Tyler was writhing in pain on the ground. He gripped onto the chain on his neck and tried to pull it off, but Caroline was trying her best to comfort him. Toby was off to the side with Josiah, who, like in the video, was only drenched in sweat.
"Tyler," Caroline said softly. "Tyler."
Tyler cried out. "I'm burning up. It burns!"
"I know. Just breathe through this, okay?"
"I'm trying. You should go. You should leave."
"Not yet."
"Care," Josiah quietly spoke up. "He's right. We need to get out of here before it's too late. Before one of us gets hurt."
"No, not yet."
"Caroline!" He hissed.
"I said not yet!"
Suddenly, Tyler screamed out as his bones started to break. His left arm bent at an odd angle and Caroline screamed, too. He was crying when Toby started to turn as well. His back made a loud snapping noise and he let out a strangled cry. Josiah quickly stood up and grabbed Caroline's arm.
"We need to go. Toby's gonna transform faster than Tyler. Come on."
Josiah was able to pull her away and through the metal gate. He locked the chain to keep it closed and took Caroline's hand. Together, they watched Toby begin to sprout hair on his arms and legs as his transformation started to take place. Josiah immediately pushed Caroline through the door as Toby, with bright, amber eyes, growled and sped over to the gate faster than they could blink. Josiah stumbled and fell out of the room. Caroline acted fast by closing the main door and barricading it with a block of wood.
They stood there while listening to Toby ram into the door. Now a wolf, his strength was enhanced and he managed to tear a hole through the door. With a gasp, Josiah pulled Caroline with him up the stairs and ran back towards the car.
"Wait! Tyler-"
"Will be fine, remember? Toby said he won't hurt family even as a wolf. Leave him. We'll come back later."
They both piled into the car. Caroline started up the ignition and then they left.
xxxx
"Y'know, listen, I'm really tight with the Sheriff," Damon was telling Jules. She still hadn't touched her drink and Damon was starting to think that maybe Elowen had been right, as she always was. "If there's anything I can do to help locate Mason, I will. He's a great guy and after his brother's funeral, him and his son stuck around and helped his nephew and-"
"Tyler?" Jules asked. Damon nodded.
"Yep. Mason was with him the whole time. Helped him through all that grief. His son, too. My girlfriend's best friends with him; they went to middle school together, go figure. He's a good kid."
"Sorry, lemme get this straight. If your girlfriend went to school with Toby, then they're the same age. You're dating a teenager?"
Damon stuttered. He'd been about 25 when he was turned and it never occurred to him how bad it looked when he was with Elowen. A 25 year old dating a minor? Realistically, he should be in jail, but he was a vampire and nothing about this was realistic. Jules smirked at his reaction and held her hands up.
"Frankly, it's none of my business, so…. I heard nothing."
Damon cleared his throat and, desperate to change the topic, nodded towards her glass. "You haven't touched your drink."
"Y'know, I'm not much of a drinker. I should get going."
"Oh, come on. Look, one drink."
"... It'll help me sleep," Jules pretended to give in. Damon lifted his glass.
"To sleep."
She lifted her glass, smelled it and slammed it back down on the bar.
"You fool. You think you're clever, don't you?"
Damon dropped the act. "What do you want with Mason Lockwood?"
"He's my friend."
"Well, I'm sorry to inform you that you probably won't find him."
"And why not?"
Realizing that he probably shouldn't dangle Mason's death in front of her face, Damon changed his tune. "You should leave town."
"You're threatening me?" Jules questioned half in disbelief and half in amusement. "On a full moon? How stupid are you?"
Alaric had gotten up the second he saw the circumstances change and approached Damon and Jules. "Damon, how about that second round?"
"I think we're done, Ric." Damon looked back at Jules. "You think I'm afraid of you?"
"No, I don't. That's your vampire arrogance. You should be. I sniffed you out the moment you entered this bar, along with your pathetic wolfsbane. I've been at this a long time and any other night of the month, the situation would be reversed, but tonight is not the night to pick a fight with me. You've been marked."
Jules got up and took her leave, leaving Damon and Alaric staring at each other. After a few minutes, Damon also got up and started to follow her outside. Alaric quickly followed.
"Where is she?"
"Just let it go, Damon. Don't be stupid."
"So, what? Just let her get away? 'You've been marked'. What the hell kind of wolf throw down crap is that anyway?"
"Damon, look up! Just look up! Elowen was right. She smelled the wolfsbane a mile away just like she said. This was not the night to pick a fight. You should've listened to her."
"I didn't see you following her advice, either, Mr Big Shot."
"Because if I'd let you do this by yourself, I would've been blamed for it."
"Well, you're still gonna get blamed for it since you helped me, so what was the point?"
"Look, that doesn't matter anymore. If this werewolf stuff is true like Elowen said, which it probably is, then it's one bite and you're dead. One bite! Alright? Don't risk it. Just go home, lock your doors and we'll deal with it in the morning."
After a beat, Damon nodded. "Yeah."
Him and Alaric parted ways.
xxxx
Damon arrived back at the boarding house, locked the door and headed into the library. Rose was sitting on the couch.
"You just can't stay away, can you?" He asked.
"You don't answer your phone," she replied. She'd stood up and was standing in front of Damon now.
"What do you want?"
"I wanted to apologize."
"Just admit it, you don't have anywhere else to go."
"I'm sorry about Elena. I wasn't thinking straight. I didn't know she had a death wish, but Elowen called you to make it right. She said that Stefan was too soft, that you'd do what it took to get her home. I'm sorry, Damon…. And, I have nowhere else to go."
"There's nothing here for you, Rose."
Before Rose could answer, the sound of breaking glass sounded throughout the house from another room. The two of them went into the living room to investigate. The window nearby shattered and a wolf came lunging through. Damon made a grab for the sword that was hanging on the wall, but before he could move any farther, the wolf made to jump for him. Rose quickly pushed him out of the way. The wolf instead landed on her, pushing her to the ground and bit into her shoulder. Rose screamed in pain and Damon quickly stabbed the wolf with the sword. The wolf whimpered and fled the scene.
"How bad is it?" Damon asked as he dove down to check on Rose.
"It hurts," Rose replied. Damon watched as the bite started to heal.
"It's healing."
"Oh my god, I thought a werewolf bit was fatal! Elowen said… I thought…" Rose started to cry and Damon embraced her.
"You're gonna be okay."
xxxx
"You were successful?" Jonas asked as Luka entered the apartment. Luka sighed and shook his head.
"No. Her friend didn't buy it. She has the moonstone."
Jonas lifted his head and hummed. "Well, we'll just have to get her friend to trust us."
"I don't think she will. She said that she's onto me."
"That's a shame. Wait," Jonas said when Luka tried to walk away, "Elijah needs us to do one more thing before we lose the full moon."
xxxx
When Elijah asked Elowen to come to the tomb, saying she was confused was an understatement. He'd just appeared on her doorstep (more like her window) and told her he needed her help. How he even knew where she lived, she didn't know.
"I'm not helping you until I know what I need to know."
"Even if it concerns getting your boyfriend out of that little tomb?"
Elowen stood up straighter. "How do you know about that?"
"It was apart of my deal with the doppelganger. Free Stefan Salvatore and she'll follow my instructions."
"You know I can't open that thing on my own. Even if I wanted to help, I can't."
"I happen to know a pair of witches willing to assist you. If you'd come with me, you would be a great asset."
"Asset to what?"
"In due time. Are you coming?"
Elowen crossed her arms. "Not without my mom and brother. And on one condition. There's another vampire in there with Stefan. His name is Luis. He stays."
Elijah thought this over for a moment. "You come on your own and I'll make sure he stays put."
Elowen and Elijah stared at each other before Elowen finally shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but I don't feel comfortable doing this with two witches I don't know and without my family. Just promise me that he doesn't get out and it'll be enough for me."
Elijah nodded. "Very well. I'll be seeing you very soon so we can discuss what we need to."
And then he was gone.
xxxx
"Are we seriously not going to talk at all?" Katherine asked as she approached Stefan, who was sitting down nearby. Luis scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Will you give it up? Listening to you whine about this is getting on my nerves."
Katherine glared at Luis. "Shut up before I rip your heart out," she snarked.
"Then go ahead."
Katherine zoomed over to Luis, but before she could do anything, Stefan spoke up.
"Will you two stop it? You've been at each other's throat this whole time. If anything is getting on anyone's nerves, it's listening to you go at it."
With one last sneer, Katherine turned away and started towards Stefan again. "What do you want me to say, Stefan? That I'm sorry for everything that I've done? Well I'm not, okay? It's called self preservation. I've been looking out for myself for 500 years."
"And look where it's gotten you."
"Yes, I've done terrible things. I know that, but I do love you, Stefan, even if you don't believe it."
"You want me to believe you? Show me. Do something. Prove to me that there's something inside of you that's actually worth trusting."
Luis let out a loud snort. Both Stefan and Katherine turned to him with annoyed stares. He stayed quiet, but there was a smug smirk across his lips.
"And then what?" Katherine questioned as she looked back at Stefan. "You're still gonna hate me."
"Then what's the point in trying so hard?" Luis wondered. "Nobody likes a piner."
Katherine's hand was on his throat in an instant. Stefan stood up just as fast.
"Katherine."
"What? You want him dead. That much is obvious. I can solve your little problem right here, right now and nobody would even know about it."
The sound of the door to the tomb opening caught their attention. The three of them looked at each other. Katherine reluctantly let go of Luis and started for the entrance. Stefan was surprised to see Elijah on the other side and Katherine looked fearful. Luis, having no idea who this was, narrowed his eyes.
"And who the fuck are you supposed to be?"
Elijah acknowledged him. "You must be Luis. I'd say pleasure to meet you, but I'm guessing you're in here for a reason."
"Elijah," Katherine said.
"Good evening, Katerina. Thank you for having the good sense to be frightened." He looked to Stefan. "Your release has been requested."
"What? By who?"
"The lovely Elena drives a hard bargain. However, we reached a peaceful agreement, she and I. Please," Elijah gestured to Stefan to walk forward, "come."
Stefan shook his head. "I can't."
"Yes, you can. I've had the spell lifted."
Slowly, Stefan edged his foot out of the tomb. Upon seeing it wasn't blocked, the rest of him exited. Once he was out, both Katherine and Luis zoomed to try and leave. Elijah grabbed Luis by the neck while he compelled Katherine.
"As for you, however, you should not exit until I say so. When Klaus comes, he'll want to know exactly where you are." Then, he looked to Luis. "To be frank, I have no idea who you are and what you stand for, but I've been asked to make sure you stay in here. Therefore, you will sit here with Katerina until I deem it necessary for you to leave."
He let go of Luis and stepped back. "You're free to go," he told Stefan. "Elena will explain the arrangement to you. If she keeps her word, I'll keep mine."
"Stefan, no," Katherine begged as Elijah left. "Please don't let him leave me in here."
Stefan looked at Katherine for a moment before answering her. "Goodbye, Katherine."
With one last look, Stefan left.
xxxx
"Shouldn't we go check on them now?" Caroline asked Josiah. It had been hours since they left Toby and Tyler at the Lockwood cellar.
"I think it's safe now. Let's go."
They carefully took the steps down towards the door and look at each other. It was quiet. Caroline gently lifted the block of wood holding the door closed and opened the door.
"Tyler?" She called.
"Toby?" Josiah whispered.
"We're fine," Toby replied. Caroline and Josiah rushed in when they realized they were both human again. Toby was fully dressed as he had brought an extra pair of clothes (being at this much longer), but Tyler was only sitting in a pair of boxers.
"You're okay!" Caroline cried as she knelt down to Tyler's level. "You made it. You didn't get out. You're okay."
Tyler started to cry. "No, I'm not."
Caroline embraced him while Josiah and Toby shot each other sympathetic looks.
xxxx
Elowen was sitting at her desk, glasses perched on her nose, while she finished writing an essay that was due for her English class. She saw something in the corner of her eye and when she looked over, she saw Stefan standing her doorway. A wide grin broke out on her face and she stood up to greet him with a kiss.
"You're out!"
"I'm out," Stefan repeated. He kissed her again and Elowen started pulling him towards her bed.
"Y'know," she mumbled against his mouth, "my mom is staying with Alaric tonight and Josiah's with Caroline. I have the house to myself."
She felt Stefan smirk on her lips. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"And what do you think I'm saying?"
Stefan shook his head. "Naughty, aren't you?"
Elowen kissed him again and Stefan lifted her in order to lay her on her bed.
"Oh, I'll show you just how naughty I can be."
xxxx
"I talked to Caroline and Josiah. They said both Tyler and Toby were all locked up." Damon was sitting on the couch with a drink in his hand. Rose joined him.
"So it was Jules. The other werewolf, the one who attacked you."
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I picked a fight with her, she was coming for me."
"All's well that ends well."
"You're really all healed?" Damon found it hard to believe that Elowen had been wrong. Rose, sensing this, nodded her head.
"Yeah, it seems that way. Maybe your girlfriend was just confused."
"Yeah, maybe…." He trailed off. With a sigh, Damon took a sip of his drink. "For the record, I'm happy that the legend was fake. Maybe the werewolves made it up to keep vampires away."
"Lucky me." Rose set her hands on Damon's to get his attention. "I'm gonna stay and help you."
"Help me do what?"
"Save Elowen, protect Elowen, all things Elowen. Although, from what I've gathered, she can handle herself."
"Really? Why?"
"Because I like you. I believe in friendship. I happen to have a vacancy in that department and you can use all the friends you can get."
"Ouch."
Rose laughed and made to get up. She winced and rolled her shoulder back. Damon, furrowing his eyebrows, stood up as well and pulled her shirt back to reveal multiple sores and blisters coating her shoulder where she had been bit.
They looked at each other in worry.
This wasn't good.