A/N: Just to make this work, they don't know that killing an Original kills every vampire in its bloodline.

And no, I have not killed any of them. Just for future reference.

Also, I am terribly sorry about how slow my updates have been. I feel like shit but I barely have time to do my college work, let alone fanfiction. I really am sorry.


"Oh yes, please, help yourself to my very expensive Scotch!" Damon snapped as he trudged down the stairs into his sitting room, eyes immediately landing on the teenager staring into the fire. A minute longer and he sighed, sitting next to the boy with a muttered question. "What is it?"

"Elena." The one-word answer made everything make sense. Jeremy's hunched shoulders were full of tension as he moved his eyes to the untouched glass in his hand, muttering, "I just came for a drink. I know you don't do the big brother thing."

The silence was tense and uncomfortable and Damon was tired of uncomfortable silences. One was enough for a day. "You know, your sister is a complete bitch. So is my brother. You can't dwell on the fact your sibling pisses you off. I did and it drove me insane for most of my life. Then I decided it wasn't my job to make Stefan stop whining. Maybe it's not your job to make Elena stop whoring around."

The silence was even more strained for a second before Jeremy laughed, bitter and slightly choked. Damon wasn't expecting that and felt slightly relaxed before a fist crashed into his jaw, knocking the unexpecting vampire off the couch and onto the hard wooden floor. It was a shock but at the same time that was exactly what he was hoping for. Anger. Little Gilbert seemed to think better when he was angry, or things made sense to him more. Damon wasn't sure how that went but either way a bit of anger was good right now.

"She's not a whore, she's not," Jeremy snapped, voice slightly less than convicted. "You don't know what you're talking about."

The vampire got back to his feet, wiping his mouth before replying rather gently, "It's the Petrova bloodline. Katherine, Tatia, Isobel. It's a habit I think they can't break. Like I said, I'm not good at the big brother thing, but you need to realise what is going on."

Brown eyes finally met his and Damon sat next to the boy again, not saying anything else and just letting the teenager lean slightly against him. He wasn't tactful and he rarely said the right thing but maybe for once that wasn't a requirement. It seemed it was enough for the boy that he was just willing to put up with him.

"She's my sister," Jeremy said softly. "She's the only family I have left."

Damon sighed before standing and crossing to the alcohol cabinet to pour them both a drink. From the looks of things they were both going to need one. It was just going to be one of those nights.


"Are you sure you understand what you are agreeing to?"

Elena chewed her lip, unsure, but nodded and repeated, "They need me to do this. They don't realise what they're getting into."

Esther, sitting straight-backed and proper, looked at the young girl before warning, "There's no turning back from this. If you change your mind, it'll be too late."

"I have to do this," the doppelganger repeated, folding her arms with a stubborn glint in her eyes. "They don't understand what they're getting into Esther, they need someone to help them."

The ancient witch nodded, lifting the thick grimoire onto her lap without a second of hesitation. Now she had the willing help of the doppelgänger she could finally rid the world of the pestilence she had so foolishly created. Saving her children hadn't been worth the pain and suffering they had caused over the centuries. Even Elijah, her sweet noble boy, had spilled the blood of thousands in his quest to protect his family, to keep them together. Finn had turned his little trollop and she in turn had cursed many others to the same existence. None of it was meant to happen like that.

The frail pages crinkled as Esther flipped through them, looking for a spell that would work. She couldn't try and link them again but maybe there was another way this could work. Almost all of the spells in this book were archaic but just as effective as anything a modern witch would use. Many of them were even more powerful, tapping into magical sources that the younger generation couldn't even imagine and would never be able to control. The only magic as old as what she had was the blood of a cursed or blessed lineage. The blood of a doppelgänger was exactly the right thing to work as a catalyst.

"This might hurt," Esther said, the only warning before what felt like a knife was slicing into Elena's hand and crimson liquid was dripping onto the floor.

The doppelgänger couldn't protest as the witch's hand snapped out, dragging her bleeding limb forward so the catalyst could drip into the waiting bowl. The only other thing she needed was someone to use as a vessel for the magic. Her original plan to use the teacher, Alaric, had been ruined by her son's witch, so a new plan was needed. Luckily, there were plenty of people around that had more than enough hatred in their hearts for it to work.

"That is all I need from you, my dear," Esther informed the doppelgänger before standing and taking the bowl. "You will know when the spell has been completed. The effects will seem quite dramatic, if I'm honest."

Elena didn't get a chance to argue before the witch scooped up her grimoire and left the room, quickly sorting out her plan. There were still a lot of things she needed to work through but now she had enough of the magic-infused bloodline to hopefully make it work. If it didn't, then she'd just have to find a new plan.

Esther had been given plenty of time to work at this plan. For a thousand years she watched her children slaughter and maim innocents with no end to their bloodlust. She couldn't help but sincerely believe that she was alive again so she could end this plague upon the world. She was simply quite lucky this Gilbert girl was selfish and stupid enough to help. It actually rather disgusted the ancient witch that she was willing to kill people just to rope her Salvatore boys back. If it wasn't for the fact that she needed her blood she wouldn't associate herself with the teenager that reminded her far too much of Tatia. Petrova women were always so distasteful.


"You didn't have to let him stay the night," Stefan pointed out softly, glancing towards the hall in case the young Gilbert was awake. "I'm not saying you did bad, but it seems a bit strange."

Damon scowled slightly, jabbing his finger towards the stove, before continuing to riffle through the fridge as he muttered, "The kid needed it. Siblings can be real pains at times."

The younger bit back a sarcastic comment, continuing to cook breakfast. It was strange, how much of the Damon he remembered from being human he could see since the spell. Stefan wasn't really sure how he felt about it. Having the slightly sweeter side of his brother back on display was nice but at the same time it worried him. People could hurt him a lot easier now that he cared.

"I know what you're thinking," Damon chided, rolling his eyes. "Stop it. Just get that food done so Jeremy can eat and get home before Elena actually notices he's gone. He's not staying here forever and that's just that."

Stefan snorted sarcastically, continuing to cook the younger Gilbert's breakfast without a word of complaint. That could be saved for once the human was back home and as safe as he could be in a town like this. Once he was gone, things could be taken care of without having to worry about Jeremy getting caught in the crossfire. It was always best to sort out their differences when the humans weren't around.

By the time Jeremy finally found his way to the small kitchen, Damon and Stefan were glaring at each other silently as the elder absentmindedly stirred a mug of blood-spiked coffee. It had almost become a competition before the teenager cleared his throat slightly, drawing attention to the fact that not only was he awake, he was in the room. In seconds the younger Salvatore's face had changed back to the usual stoic mask, only the smallest and most strained smile imaginable tugging at his lips. He tried too hard.

"Did something happen when I was asleep?" Jeremy ventured, taking the seat Stefan gestured to with a tired frown. "Or is this the regular morning glaring contest?"

Damon ground out, "I'm explaining you need to go back home, no matter how much Stefan wants to let you stay. He's always wanted a puppy, apparently Klaus doesn't fall into that category."

A plate was dumped in front of the teenager before he could say anything, Stefan retaliating, "Shut up Damon. He doesn't need to worry about this."

After a second during which Jeremy decided breakfast was definitely the most important thing in that moment, the brothers continued their ridiculous argument about something he had no idea about. It seemed that they thought it was important though so he listened, eating as he tried to figure out what they were on about. From what he could gather, it somehow connected to him. Then again, they were probably onto a whole new argument now. That just seemed to be the way things went when it came to the Salvatores.

By the time Jeremy finished his breakfast it seemed Stefan had lost the argument. Of course, it could be that he was just tired of fighting and left, which was a routine Jeremy endorsed quite often himself. Sometimes continuing the argument just wasn't worth it. Elena and her pointless grudges were proof enough of that. As Jeremy swallowed the last mouthful of his coffee a hand bunched in the back of his shirt, pulling him off the chair and depositing him on the floor.

"Come on Gilbert, time to get you back to your sister," Damon muttered, pushing the boy towards the door. "I'd prefer if she didn't stake me for kidnapping you."


~Klefan-Lover