Ok friends, this chapter is over twice as long as the usual. ENJOY ;)

Oh and the music is ideal for this chapter. I highly recommend listening to it as you read.

Music

This Place Is A Prison - The Postal Service (Plan)

Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking - Snow Patrol (Aradia)

So Cold (feat. Nikisha Reyes) - Ben Cocks (Henry Phillips)

The Lake - Aqualung (Ben)

Lost Along the Way - John Nordstrom (After Math)

Avery had gone over the plan multiple times with Bonnie. They were now both convinced that everyone was on the same page. Then Avery suddenly thought of something that could ruin everything.

"Last time, Aradia knew things she shouldn't. It was almost like she could read our minds. What if she figures out what we're trying to do?" Avery questioned. But Bonnie was already shaking her head.

"I can protect you spiritually. She won't be able to access any of those emotions, thoughts, or ideas. It's a simple spell." She reassured Avery.

"Ok. We have to go soon. I don't know how much longer Hayley and Caroline have." Avery whispered. She quickly saw something in Bonnie's expression. The young witch had a moment of weakness escape and Avery caught it. "Bonnie…" She started, causing her to look up. "…You don't have to do this, you know. Everyone constantly leaves these things up to you, but you have a choice."

"What am I supposed to do, Avery? Am I supposed to stand by and watch, knowing I have the power to help? I don't have a choice. I never do. I have to help my friends." Bonnie declared clearly. Avery only nodded, seeing there was no way she could convince her friend otherwise. Maybe Bonnie was right; maybe she really didn't have a choice. Avery wondered if she'd ever be in the same position.

"So is everything set then?" Avery questioned, immediately wanting to change the subject back to business. Bonnie nodded her head.

"Once I'm close enough and we bring up the spell, she'll have no choice but to think about it. I'll be able to sense the spell and extract it. Then figure out how to reverse it. Got it?" Bonnie asked. Avery nodded her head.

"Have you seen Kol? I have to say bye." Avery muttered nervously. She hadn't seen him since she'd found Bonnie. She looked over at her friend, wondering if she'd seen him. But Bonnie only shrugged. He knew about their plan and made his opinions on it very clear. Avery tried not to take it harshly. He was only concerned for her safety. That was probably why he wasn't there. His stubbornness took over, proving he wasn't going to support Avery putting herself in such danger.

"Avery." Bonnie brought her out of her thoughts. "We have to go. We can't waste any more time." She stated. Avery nodded, knowing she was right.

When they walked outside, Matt's truck pulled around the circular driveway. Avery looked at Matt and then Bonnie. "What is he doing here?" Avery questioned.

Bonnie remained calm, as if she didn't know Avery wasn't aware he was part of the plan. "We're going to need him. Trust me." She informed her. But there was no time to question the sudden change. Avery just shrugged her shoulders and got into the car. Her mind was already on the task at hand.

Bonnie was able to track the hunters by looking for Aradia's aura. Throughout the drive, Matt didn't say a word. Avery sat in the pick-up truck between him and Bonnie. She was about to ask Matt if he was okay. But then she wondered if he was being that way because he was scared. She didn't want to point it out, so she let him relax in his silence. Instead, she placed her hand on his forearm, reassuringly. He glanced over at her with a somewhat jumbled expression.

Avery was confused as she looked ahead when the car stopped. The car's headlights lit the edge of a forest. A short field was the only thing separating them from the line of trees. Avery had expected some sort of abandoned house as their hideout, not the middle of nowhere. Did they live in the woods? She pondered.

"Where are they?" She asked them nervously.

"They're here. Just wait." Bonnie said as she stared ahead. Avery looked back at the forest and did as she was told. A few seconds later, she saw shadows moving in between trees. There were only a few of them that emerged. It looked like just a dozen of them were standing under the trees. Avery wondered how many of them were even left after all the slaughtering. She never wanted this to be a war, for lives to be lost. But that was the path the hunters had chose.

Avery immediately picked out Ben and his father, and then Aradia stood close to them. Her loyalty clearly showed. Bonnie glanced at her friends, taking in a deep breath. "Are you guys ready for this?" She asked them. Avery and Matt still stared at the enemy. A few seconds later, both nodded in unison.

The three of them got out of the car. They left yards between them and the hunters, not trusting that they would attack them at any moment. Avery looked over to see Matt wasn't standing along side them. Instead, he was getting something from the bed of his truck. She realized she'd never even looked back there before getting into the car. She shook her head and looked forward once again.

"How dishonorable. You help the very species that has harmed our kind for centuries." Aradia spoke directly to Bonnie. Avery looked over to see that her friend held her head high. "The witch who lost everyone because of vampires. Yet still obeys them like a wretched slave." The dark witch added.

"You're right." Bonnie stated after a stroke of silence. Avery's brow furrowed. This wasn't what they had talked about. "My loyalty to vampires has put everyone I care about in danger. My mother was taken from me, my two best friends…all I've earned is pain." Bonnie allowed herself to glance over at Avery for a split second. "That's why I offer you this." She gestured behind her. Avery turned to see Matt rolling a coffin toward them. What was going on? This wasn't what they were supposed to do. The plan had been made very clear and this was not it. "I'm done being pushed around by the originals. I gained the trust of one, only to desiccate him and give him up as a proposition." Bonnie said darkly.

Avery's heart thumped against her chest as she tried to figure out what was going on. She stared at the coffin. A part of her didn't want to see what was inside. But Matt opened it to expose Kol. His body was in the same state as when he'd been daggered: skin grey, eyes closed, completely lifeless. Avery felt like she was going to be sick. Her bottom lip trembled as she stared at what was basically Kol's corpse. Had Bonnie's use of dark magic turned her against all of them? How could Matt help with such betrayal? Avery trusted them and they had deceived her.

"An original for you to kill." Bonnie stated smoothly. Aradia's eyes almost seem to glow at seeing an original being given so easily to her.

"NO!" Avery screamed. "How could you, Bonnie?" She ran for the coffin that Matt had placed only a few yards away from her and Bonnie. But Matt already expected the move. He wrapped his arms around, binding her small body to his muscular chest. She could feel his strength as she fought to get out of his hold. Tears poured from Avery's eyes. She had prepared herself to be strong, but never for this. Her legs gave out as she slumped to the ground. But even then, Matt refused to let her go. "This is what you planned all along." Avery whispered. Bonnie turned to face her, but refused to show any emotion. That was when Avery realized Bonnie didn't care about saving Hayley's life, or Kol's. She would do whatever it took to save Caroline. She didn't owe anything to any original.

"I did what I had to in order to save my friend." Bonnie claimed. She turned her attention away from Avery to regard the hunters. "I give you this original if you give me the spell and remedy for the sickness of my friend, Caroline." She proposed.

Henry Phillips took a step forward. He clapped his hands slow and sinisterly. "Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie…I am amazed, truly." His eyes looked between Avery and Bonnie. "You betray one friend in order to save another." He looked at Aradia as he thought to himself. "We will give you the cure on behalf of Caroline for the original. You have yourself a deal." His smile was anything but cheerful.

"NO!" Avery sobbed. A new surge of energy rushed through her body as she tried to break free and run to Kol. She wouldn't let them take him. She wouldn't let them kill him right in front of her.

But Matt's hold tightened even more. Avery could feel his mouth go to her ears. "It was always part of the plan." He whispered to her. Shivers went up her spine at hearing him speak. He didn't sound like Matt.

"Please, Matt. Please…let me go." Avery whispered pathetically. But he didn't loosen his grip at her pleas. Her eyes widened when she saw Aradia slowly walking toward the coffin. Avery switched her attention to Bonnie. "If you let them do this…it won't just be Hayley that will die. Hundreds will die with them. You're starting genocide, Bonnie." She gaped at the witch, waiting for her to show any signs of remorse or cold feet.

"Exactly. It's what I want." Bonnie muttered.

Avery once again turned her attention at Aradia, who was only a foot from the coffin. Avery's heart raced as she saw the purple flames dancing around the witch's hands. Then Aradia locked eyes with her as she danced her fingers around the edges of the wood coffin. She was teasing Avery with her magic. The fire consumed her hand but she hadn't allowed it to catch onto anything yet.

"They killed your parents, yet you continue to risk your life to save them." Henry Phillips pointed out to Avery. His eyes were filled with pleasure as he saw the pain she was in at the sight of them killing an original.

Avery glared at him. "It wasn't him that murdered my parents and brother." She stated harshly. "Humans kill people every day. Does that mean you're going to kill that entire class too?" Avery mocked him; her eyes were red from the tears that she'd run out of. Her body was too in shock at the events about to occur to actually produce any more. "Humans have done all the things vampires have." She finished.

Henry's smile disappeared and his eyes narrowed. Aradia watched him closely; she seemed to be waiting for some kind of cue to continue. "They've completely brainwashed you into believing they deserve to survive." He said in awe. "He's lived for over a thousand years. He had his chance and he ruined it. They've all lived long enough!" Henry pointed aggressively at Kol's lifeless body. But he shook his head, calming himself down. He didn't understand how he could allow her comments to get to him so easily. He made eye contact with Aradia and then nodded his head. It was the only signal the witch needed.

"WAIT STOP! STOP!" Avery yelled helplessly at the top of her lungs. But Aradia had already thrown a ball of flame at Kol's body. It exploded across him. Seconds later, his entire body was immersed in neon purple flames.

Matt finally let Avery go as she sobbed into her hands. "No, no, no." She kept repeating to herself. She would have done absolutely anything to save him, anything. But there was nothing left. Any chance of saving him had never even been an option. Bonnie had betrayed her and the original family. Her friends chose Caroline over Kol and Hayley. Avery loathed herself for trusting and seeing the best in them. She sat on her knees with her arms limply at her sides.

Avery didn't bother watching the surroundings. Her eyes only rested on a patch of dried grass as her thoughts were everywhere but there. Her heartbeat pulsated in her eardrums, blocking the sound of the crackling fire. Her mind was shut off. It was all happening over again. She'd lost her family, and now she lost Kol too. The family she tried to rebuild for herself was destroyed before she could see them as such. What had she done to deserve all of them being taken away? She began to question if this life was even worth surviving. Her mind started racing through all the ways she could get herself killed right at that moment. She just couldn't see the point in fighting life when all it did was throw loss and mourning at her. The idea of joining her family and Kol sent a wave of peace over her.

It wasn't even the abrupt change in lighting that brought Avery's attention back to reality. There was suddenly a ringing in her ears. You're stronger than this. A voice echoed so much in her head that she almost couldn't make out the words. "Mom?" She whispered. But the voice didn't come back. Then Avery became ultrasensitive to everything around her. She questioned why she felt so much hotter. Her eyes finally dragged away from the ground directly in front of her. A circle of fire encased both her and all the hunters. But it wasn't Aradia's fire. This was normal orange and yellow burning that danced around them naturally. Avery's eyes narrowed in confusion, but she didn't even care. Perhaps this was the death she had been wishing for. Then the voice she swore was her mother's echoed in her head. The whispers almost stung like a headache.

Avery finally forced herself to actually look around her. There were blurs that rushed past her. She assumed they were vampires, but she didn't bother trying to figure out who they were. It didn't matter, none of it did. But then she saw that Aradia had been dragged away from Kol and the casket. Damon Salvatore had the witch's head in his grip. They were close enough that Avery was able to hear what they were about to say.

"Go ahead, kill me. It won't stop the magic. I will just continue it from the other side." Aradia encouraged him. She laughed in the most sinister way.

But Damon smirked down at her. "Oh, how I love being underestimated." He glanced over at Bonnie. "This isn't the first time I've done this. I don't plan on killing you…yet." Before Aradia could predict what he was about to do, Damon's fangs bit into his wrist. He shoved his dripping blood into the witch's mouth. There was no way she could stop it. Avery wondered why she didn't use her strong magic to defend herself. Then she noticed Bonnie. She was concentrated on Aradia as if she was casting a spell on her. Avery realized she was blocking the dark witch from using any magic to defend herself or use on Damon. Avery turned her attention back on the two. As soon as Damon was satisfied that Aradia had swallowed a mouth full of his blood, he snapped her neck like a twig. He could have done it in a way that practically made it painless. But she didn't deserve it. Damon made sure she suffered the moment before her transition began.

"Now I can look forward to sticking a stake through your heart." Damon chided at the witch's corpse. He looked up at Avery, noticing that she had witnessed the whole ordeal. He winked at her before racing into another part of the enclosed circle of fire. That was when Avery noticed the battle that had somehow broken out without her perceiving it. Even with the vampire's enhanced speed, she was able to pick out Damon, Stefan, and her eyes narrowed when she swore she saw Klaus and Rebekah on the other side of the huge circle. But Avery's attention was diverted when her eyes fell on Matt. He grasped the edge of Kol's coffin, completely ignoring the roaring neon flames.

"BONNIE!" Matt growled. It caught Avery off guard. Matt didn't yell and he certainly didn't growl at anyone. Who was this stranger that also felt so familiar to Avery? She looked at Bonnie to see how she handled the outburst. But the witch had already started murmuring incantations. Avery's jaw dropped as she saw the flames get smaller and smaller. The amazement of it all caused Avery to stand up and slowly walk toward the coffin. She stood at the edge of it, on the opposite side of Matt. The fire was still diminishing until it evaporated completely.

"What? It's not possible…what's…what's happening?" Avery gasped, too astonished to actually say what her mind was thinking. It only continued as she watched Kol's body slowly started to heal itself. The burns became reduced and restored. The dried out veins started replenishing and his grey skin received color, all while Bonnie continued to chant her spells.

"Kol?" Avery whispered. Hope had somehow found her once again. Her eyes moved up to Matt who was staring at her in a way Matt never would. That was when it hit her. "Kol." She repeated, more assured this time. His mouth fell into a smirk; but it wasn't Matt's, it was Kol's. Avery was about to scream out but Matt's eyes rolled to the back of his head the second before he collapsed to the ground.

Avery inhaled in horror at the sight. But before she could rush over to Matt…or Kol…whoever it was, someone yanked her from behind. She yelped at the pain as they dragged her by a handful of hair. Then she was whipped around to see her offender. Henry Phillips had one of his hands around her neck while the other held both of her own hands together. It pulled Avery away from seeing that Kol was gradually awakening from his desiccation.

"Do you realize what you've done?" He yelled at her. But there was never any intention on her speaking. With the grip he had on her throat, it was impossible. "You've slaughtered an entire clan of vampire hunters. Humans…you helped them kill humans. Your mother and father would be ashamed!" He spat.

Before Avery died of suffocation, someone shoved Henry enough to make him lose his grip around her throat. She breathed in and out deeply despite the pain that followed. She looked up to see it was Ben who had saved her.

"You've gone too far, dad! We don't kill humans! We have a code!" He shouted over the noise of everything going around them. His eyes were filled of rage. It was like he'd woken up from his daze, finally seeing again.

"You choose her, a traitor, over your own family. They are all dead! And you dishonor their sacrifice by choosing her?" His father yelled back.

Ben didn't look at Avery as he continued. "I'm not choosing her." He stated evenly. "I'm choosing to end this. There's been enough death. I never wanted this…any of this. I was forced into it. And now it's over." Ben held up his hands in surrender at his father before turning to walk away from him.

"You were always so weak, Benjamin. I gave you a chance to prove yourself and this is what you choose to do with it." Henry snarled as his son slowly began to abandon him. But then his eyes fell on Avery. There was such hatred as he interpreted her as the only reason any of this was happening. "This is the last time you will ever interfere." He said to her as his hands reached behind him. Avery stared in horror as she saw a gun now in his hands. She slowly backed away, even though she knew there was no way of escaping it.

The click of the notch made Avery shut her eyes. They closed tightly as she heard the trigger pulled and a loud crack when the bullet was released. But she felt no pain. Maybe death was so quick that she was already gone. She opened her eyes, half expecting to be in some sort of afterlife. But instead, she saw someone standing directly in front of her. Ben had thrown himself between her and his father at the last moment, taking the bullet that was intended for her. He fell to his knees and his back almost slammed back to the ground if it weren't for Avery catching him.

At the same moment the gun had been fired, Kol had fully awoken from his desiccation. One second sooner and he could have saved Avery himself. He escaped the coffin in time to see Sheriff Phillips take his father's bullet, sparing Avery's life.

Ben now lay in Avery's lap with a wound a small space away from his heart. But there was no way it wouldn't kill him. He was allowed only a few moments of life before death consumed him entirely. Avery looked up, expecting Henry Phillips to fire another bullet at her again. But Elijah had intervened, arriving out of nowhere. He grabbed the gun from Henry's hands and broke the weapon between his hands like it was a stick.

"Here to seek your vengeance for your dying girlfriend?" Henry taunted. He was about to be a murderer of his own son and become the last of his clan. He would say whatever he could to make his death memorable.

Elijah said nothing as his eyes narrowed. This pitiable human wasn't worthy of his words. Then Kol was at his brother's side, suddenly. In a blink of an eye, he was behind Henry, stopping him from walking back any further. Kol grabbed his arms and wrapped them behind his back, completely exposing Henry.

Kol moved his mouth to his victim's ear. "I warned you. My brother doesn't like his things touched. You've brought a death wish onto yourself. But after what you did to Avery, I won't allow him to kill you so quickly." Kol whispered disturbingly. He smirked when he heard Henry's heartbeat racing at the threat. Such a coward, he thought to himself.

Kol locked his eyes with Elijah's. The older original stepped forward slowly, not completely closing the distance until he could read the utter terror in his victim's eyes. Henry fought against Kol's hold, which gained him a broken wrist. He cried out in pain. "Don't move." Kol murmured. It was his last and only warning. But Henry Phillips refused to die without a fight. He thrashed against the hold again. Kol broke both of his legs, with a mere kick of his foot, as a result.

Avery held her breath as she watched, waiting for it all to be over with. She jumped with every cry Henry made from Kol breaking another one of his bones. Then Elijah's hand flew into Henry's chest. He pulled it out with a heart in his grasp. Avery gasped at the sight. The organ dripped blood the moment before Elijah dropped it to the ground as if it were the most meaningless thing in the world. Kol let go of Henry Phillips now lifeless body. It plummeted to the ground, with his eyes still open and staring up at the sky.

With his corpse only a few feet away, Avery pulled her attention away from him and put it all on Ben. Her palm was placed over his heart, feeling it slowly get weaker and weaker. "Why did you do that?" She whispered at him. Elijah and Kol stood by, silently watching the exchange.

"I'm the sheriff. I'm supposed to protect the citizens of Mystic Falls." Somehow, he was able to joke through his body's numbness. His voice was coarse and dry, using up the last bits of oxygen he had. Avery was able to sadly smile at him, even though the tears that slid down her cheeks. "Hey…" He stated as he spotted them. "It's ok. Everything is going to be ok."

Avery shook her head and glanced down at the wound. She had one of her hands covering it, hoping it would stop him from bleeding out and dying faster. Her eyes widened, remembering Kol and Elijah stood a mere few feet away. "Kol…Kol, please, your blood." She begged him. He hesitated a second before kneeling down at her side and biting into his wrist. But Ben was already shaking his head. It wasn't what he wanted.

"Please drink it." Avery whispered. "You don't have to die. It can save you." But she saw in his eyes that he wasn't persuaded. "Do you really hate them so much that you won't become one in order to live?" She questioned.

"No. I don't hate them." Ben allowed a quick glance at Kol, who was backing away from him. Kol would leave Avery alone with him. He had no place there. "I don't deserve it." Ben said. He saw her open her mouth to argue but he cut her off before she could start. "Avery, I'm sorry for everything. I'm so sorry." She swore she saw the last bit of life vanish from his eyes. Her palm could no longer feel a heartbeat of any sort. He was gone.

Avery glanced up at Kol, her eyes gazing at him through tears. She couldn't even be relieved and overjoyed with his survival. There was too much death around her. She looked back down at Ben, who still lay in her lap. She expected him to wake up somehow, showing some sort of miracle.

"Avery." Kol said gently. She hadn't noticed him move to her side. He wrapped his arms around her, helping her up off the ground. Just a few minutes ago, he was using them to torture Henry Phillips. Now it was his only tool of comfort. Avery fell into his embrace, not just for comfort but also for reassurance that he was very much alive. She didn't know how long they stayed like. But it made everything else go away just for a few short seconds.

Avery pulled away, but held onto Kol's hand. She allowed herself to look around. The circle of fire was still lit, but it was more relaxed and less threatening, showing that the battle was over. The last of the hunter clan rested before her: all of them dead. Amongst them was Aradia, who was now transitioning into a vampire. Later, she would wake up and feel no magic anymore; becoming the very thing she hated most in the world.

Bonnie was at Matt's side. He was just waking up from collapsing. Avery understood that Bonnie had put Kol in his body, to protect him and all the vampires that were his descendants. She wasn't a traitor after all. Instead, she had risked the most out of all of them.

Kol saw Avery staring at the two. "I'm sorry we all lied to you. But it was the only way." He muttered softly to her. There he was again, saying sorry when he was the person who never apologized. Apparently, everyone knew of the plan, except for Avery. They did it to protect her and because her reaction had to be genuine. Otherwise, all of them would have died the second the hunters read Bonnie's bluff.

"Is everyone alright?" Avery rasped. She was still in shock from everything that happened. It was so rapid and unexpected; her mind was struggling to process all of it at the moment. But then she realized what she was asking. Her eyes looked at Ben Phillips body. Of course everyone was not all right.

"Yes." Kol assured her. But when he said it, he was only talking about his family and Avery's friends. Now all of them gathered close by. Damon, Stefan, Klaus, Rebekah, Elijah, Bonnie, and Matt. Elena was missing, but Avery didn't bother pointing it out. She was oblivious about the young vampire that watched over both Caroline and Hayley who were still fighting death at the mansion.

But the setting became too overwhelming, unexpectedly. Avery's body rushed into shock. She'd believed Kol was dead and then he was brought back to her. But not before her life was threatened at gunpoint and Sheriff Phillips sacrificed herself in order to save her from death. Her mind was starting to reject all the exploits and turns.

"Kol." She whispered, suddenly feeling sick. But before she could say anything else, her eyes rolled back and her body collapsed. Kol caught her easily, lifting her up into his arms. He knew she needed to get away from everything. He turned to face his siblings and gave them a prolonged gaze. It was the only sign any of them would show of relief that they all made it out alive. But what they were all thinking was that they loved one another, maybe not like other families. But they did love each other, more than anyone in Mystic Falls could ever grasp.

I worked really hard on this chapter so I would really appreciate some feedback, questions, complaints, ABSOLUTELY anything! Review :D