to make Jenna nervous. "Would you stop? Why are you in evil planning mode, anyway?"
That got the hybrid's attention and he stopped, "Evil planning mode? I think I never heard that one before," he smiled at Jenna, but instead of giving her an actual answer he simply resumed his pacing. Jenna sighed and sank deeper into the couch. She knew he was plotting something and she would bet anything it had to do with Alaric, but as always she wouldn't know until it happened. When both of them heard the front door shut their heads turned simultaneously in the direction of the intruder.
"Alaric is holding Elena and Caroline hostage."
Stefan Salvatore had not lost any time with unnecessary chit chat and had launched right into his speech as soon as he entered the room. "He's still at the school, because he has no daylight ring, so this should make it easier to corner him."
Klaus smiled at him lazily, "And you're telling me this because…"
Stefan sighed and was visibly trying not to lose his patience, "Because we could really need a hybrid with us. Damon and I are strong, but you're stronger. We figure he can't take all three of us at once and Bonnie has a plan to put him down."
"Does she now? And you just want me to walk in there and trust you?" It was phrased like a question, but it sounded more like mockery.
"Please, Klaus, we really need your help with this one."
Klaus spread his arms wide and smiled, "Well, since you asked nicely."
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In hindsight, this was when Jenna should have realized something was wrong. In all this time when had Klaus simply agreed to help without something in return? But of course she wanted her niece and Caroline save, so she didn't really question it at the time. The plan was simple enough. Corner Alaric, establish a blood connection and Bonnie would work her magic in order to stop Alaric's heart. This would give them enough time to tie him up and bury him someplace where he would be no one's problem anymore. Of course, Klaus had a different plan.
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Jenna was only an observer this time around. There wasn't much she could do, but it would've driven her crazy to just sit on a couch and wait. A decision she slowly came to regret because as soon as they all had entered the school it all became a whirlwind of action and her emotions were send on a rollercoaster ride. While Caroline had literally run into Klaus, Jenna watched Damon and Stefan attack Alaric, who was holding a struggling Elena against the lockers. Taking a glimpse at both girls, Jenna saw they were both hurt and scared. What the hell had Alaric been doing to them?
Even though it was two against one, Alaric had no problems with snapping first Stefan's neck and then Damon's. He took a look at them to make sure they really weren't moving anymore, when he was surprised by Klaus who rammed his fingers into Alaric's chest, establishing the connection Bonnie would need to perform her magic.
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A low moan brought Jenna back to the present. Elena slumped further into the chair she was sitting in as her blood was perpetually filling blood bag after blood bag. She was barely conscious anymore.
"What did you do?" Jenna started towards her niece, but Klaus blocked her way.
"I decided to end this little charade we've all been playing once and for all."
He turned to look at Elena and seemed almost sad when he addressed Jenna again, "You would've been a great student, you know? Too bad you're about to hate me."
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Jenna gasped when she heard the sickening snap of Klaus' wrist. With one swift movement Alaric flung Klaus against the wall. When he started to advance on the hybrid Elena's voice stopped him. "Don't!"
Again Jenna gasped as she turned to Elena and saw her standing there holding a knife to her throat.
"What do you want now? Don't make me regret not killing you", Alaric spun around and threatened her.
"I think I figured out why you haven't killed me. You need me because Esther used my blood to create you. She didn't want to create another monster that would live forever, so she bound you to me. If I die, you die."
Jenna couldn't have been more proud of Elena in this moment. She was standing up for herself and her friends despite being scared out of her mind.
"That's ridiculous." Alaric tried to laugh, but it didn't sound very convincing.
"Oh, really?" Elena applied more pressure on the knife she held to her throat and blood started to drip down her neck.
"Stop, stop, don't do this!" Alaric screamed at Elena and wanted to grab for the knife when his neck suddenly snapped and a smiling Klaus stood in his place instead.
"Not just a pretty face after all." Klaus laughed before he grabbed Elena with vampire speed. Within a blink of the eyes they were gone and Jenna was left staring at an empty spot with a sinking feeling in her gut.
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Klaus stood with both his hands braced against the back of Elena's chair and watched Jenna watch her niece, "Don't worry, unlike last time it's a complete painless death. As her blood is leaving her body, her eyes are getting heavy, her mind a little foggy and before she knows it she will have fallen asleep."
Jenna's eyes snapped up to meet Klaus'.
"Except this time she won't wake up again."
"Why kill her? Why don't you just take some of her blood and let her live? This way you will lose your blood source for good. There is no other family member left of her bloodline."
Jenna was desperate for a way out of this, but she couldn't think of anything.
"I'm done with the doppelgangers, the Salvatores and Mystic Falls. I'm leaving this place, so I decided to tie up all loose ends. And of course this takes care of the little problem my mother created for us."
And then it finally dawned on Jenna, "You knew. That's why you hadn't killed Alaric in the school. You knew he was tied to Elena."
Klaus pushed away from the chair and shrugged, "He went down after she went down, it didn't take much to figure out they were connected. The only problem was to get Elena away from her vampire protectors." Klaus laughed and came closer to Jenna, "And then Stefan walked in begging for help to save his girl. It was almost too easy, don't you think?"
It took Jenna everything not to punch him in the face. It must've shown because Klaus grabbed both of her arms and held her in place, "You and I are the same, Jenna. I thought maybe you would be able to understand. Don't think of it as losing your niece, think of it as saving your nephew. How long before he gets dragged into this mess. Do you really think Alaric wouldn't hurt him?"
"We are not the same." Jenna protested and struggled to get out of his grip, but it was no use. Klaus laughed at her attempt to get away and continued, "We both want what we want and we don't stop until we get it."
"I am nothing like you," Jenna spit back at him.
"Oh, really?" Klaus laughed without humor, "Was it not you who threatened me with a stake to my back and what was that with Caroline? You used her to get your point across. Why her, Jenna? Why did it have to be Caroline? Because you knew that I liked her and you wanted to hit me where it hurt. You said it yourself, you did what I did with Jeremy."
At this point Jenna had stopped her struggling and just stared at him. She decided that he had gone completely mad. She was nothing like him.
"I did those things because I wanted to protect my family, but you use people, threaten and kill them simply to get what you want. You're the selfish one. The only selfish thing I've done was to help you stay alive because you're my only connection to this world that I have left."
And just to be nasty she added in her best condescending voice, "No wonder you couldn't get Caroline to go for you. Who would love a murderer like you?"
Klaus let go of Jenna as if her words had burned him. Jenna saw the hurt flash across his eyes before it was quickly replaced by anger. Before another word could leave his mouth, the room was flooded with people. Jenna was shocked to see both Damon and Tyler grabbing one of Klaus' arms and hold him down while out of the corner of her eye she saw Matt rush over to Elena. The next moment Stefan appeared and dug his fingers into the hybrids chest.
"Oh my god!" Jenna knew what that meant. It was the same thing Klaus had done to Alaric earlier. Somewhere Bonnie was probably doing some spell now that would stop his heart. Would one of their plans actually work out this time around?
"What's going on?" Klaus demanded to know. He was obviously surprised by the attack and tried to struggle but Jenna guessed whatever was happening already took effect. His struggling became less and his eyes found hers across the room. Even after all that happened today he still managed to look betrayed and Jenna couldn't figure out why. She had nothing to do with this and was just as surprised as him.
Klaus' breathing became labored. Jenna guessed this was not a painless way to die. She watched Klaus as they slowly lowered him to floor with his eyes still trained on hers. Even after everything that just happened she wanted to help him somehow, but there was nothing left to do. His skin lost all its color and the veins underneath popped out. His eyes simply kept looking at her, but she was sure he no longer saw anything. She knew he wasn't actually dead, that it was only a temporary state, but she didn't want to see any of it anymore and left the house as fast as she could. On her way out she passed Tyler and Stefan carrying a coffin inside. Jenna guessed that meant that no one would see Klaus Mikaelson again anytime soon.
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"What are you doing?"
Outside Jenna heard Matt's voice coming from his truck. As she appeared on the backseat she saw Damon bite his wrist and place it on Elena's mouth, forcing her to swallow his blood.
"She lost too much blood. She won't make it without a little help." Matt wanted to protest, but he knew it was better to not anger the already pissed off vampire further. Besides, Elena looked so white she might as well have been dead.
"Drive her out of town. I don't care where, just far away. We'll deal with Alaric next. When that's done, we'll call."
Damon took one last look at Elena before he turned back to Matt, "No matter what, you don't let her out of your sight."
After the door slammed shut, Matt started the car. As they started down the driveway Jenna turned back one more time looking at the mansion she couldn't wait to get away from. Right before she turned back she thought she caught a glimpse of someone entering the house, but the house was growing smaller with distance and Jenna focused her attention on the road ahead.
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Elena was slowly regaining consciousness. The steady rocking around her felt comforting and it took her a while to force her eyes open. For a moment she felt disoriented, but once she realized that she was in a car she sat up with a start. She panicked and searched her arms for the IVs.
"Hey, easy there, it's alright." It was Matt's voice and Elena immediately calmed down. Matt reached over and put a reassuring hand on Elena's shoulder. "What happened? Where are we going?"
"We're getting out of town until the whole Alaric thing is over." Matt knew Elena long enough to know that she would protest, that's why he cut her off before she even had a chance to respond, "Don't say it. We're leaving and that's final." Elena closed her mouth again and nodded. She still felt a little woozy and decided not to argue for once. It had been a strange night so far and she almost died again. She's lost count of how many times she dodged death by now.
Looking out the window Elena tried to figure out where exactly they were now. She got a little nervous then. Soon they would have to cross the bridge to get out of town. She always puts on a brave face, but whenever she comes near that bridge, she can't help but remember the night her parents died. The night she should've died, too.
"On the upside, we did get Klaus. He's probably on his way to the Atlantic Ocean in his coffin or something." The teenagers both smiled at each other, while Jenna felt a little torn about it. It was only a second, but it was all it took. By the time they both turned their faces back to the road Elena screamed, "Matt, watch out!"
Out of nowhere Rebekah had turned up on the middle of the bridge. Instinctively Matt tried not to run the vampire over, but of course that's what Rebekah had wanted. Matt lost control over the vehicle and the truck went over the side of the bridge. Once they hit the water the truck was sinking fast. As the water rose inside Matt and Elena tried to get out, but the pressure from the water surrounding them didn't let them open the doors.
Jenna had been completely caught off guard by this turn of events. She knew she could get out and she probably didn't need to breathe either, but what about Elena and Matt. She didn't want to leave them here to die. Jenna took a deep breath, more out of habit than necessity, and vanished out of the car. She turned up again outside, but she soon had to admit that it was no use. She could not open the damn door. Inside the car the struggling had stopped and Jenna went back. Elena and Matt took their last deep breaths before they were completely submerged in the water. They both knew they wouldn't make it out of here alive.
In the end Matt was the first to run out of breath. Elena tried to shake him awake again when she noticed a movement outside of the truck. The relief on Elena's face was easy to see when she recognized the approaching shadow as Stefan. He must have followed them for some reason.
Jenna almost believed that this mess would somehow resolve itself when Elena pointed to Matt when Stefan wanted to get her out of the car. Of course, Elena Gilbert would rather sacrifice herself if it meant she would be saving someone else. What Jenna couldn't quite believe was how easily Stefan agreed with her. Then again, they had no time to waste. He probably thought that he would be fast enough to get Elena out of the water. It was probably the lack of oxygen, but Elena looked rather at peace with that decision, as if she had already decided that it was time to die and that scared Jenna more than anything else. Would she maybe struggle more if she knew what Damon had done to her earlier? Or did she maybe know and simply wasn't fighting it anymore?
When Stefan swam away with Matt, Elena followed them with her eyes. Once Elena could no longer see them she was about to turn back, when she stopped and opened her eyes a little further, a little smile forming on her lips. Jenna studied Elena's expression and wondered if she could see her. Elena seemed to try and reach for her, but she couldn't be sure. Maybe it was only the water lifting her now almost lifeless body. Jenna didn't care and grabbed her niece's hand. The door was open now, but Jenna knew even if she managed to drag Elena out of the car and out of the water, Elena had not enough breath left to hold on that long. Jenna couldn't save her, but her niece wouldn't have to die alone. Jenna held on as tight as she could as Elena's eyes became lifeless. The last breath of air left Elena's mouth and with it she died.
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Stefan returned shortly after Elena had died. He pulled her out of the car and lay her down on the street. Jenna, who kneeled beside her niece, thought she heard him cry, but she didn't really pay attention. All her attention was focused on Elena's lifeless body. Matt was lying beside her. He was unconscious, but he was still alive.
"I'm so sorry," Jenna whispered and kissed her niece's forehead. Silent tears started to roll down Jenna's face. She wasn't just sorry for not being able to save her, but for what her niece would become. Jenna was pretty sure Elena was not gone forever. Damon had fed her his blood and Jenna knew what that meant. She had lived through it herself.
"I know you never wanted this, but you'll pull through. You always do. Goodbye, Elena." In the distance sirens could be heard. The ambulance would be here soon, but Jenna wouldn't watch them take her niece away. Instead she had made a decision and vanished.