Alright, I know, waiting a whole month for an update really sucks, but I have been busy, as usual, and you will find that I have started to write another fanfic, an Inglorious Basterds one called 'Viennese Nights' - maybe you wanna check it out. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and I'm really determined to wind this whole story up in two to three more chapters now. For real, this time. That's all I have to say - thanks so much for reading and if you have anything to share, feel free to review!


Elijah had witnessed the whole scene from under a tree in the Salvatore garden and was now watching a furious Claire stomping in his direction. Her hands were balled into fists and her normal, elegant stride had transformed into an angry march. She stopped in front of him, eyes glistening with fury and breast rising heavily. She sure was upset.

"I need your blood now. That bastard is in for the fight of his life," she said angrily.

"Calm down," he said while placing a hand on her shoulder. He could hear her heartbeat become slower and she released some of the tension in her muscles. "Take a deep breath," he instructed and she exhaled slowly. "That's better. Now, sit down, please," he continued and led her to the tree. They sat down in the green grass and she eyed him curiously. He picked a daisy and held it out to her. Her brows rose in surprise.

"Why are you giving me a flower?" she asked.

"Because it reminds me of you," he said simply and looked at her. Claire was confused. Something was off. She held his gaze, almost losing himself in his eyes, which suddenly did not seem black at all. As if in trance, she then shrugged and Elijah's eyes went back to normal.

"Ooookay. Thank you, Elijah. Now, please, give me your blood?" He looked at her for a few more seconds before gently rolling up his sleeve.

"I would give it to you in a glass, but I guess we are in a hurry?" he asked. Claire nodded and a slight smile appeared on his face. He brought his hand to his mouth and bit it open; then he offered it to her. Without hesitation, Claire sucked in a great amount of the red liquid and instantly felt it rushing through her body. Suddenly, it felt as if she were about to faint, and she reached for Elijah's arm so that she would not fall flat to the ground. He caught it and drew her close to him, preventing her from falling over. Claire closed her eyes for a second and saw flashes of pictures, as if she was seeing a movie in her head. Pieces of Elijah's life. At first there was joy and happiness, before everything went dark and became red thereafter. She saw a furious Elijah reeking havoc with his brother, blood all over his clothes and face. Later, a decadent lifestyle, drinking from willing victims and enjoying their wealth. Wild orgies with drained bodies and other beautiful vampires. Then she saw pain. Too much pain; her heart felt like it was about to burst. With a loud gasp, her eyes fell open and the warm summer sun welcomed her back in the present. She sucked in the fresh air and clinged to the arms holding her steady. She turned and looked into Elijah's face, and for the first time, she saw brilliant emerald eyes. A single tear ran down her cheek while she stared at him.

"So much pain," she whispered "how can you stand it?"

"The switch. It helps, but it does not make it go away," he said without any emotion. Before Claire could think properly, her instincts had gotten the best of her once again and she found herself hugging him tightly.

"I am so sorry," she said with a shaky voice while his hands embraced her body as well. She could feel his nose leaning into her neck and his touch felt soft and warm. After a few more seconds, they let go of each other and he looked normal again.

"Don't be sorry for me. I just need one thing from you," he said. Claire nodded. "Kill my brother, so I can have peace," he simply said.

"I will. I'm gonna kill that motherfucker and then we can both lead a normal life again," Claire answered and he smiled quickly. He believed she actually had a chance.


"Why is Claire hugging a serial killer vampire, slash potential basket case, slash brother of he who must not be named?" Caroline curiously asked her friends while looking out of the living room window.

"Elijah is Voldemort's brother?" Jeremy joked and stood next to her, earning an annoyed look.

"She drank his blood and now she can feel what he's feeling. It's probably really sad," Stefan explained.

"Sad, pathetic, I actually don't care. Just wish he would take his hands of her. Do you see the way he's looking at her?" Damon interfered from the back of the room, arms crossed, ready to explode. He did not like it when other guys touched his girl, and he especially didn't like it when it was Elijah.

"Scared she's gonna leave you for him? I definitely would; after all, he's like what – 500 times as strong as you are?" Tyler teased and Damon immediately attacked him. Stefan and Alaric had to break them up.

"Get a grip you two!" Stefan screamed after they had broken up. "You act like children! We have other things to concentrate on! Damn it!" Damon shot evil looks at Tyler.

"He started it, and I'm slowly getting ready to really kill him this time. Exactly like I killed his uncle," he shot at Tyler, who immediately started towards him again. Stefan held him back this time, though.

"Damon! Get out!" he screamed at his brother who merely chuckled slightly and strolled out of the room. He ran into Elijah and Claire in front of the entrance door.

"We're ready. Should we go now or wait until sundown?" she asked him.

"Don't know, why don't you ask precious Elijah here?" he gave back bitterly.

"Damon, behave. He hasn't harmed you in any way, no need to be unfriendly," she said with an authoritative tone in her voice that made him feel like a child who was being lectured about his behaviour.

"I believe we should observe the quarry from the distance and wait until they come out when it's dark," Elijah said without reacting to Damon's comment in any way.

"That's a good idea. Well then, let's get everybody ready," Claire said and started off in the direction of the house.

"Wait, there's a little problem," Damon held her back.

"What is it?" Claire asked concerned.

"Right now, half of Mystic Falls' in that living room. They'll all want to come when you announce it like that. But we don't need them all," Damon explained.

"I see," Claire sounded pensively. She then closed her eyes and started mumbling strange words. Moments later, Tyler and Jeremy stormed out of the house.

"Gotta go, have too much homework to do!" Jeremy shouted and ran towards his car.

"I absolutely hate you all and I'll never come back here!" Tyler shouted and drove off, too. Alaric, Caroline, Bonnie and Stefan stuck their heads out of the door.

"What just happened?" Stefan asked.

"We don't need them in the fight, so I cast a spell to make them remember something important, so that they won't insist on coming with us," Claire explained. Stefan smiled.

"You're a genius," he said. She smiled decently and made a little curtsey.

"I know. Now, we have plan. Ready?" she asked and they all nodded before going inside to hear Claire's plan.


"Well, Elena, how does it feel knowing that this is your last day on this earth?" Katherine teased her look-alike while she was sitting on the tiny table, manicuring Elena's fingers. She had gotten bored and forced her to let her do her nails, too. Waiting for the end to come can be so dull.

"They will come for me and kill you all," Elena spat. She was shaking badly since the incident this morning, but at least she knew that they were on their way.

"See, I would not necessarily count on that. After all, your little witch can't hurt Klaus; he had her blood, remember?"

"They'll find a way, they always do," Elena replied and Katherine's eyes became hard for a second.

"Wishful thinking. Hold still!" she had regained her continence quickly. Elena sighed and relaxed her hand. She did hope that they would come. Today was not a good day to die.


Claire was lying on the soft grass at the northern edge of the quarry. They had decided to set up their day camp there and observe what happened below them. So far, it had been uneventful, but now, a pick-up truck approached from the west. She nudged Damon who was lying on his back next to her and pointed at the truck. Immediately, they took out their binoculars and watched it. It crawled further and further down the steep road leading into the middle of the giant hole before it stopped right where it hit even ground again. Two men got out and walked to the trunk. They opened it and heaved out what must be a body covered in dirty sheets. Damon sniffled and wrote 'werewolf' on the sheet lying between them. Because of Klaus' supernatural hearing they had agreed on not talking while they were on their stake-out. A hidden door opened on the side of the quarry and the two men quickly threw their load inside before driving off again. Claire fetched the piece of paper and crawled a few meters from the edge before she came across the others. She showed them what Damon had written and they nodded gravely. Now Klaus had the werewolf, the vampire, probably a witch and the doppelganger.

A few hours later, just after the sun had set, 6 figures appeared from the door, two of them were being dragged along by the others. Claire and Damon watched in silence while a woman, obviously the witch, set up a fire in the middle of the quarry. Damon could hear Klaus talk to Elena; he played little psycho-games with her. Without trying to make a noise, they retreated to the others and Stefan, Damon and Claire made their way down the quarry. Their plan was for Bonnie and Alaric to stay hidden; they were ready to sacrifice themselves if necessary, but not them, too. Besides, Bonnie could do magic from that distance and Alaric had brought some wide-range vampire weapons to keep Katherine in check if necessary. Elijah had disappeared when they got here, saying he had a plan of his own, but he would come to their help when the time was right. Claire fully trusted him.

Klaus could hear three people approaching even before anyone else noticed them. He faced the small path they came down on and a demonic grin appeared on his face. Elena noticed his excitement and, being captured on his side by his right arm, she saw the three approaching as well. Her heart made a leap. They had come. Now Katherine, James and the witch named Cassie noticed them as well. They positioned themselves behind Klaus to face the intruders.

Claire was shaking. She thought seeing him again would be easier, but the look on his face revived all the old memories, and she had to fight very hard not to let panic overtake her. They had almost reached them and stepped into the light of the fire where they stopped.

Klaus made an elegant gesture towards the group. "Welcome, Claire darling. I was hoping you would show up for our big event. Unfortunately, I am not so amused about your two escorts, but trust me, they won't be a problem for me," he said cockily.

"I will kill you before you lay your hands on any of them," Claire growled. Klaus' brow shot up.

"I'd like to see you try," he challenged her. To his surprise, Claire smiled widely. She came closer until she was only a few feet away from them and he could see the wild, dangerous look in her eyes.

"Game on, asshole."