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"There's a whole family of Originals?" Elena frowned.
"Where did you come from?" Dia asked. "Exactly how many of you are there?"
"My father was a wealthy land owner in a village in Eastern Europe. Our mother bore seven children" Elijah replied.
"So your parents were human?" Elena asked.
"Our whole family was. Our origin as vampires is a very long story, Elena. Just know... We're the oldest vampires in the world. We are the Original family, and from us all, vampires were created" Elijah looked at them.
"That explains a bit more" Dia sighed.
"Right, but Klaus is your brother. And you want him dead?" Elena asked.
Elijah looked at Elena then at Dia. "I need some air. I'm still feeling a tad... dead. Come."Elena and Dia followed Elijah outside.
"So as you've seen, nothing can kill an Original. Not Sun, not fire, not even a werewolf bite. Only the wood from one tree. A tree my family made sure burned" Elijah explained.
"That's where the white ash for the dagger comes from" Elena said.
"Yes. The witches won't allow anything truly immortal to walk the earth. Every creature needs to have a weakness in order to maintain the balance" Elijah told them.
"So the Sun can't kill an Original. Why is Klaus so obsessed with breaking the Sun and Moon curse?" Elena asked.
"Right. The curse of the Sun and the Moon. It's all so... Biblical-sounding, don't you think?" Elijah said.
"I guess" Dia looked at him. Elijah smiled at her and laughed slightly.
"What's so funny?" Elena frowned.
Klaus sat in a chair finishing feeding from a woman. Elijah was at the other end of the room going through pieces of parchment.
"Look what I found" Elijah said handing Klaus one of the parchments. "The Roman parchment."
"I remember etching this scroll. Well, I was quite blistered from drink" Klaus said studying the paper.
"Your finest work remains your Aztec drawings" Elijah told him.
"Not the African carvings?" Klaus frowned, "Cause I was quite proud of those."
"The Aztec. Who can resist a shaman?" Elijah smirked.
Klaus grinned and laughed. "Yes."
"I don't understand. So Klaus drew the Aztec sketches about the curse?" Elena asked.
"Roman scrolls, African tribal etchings, and any other culture or continent we felt like planting in it" Elijah replied.
"But why?" Elena asked.
"Easiest way to discover the existence of a doppelganger or to get your hands on some long, lost moon stone is to have every single member of two warring species on the lookout" Elijah looked at Elena.
"So you had multiple cultures looking out for the doppelganger" Dia asked.
"Precisely" Elijah smiled.
"So it's not Aztec at all?" Elena asked.
"The curse of the sun and the Moon... is fake. It doesn't exist" Elijah said simply.
"What?" Elena and Dia said together.
"Klaus and I faked the Sun and Moon curse dating back over a thousand years" Elijah said.
"So there's no real curse" Dia looked at him.
"But if there's no curse..." Elena began.
"There's a curse. Just not that one. The real one's much worse. It's a curse placed on Klaus" Elijah said.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Dia crossed her arms.
"What are you talking about" Elena frowned.
Elijah felt Elena's phone vibrate again in his pocket.
"What is this curse?" Elena asked.
"Your phone will not stop its incessant buzzing. Answer it, please" he said handing Elena his phone.
"Stefan?" she answered. "What's wrong? No. No, no, no, no. Ok, I'll be right there." She hung up and looked at Elijah then Dia.
"Klaus went after Jenna. I have to go to her" Elena said.
"What?" Dia gasped.
" I'm afraid that wasn't part of today's arrangement" Elijah said sternly.
"She's my family, Elijah. I have to. I'll be back. You have my word" Elena told him.
"That doesn't mean anything to me until you live up to it" Elijah glared.
"I'll stay" Dia spoke up. "I'll stay here with you as collateral."
"Dia you don't have to" Elena looked at her.
Dia walked up to Elena. "Yes I do. We want him to trust us, this is the way to do just that. Give Damon my love. I'll be fine"
"Thank you" Elena replied. She ran to her car and quickly drove off.
"Tell me more about Marina" Dia looked at Elijah.
Elijah and Katerina ran through the garden's. Katherine was laughing as Elijah chased after her.
"You have to chase me!" Katerina called out. Elijah ran after her but then stopped.
She laughed. "You're meant to catch me."
"But if I catch you, the game will be over" Elijah smiled.
"Thank you for entertaining me" Katerina told him.
"You seemed lonely inside, so I took pity on you" Elijah said.
Katerina sat down on a bench.
" Klaus promised to spend the day with me, but he never returned home from the night" she said sadly.
"Yes, Klaus does not live by any rules but his own" Elijah explained.
"He is a very charming man. Hard for anyone to resist, I suppose" Katerina said uneasily.
"And yet.." Elijah frowned.
"I know not why he courts me. He seems to not care about me at all" Katerina said sadly.
"Many a union has been built on much less" Elijah said simply.
"Is it wrong to want more?" she asked him. Elijah sat down beside her.
"Do you have more with Trevor?" Elijah responded.
" Trevor believes that he loves me, but true love is not real unless it's returned. Do you agree?" she asked.
"I do not believe in love, Katerina" Elijah looked at her.
"That is too sad for me to accept, my lord. Life is too cruel. If we cease to believe in love, why would we want to live?" Katerina replied. "What about what you have with Marina? Is that not love?"
Elijah stayed silent not responding.
"Marina has been so kind to me" she continued. "She is one of the only friends I have ever had. I've seen the way you look at each other. My lord, I wish not to be so bold, but you believe in love when you are with her."
Elijah, about to respond looked up and smiled. Katerina turned about saw Marina coming towards them.
"Marina" Elijah said getting up.
"Hello" she smiled. "Hello Katerina."
"Hello" Katerina smiled.
"How was your family?" Elijah asked.
"My father sends his regards" Marina replied. "He wishes you would come visit more often."
"Perhaps the next time you visit I shall" Elijah smiled.
"You must come too Katerina" Marina looked at her. "My family would so love to meet you."
"I should like very much" Katerina smiled.
Just then Klaus walked up to the group, his shirt torn and bloody.
"What did I interrupt?" Klaus asked.
"He's returned" Elijah said looking at his shirt. "Long night?"
"What has happened?" Katerina said concerned.
"The wrong villager picked a fight at the tavern" Klaus said taking Katerina's hand and leading her away.
"Is there really nothing else we can do to save her?" Marina looked at Elijah.
"Why would you say such things?" Elijah frowned.
"Why should she have to die?" Marina asked. "She doesn't deserve it."
Elijah looked at Marina. Deep down he knew she was right. Katerina dying for Klaus was a high price for the curse to be triggered.
"I will try and find another way" he said taking her hand and kissing it.
"Did you ever tell her?" Dia asked.
"Tell her what?" Elijah frowned.
"That you loved her" Dia replied.
"Yes, only once" Elijah said with sadness in his eyes.
"Is she going to be okay?" Stefan asked as Elena closed a door at the boarding house. Elena had just finished telling Jenna about everything and she was not taking it well as to be expected.
"She's in shock. I tried to tell her as much as I could, but I barely scratched the surface" Elena replied.
"I'm so sorry, Elena. I hate this" Stefan replied.
"It's not your fault, Stefan. It's mine. Anyway... I have to go back to Elijah" Elena looked at him.
"Wait, what? No, no!" Stefan protested.
"Stefan, I promised him that I would return. Dia is with him. I can't break that promise" Elena shot back.
"Oh" Stefan nodded.
"I'll be ok" Elena told him. She walked to the front door only to be stopped by Damon and Andie.
"What is she doing here?" Elena frowned.
"I'm helping" Andie smiled.
"Where do you think you're going?" Damon asked.
"Back to Elijah" Elena said simply.
"Where's Dia?" Damon asked.
"With Elijah" Elena replied. "She's using herself as collateral so Elijah would know I would come back."
"No" Damon growled.
"She's fine Damon" Elena told him. "She won't hurt him."
"That's not what I'm worried about" Damon bit his lip.
"She loves you Damon not him" Elena snapped.
"That didn't stop him from kissing her before" Damon growled.
"Get out of my way, Dam..." she said as he caught her arm.
"If you so much as try and take a step out of this house..." Damon began.
"Damon easy" Andie said.
"Stay out of this Andie" Damon growled.
"Let her go" Stefan snapped.
"Are you kidding me? We just got her back" Damon glared.
"Do you want Dia back?" Elena looked at him.
"I'll get her back myself" Damon squeezed Elena's arm.
"You heard me. I said let her go" Stefan growled.
Damon let go of Elena and looked at Stefan. "That's twice today you've stood in my way. I wouldn't try a third."
"Tell me something" Dia said sitting in the Lockwood living room with Elijah. He was standing in front of the fire place holding a drink.
"Did you know Elena was my cousin?" Dia asked.
"I had only just found out before I was daggered. I was torn whether or not I should tell you" Elijah said.
"Well I found out from Isobel and now she's dead" Dia sighed. "Can I ask you something else? Or am I boring you with all these questions?"
"You could never bore me" Elijah smiled. "Please ask away."
"What exactly is my role in the ritual? You said I protection or something" Dia frowned.
"The blood of the doppelganger allows for the curse to be broken. Your blood allows for protection during the process. It isn't exactly pain free" Elijah said.
"Will I have to die?" Dia looked up at him.
"No. One drop of your blood would suffice" Elijah replied.
The door opened from the front hall and Elena appeared.
"Welcome back" Elijah said.
"Tell me. What is Klaus' curse?" Elena said taking off her jacket and throwing it on the table. "Please."
"My family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. Klaus was not my father's son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus is from a different bloodline. Of course, when my father discovered this, he hunted down and he killed my mother's lover and his entire family. Not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages until this day" Elijah explained.
"A war between the species?" Elena frowned.
"The vampires... and the werewolves" Elijah replied.
"So Klaus' real father was from a werewolf bloodline? What does that make Klaus? A werewolf? Or a vampire?" Elena frowned.
"Unless he's…"
"He's both" Elijah finished for Dia. "A hybrid would be deadlier than any werewolf or vampire. Nature would not stand for such an imbalance of power. Therefore the witches, the servants of nature, saw to it that my brother's werewolf side would become dormant."
"That's the curse that Klaus wants to break?" Elena asked.
"He wants to trigger that part of him that's a werewolf. If allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline. He'd build his own race. Endangering not just vampires, but everyone" Elijah said.
"Then why don't you want him to trigger the curse?" Dia asked.
"You helped him" Elean said.
"I helped him because I loved him. That's changed, now he must die" Elijah told them.
" We have the dagger now. We can stop him" Elena said.
"So problem solved" Dia spoke.
"When a werewolf is wounded by silver, it heals. An Original can't be killed by anything but white oak ash on a silver dagger. So you see the conundrum. The dagger does not work" Elijah explained.
"Damn it, I knew it seemed to simple" Dia sighed.
"What, are you saying that Klaus can't be killed?" Elena frowned.
"There's one way to kill any supernatural species… at the hands of the servants of nature themselves" Elijah said.
"A witch if they can channel that much power. But it would kill them" Elena told him.
"The curse must be broken during the full moon. When Klaus is in transition. That's when he'll be at his most vulnerable. A witch with enough power... can kill Klaus as well as a gypsy" Elijah looked at Dia.
"You mean I could kill Klaus?" Dia frowned.
"If you had a witch with enough power essentially yes" Elijah nodded.
"What if I told you that I knew a witch that could channel that much power?" Elena said.
"Then I would tell you there's one more thing that you should know" Elijah told them.
"The full moon is tomorrow, brother. After all these centuries, it is finally time" Klaus told his brother.
"I have been to see the witches. They believe they may have found a way to spare the doppelganger" Elijah replied. Marina looked over at Elijah then at Klaus.
"What does it matter if she lives or not? She's a means to an end that is all" Klaus sneered.
" What, she should die for your gain?" Elijah said.
"She is human. Her life means nothing" Klaus replied.
"I beg you to consider this" Elijah protested.
"Are you so foolish as to care for her" Klaus sneered.
"Of course not" Elijah looked at him.
"Love is a vampire's greatest weakness, and we are not weak, Elijah. We do not feel, and we do not care" Klaus said getting closer to him.
"We did once. Too many lifetimes ago to matter. Tell the witches not to bother. The sacrifice will happen as planned" Elijah said. Klaus smiled and left the room leaving Marina and Elijah by themselves. Elijah walked over to Marina and kissed her forehead.
"I'll save her" Elijah whispered.
"You found a way to save the life of the doppelganger?" Elena asked.
"Yes, Elena. I did. But unfortunately, Katerina took matters into her own hands first. I believe you already know how that played out" Elijah said.
"Yep" Dia smirked. "She turned into the bitchy vampire we all know and love."
"You cared about her, didn't you?" Elena said.
"It's a common mistake, I'm told. Marina was fond of her as was I. And it's a mistake I won't make again"
"You don't have to be so mad at your brother. You know, he's worried about Elena, and..." Andie began to say to Damon in the library.
"Just, go please" Damon snapped.
"I know you're worried about her and Dia too" Andie looked at him.
"Andie. Go" Damon replied.
"Okay" she said. She left the room as Stefan walked in.
"Tired of your little play thing already?" Stefan looked at him.
"Don't start with me, Stefan. She's just my distraction" Damon snapped.
"She's a person. You're victimizing her. Besides you say you're in love with Dia, you want to turn her and yet you're keeping Andie around."
"You should be thankful she's here. She keeps me from going for what I really want" Damon sneered.
"You're right. Thank you for being in love with my girlfriend and hurting her cousin in the process" Stefan glared.
Damon got up out of his sit. "And there it is."
"There it is. You know, you can be in love with Elena all you want... If it means that you'll protect her. But I have the one thing that you never will"
"Her respect" Stefan said simply. "And at the rate you're probably going to lose Dia's respect and probably lose her all together. I'm sure Elijah could give her the love and respect you never did."
Damon suddenly punched Stefan causing him to fall on a rack breaking it. Stefan quickly got up and rushed over to Damon knocking him to the ground. They fought with each other when Elena, Dia, and Elijah entered the room.
"Stop!" Elena yelled. Elijah looked at both of them.
Elijah sat on a chair reading when Klaus came storming into the room.
"What have you done?" Klaus snapped.
"I don't understand" Elijah frowned.
"Katerina has gone. She has fled" Klaus growled.
"No" Elijah said.
"What did you tell her?" Klaus demanded.
"I told her nothing" Elijah said. Klaus growled and grabbed his arm slamming Elijah against the wall.
"Do not lie to me" Klaus yelled.
"What has happened" a voice said. Klaus turned and Marina in the doorway in her nightgown.
"I will find her. You have my word" Elijah looked at Klaus.
"If you do not, I give you my word you will be dead" Klaus sneered. "But not before I make you watch her die." Klaus let go of Elijah and rushed off.
"Elijah" Marina said quietly. He walked over to her and embraced her.
"I will find her" he whispered.
"Do not worry about me" Marina told him. Elijah pulled away and looked at her.
"I love you" Elijah told her. "I've loved you from the minute I saw you. I'm sorry I never told you."
"Words only mean so much" Marina whispered. "I know you love me, I always have. What you have done has showed that. "
Elijah smiled and gently kissed her. Marina pulled away and looked at him.
"Come back to me" she said.
"I shall and when I do….if you wish it, I want to spend eternity with you" Elijah said.
"You mean..?" Marina began.
"Yes" Elijah smiled.
Stefan and Damn stopped fighting and looked at Elena, Dia, and Elijah.
"Now you've invited him in? Damon glared.
" We have renewed the terms of our deal" Elena said.
"Really?" Damon looked at Dia frowning.
"The two of you will come to no harm at my hands. I only ask for one thing in return" Elijah said simply.
"What?" Damon snapped.
"An apology" Elijah replied.
"A what?" Damon's eyes widen.
"Damon please" Dia looked at him.
Stefan walked up to Elijah. "I'm sorry for the part that I played in your death. I was protecting Elena. I will always protect Elena"
"I understand" Elijah said.
Elena looked at Damon. "Sacrifice is going to happen, Damon. Bonnie will be able to kill Klaus without hurting herself and Elijah knows how to save my life. I told you I'd find another way. And I did. He's going to protect Dia too."
"Is that true?" Damon looked at Elijah.
"It is" Elijah said.
Damon looked at Dia and Elena. "And you're trusting him?"
"I am" Elena said.
"Damon we can trust him" Dia took his hand. Damon pulled away and shook his head.
"You can all go to hell" Damon snapped and walked out of the room. Dia looked up, tears forming in her eyes.
"He's angry with me right now. But he'll come around" Stefan said.
"Perhaps" Elijah replied.
Damon walked up to his bedroom angrily. He walked into his room and ran his hands through his hair. Andie walked out of the bathroom wearing lingerie.
"I thought I told you to leave" Damon huffed.
"You didn't compel me. I want to be here. Just let me be here" Andie said.
"I'm upset. And you know what happens when I'm upset. You have to leave" Damon told her.
"No. You need to know that somebody cares about you. I care about you, Damon" Andie said.
"I don't care about you" Damon snapped. "I know that somebody cares about me. Dia cares about me and I've probably lost her." He rushed over to her and bit her neck. Andie screamed and Damon threw her on the ground. He moved closer to her as she cried.
"Hey" Damon spoke. "Hey. Hey. Look at me." Damon looked into her eyes to compel her.
" Get out of here, before I kill you. Just go. Go. Now!" he told her.
Andie got up and took her clothes and quickly fled. Damon sighed and began to walk towards his bed when he felt someone else in the room. He turned around and saw Dia in the doorway.
"What do you want?" Damon snapped.
"I want to know what is going on with you." Dia walked into the room.
"Maybe you should be more concerned with what is going on with Elijah" Damon sneered.
"Oh my god" Dia sighed. "This is what's going on? You think something is going with me and Elijah."
"I don't know what to think Dia!" Damon huffed. "I didn't know what happened today."
"Alright you're jealously is really starting to piss me off" Dia snapped. "Nothing is going on with me and Elijah."
"Something is" Damon looked at her. "I've seen the way he looks at you. I don't know how you feel. You could be in love with him for all I know."
Dia shook her head and walked up to Damon. Her lips crashing against his own. She pulled him closer deepening the kiss. Their lips moving in sync ferociously. Damon's fingers began moving through her hair. When they both pulled away, both were breathless. Their foreheads touched, their lips till inches away from one another. Damon looked at her breathing heavily.
"If I wanted Elijah" she whispered. "I wouldn't have done that."
Damon smiled at her. "I love you. I'm sorry for everything."
"I love you too" Dia replied kissing him softly again.
Katherine watched as Klaus' warlock and witch cast a spell. Candies were all around the room and Alaric's body was next to a box. When the spell was cast, Alaric opened his eyes and looked at Katherine.
"Elena?" he asked confused. He collapsed to the ground and the warlock opened the box. A man got out of it. Katherine's eyes widened. It was Klaus.
"Now that's more like it" he smiled.
Damon and Dia sat in the bathtub together. She was leaned up against him enjoying the warm water and Damon's presence. Dia looked up at him noticing that he was deep in thought.
"Feeling better?" she asked.
"Much" Damon smiled at her. "I'm sorry again."
"Stop" Dia replied. "I know."
Damon leaned down and gently kissed her neck. He then sunk fangs into her neck. Blood trickled down her neck. Dia leaned her head back allowing better access for Damon to drink her blood. He pulled away and looked at her and leaned down to kiss her before he went back to her neck.
Sorry for the long wait. This chapter by far is my favorite that I've written so far. It's extra long for you guys and I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all the reviews and story alerts. I'm hoping to have the next chapter up by tonight. If not it will be up soon!