MYSTIC FALLS

Standing in front of the man that used to run the business accounts at one of Mystic Falls local banks, Damon glares down at him knowing the guy currently had a passenger running around inside him.
Glancing back at the couch the vampire clenches his jaw as he looks at the covered-up body, the body of the one and only Xander Harris who had been brutally killed.
Damon forces his gaze off the body trying to ignore his own guilt, he was the one that let Alina into their lives and he had been powerless against her as she ripped out Xander's heart right in front of Elena. And now Elena and Stefan were with the psycho Banshee hybrid and the travelers.

Turning back to the tied-up middle-aged man who was gagged to keep him from using all that annoying traveler magic "Here's the deal. My brother and the dead guy's girl have both been kidnapped by the travelers and my soon-to-be-dead sex buddy, and I can't seem to find them anywhere. I mean, like, poof. Gone, right? So besides a clueless hybrid in my basement and a cave full of sleeping Travelers. I've got nothing to go on except you. So I'm gonna need you to tell me where I can find Markos and Alina."

"You can't just leave him like that." A still red-eyed Caroline says as she walks into the room her eyes still glued to Xander's body. Staring down at his face she takes a shaky breath and covers him with a blanket trying to push her grief to the side for now as she turns to Damon "Liv and Luke aren't answering any of my...Mr. Sikes?" She suddenly stutters staring at the tied-up man in the chair.

"You know him?"

"Yeah, he helped me open my first savings account. He gave me a lollipop." Sighing the blonde then turns back to Xander's body grabbing his jacket that was on the side table she reaches into his jacket pocket pulling out the house key he had meant to give to Elena.
"What is that?" Damon asks raising an eyebrow at the black box.

Caroline wipes the newly fresh tears from her face as she places the box on the table before sitting down "Xander rebuilt Elena's family home. He was gonna tell her before..."

Damon clenches his jaw in anger and his fists clench as he watches the box, he had to admit he never would have guessed the human would actually go through all that work just for one girl. "We're gonna get Alina." He assures Caroline "And I'm gonna tear her damn head off."

Before they could continue their questioning Bonnie runs in with a stunned look on her face, she ignores the confused vampires as her eyes scan the room finally landing on Xander.
Stepping forward she pulls the blanket off his face before looking just past Damon and Caroline who were watching her in confusion "I don't understand."

"What you talking about Bon Bon?" Damon asks in confusion.

The anchor ignores him as she stares at the ghost behind them that merely shrugs in confusion, Bonnie sighs glancing in-between Damon and Caroline as she slowly starts to put it together, it was the only thing that made sense "Demon magnet." She whispers before staring at the pair in shock "Xander grew up on the Hellmouth, he was surrounded by magic, had curses and spells cast on him. Willow, Giles, Buffy, and him did this spell years ago that combined all of their essences. It must have the Other side confused, it's literally latching onto the magic surrounding him."

At Bonnie's words Caroline's eyes widen as a small spark of hope fills the young vampire "Wait, Bonnie are you saying?"
Bonnie nods as she looks over at Xander who was now making bunny ears with his fingers behind Damon's head before clicking his fingers in front of the vampire face who had no idea that the human was currently making fun of him "Xander's on The Other Side."

NEW ORLEANS

In a dark alleyway just hidden away from the French Quarter Klaus Mikealson stumbled weakly in front of a drunk couple that were drunkenly making their way home.
"Good evening." The hybrid whispers hoarsely as he looks over at the buzzed couple, listening to their hearts beating hard against their chests as the blood flowed through their veins.
"I wonder if you could help me, I'm feeling a bit famished."
The guy frowns in confusion as he stares at the hybrid clearly assuming he was a beggar "Um, sorry, I don't have any change."

"Well, that's no problem, mate." The hybrid laughs "I'll just help myself." With that, he jumps at the two digging viscously into the man's throat drowning him of every drop of blood running through his body as the woman screamed hysterically. Tossing the man's now dried body the famished hybrid grabs the girl before she could run doing the exact same to her, ripping into her neck draining her dry.

Once he was done with his meal the now slightly stronger hybrid turns to Dahlia his face completely covered in his victims' blood.
Dahlia watches in amusement as he careless steps over the dead couple's bodies "You must be hungry, considering what you've endured."

"I've never been daggered." The hybrid tells her as an understanding beings to form in his brain, his siblings' hate for him made a lot more sense now "Never knew it was such an agonizing experience. It does help explain why my siblings loathe me."
Dahlia merely nods at his words "You'll need your strength for what's to come. I suggest you replenish yourself, before the storm. Then we'll go find your dear Slayer." Stepping to the side Klaus couldn't help but grin as he spots about 15 humans all lined up waiting to be handed over to him on a platter.

A weak Buffy Anne Summers was rummaging through the cabin trying to grab as many supplies as she could so she and Joy could get through the Bayou in the storm, without getting caught. Grabbing the baby carrier the blonde carefully lifts her sleeping daughter placing her inside it before hooking it up so the little girl was rested comfortably against the Slayer's back.
Ignoring the agony still coursing through her veins the blonde grabs the large rain jacket off the floor using it to cover both her and Joy so they could be safe from the rain.

As she moves to grab the scythe the blonde freezes as she hears a familiar voice coming from just outside the door. She had heard that voice at Hayley and Jackson's wedding, she was pretty sure that was the vampire that Aiden had been dating...Josh.
As an idea comes to the blonde she couldn't help but groan in disgust, she hated her brain sometimes, while the idea was great it was majorly going to suck.

"Marcel it's fine." She hears him say as she peaks through the curtains and spots him on the phone "I told Hayley I would help move Buffy into the car then I'm out of the Bayou."

Waiting until he hangs up the blonde yanks open the door grabbing him from behind in a chokehold and yanking him inside the cabin slamming the door shut behind her.
"Buffy?" Josh breaths in shock before his eyes widen as he spots the flecks of black in the blonde's green eyes and the way black veins were rising under her eyes above her cheeks. Pausing in slight fear the young vampire's eyes widen as he spots the boundary spell that had been used on her broken "How?"
"Shh, newbie." Buffy warns tightening her hand around his throat "Look I really don't wanna do this, it's probably the most yuck-worthy idea I've ever had and I once dived headfirst into a weird face-hugger slim creature." Grabbing him by the jaw she forces him to look her right in eye "But I'm weak...and I gotta move quick. Bite your wrist."
Josh now cursing himself for missing one day of Vervain merely nods unable to control his own actions as he bites into his wrist.

Buffy groans as she stares at the blood "I hate my brain." She mumbles before bringing his wrist to her mouth letting the power of the vampire blood heal her and wash free the pain she had been feeling for hours on end. As her strength finally returns the blonde pulls her head back from his wrist and groans "That was gross." She mumbles before turning to the confused vampire "Sorry about this." Without another word, she snaps his neck dropping his temporarily dead body.
Without another word, she grabs the scythe and speeds out into the storm with Joy.

UNKNOWN LOCATION

Elena who was strapped to a gurney half-dead as her blood was drained could still feel the tears streaming down her face. They had been unending since she watched her ancestor rip the love of her life's heart from his chest. Knowing that she didn't have long left till she would die from the blood loss the brunette focuses on happy moments of her life. From her time with Buffy and Jeremy, her friends...and finally Xander.
He had made her feel so loved, in a way no one else ever had, he made her feel at peace, every second with him her heart had felt so full. But now he was gone and what hurt more is knowing that even if she died they wouldn't be reunited. She was a Banshee she would go to The Other Side while Xander was human, he would have found peace.

Hearing the sound of heels tapping against the floor impatiently the brunette weakly looks over only to find Alina sat there with a small smile on her face as she chilled casually in her brown fringed jacket merely watching the Banshee suffer.
"Enjoying my misery?" Elena hisses out weakly.
Alina lets out a small laugh "Maybe. Must say I like your hair more than the state it was in during our first meeting. The slight curls very Katerina."

Elena clenches her jaw in anger as she watches the hybrid in confusion, she didn't understand any of this, Alina had been so kind to her in their first meeting. Alina had saved her. Yet this woman was nothing like the Alina Harper or Petrova she had met.

"Why did you help me?" Elena whispers her body growing weaker by the second "Out of my coma?"
"Because you were no use to me brain dead." The hybrid explains as she stands from her seat moving over to the Banshee, running her sharp manicured nails against the girl's skin only causing Elena to cry out in pain as more blood begin to pool from the newly created scratches "I have spent 300 years jumping between Hell and The Other Side. Making deals, bargains anything I could. Helping the travelers who I despise was just a means to an end to getting what I want."

"A means to an end?" Elena hisses letting out a weak unamused laugh as she glares at the Petrova woman "Like Xander?"
Alina tilts her head watching as the Gilbert's eyes begin shedding tears again, grinning she leans forward her face barely an inch from Elena's "Aw, you mad I killed your boyfriend? Gotta say the whole thing has been a pain, I'm never gonna get the stink of his human blood off my sweater...and that was a really cute sweater."
As Alina merely ignores the fact that she had killed an innocent man in cold blood and decided to bitch about how his blood and ruined her closes Elena's eyes darken "I will kill you."

"Oh honey...you can't, I'm already dead. I'm here on borrowed time." The hybrid explains "This awesome hybrid body isn't mine yet. You see the deal I made to make me this way and bring me back had some...clauses. I needed the Travelers to lead me to you, all they wanted was your blood. So they are all paid up but in order for me to stay like this...to stay here. I'm only half done."
"What was the first half?" Elena breathes a sudden nervousness filling her as she watched Alina grin "Katherine." The hybrid explains, "I had to hand over the ex-vampire/traveler Petrova. Next is you...the Banshee. But in order to hand you over...I'm gonna need you dead first."

As Alina grabs a small blade off the table she turns to Elena with a wicked grin on her face and an evil glint in her eyes "So how would you like to die? Throat slash? Or I could rip out your heart like your boyfriend—"
Alina is cut off as she is caught off guard and suddenly a hand appears and snaps her neck before shoving her to the ground.
Elena gasps before her eyes widen as she spots Stefan moving towards her quickly biting into his wrist and putting it against her mouth "Come on Elena, we gotta go."

NEW ORLEANS

"It's done." Rebekah announces as she and Marcel head into one of the many libraries of the compound where Freya and Elijah were.
"I'm de-linked from those children, the covers are most grateful..." Rebekah explains with a wide grin before she gestures towards the window where the thunder and lightning was still growing as the storm began to worsen "...and we even beat the rain."
Elijah turns to face the ground leaning against the window he had been staring out of "I trust Davina will play her part?"
Marcel nods a fatherly protectiveness filling every inch of his voice as he speaks "Yeah. Against my better judgment."

"Stop being so overprotective." Rebekah tells him as she turns to face him "If Davina is regent to all covens, she'll be granted the power to resurrect Kol and clout to unite the witches to our cause."
At her playful grin, the vampire smiles slightly before shaking his head "Don't pop the champagne just yet. Dahlia said she'd come for Buffy and the baby and now a storm springs up out of nowhere. You think that's a coincidence?"

"Regardless of her power, she needs to be dealt with." Elijah says strongly as he turns to Freya who was still sat on the couch chanting away in front of a candle "Fortunately, we have a weapon."
As Freya glares up at Elijah Marcel arches a brow in disbelief not trusting the witch who they barely knew "Look, no offense...but are we really gonna put all our eggs in one still kind of mysterious basket?"

Freya sighs in annoyance as she stands from her seat looking in-between the group, none of them looking at her with trustful gazes "I assure you, I am quite motivated to air in Dahlia's defeat. Particularly now that Elijah has forced me to be the bait."
Elijah merely smiles at her annoyed face, she shouldn't be surprised that he would never allow Buffy and Joy to be used as bait. Having Freya with Joy's blood in her system with Buffy's old necklace from her human days which had been spelled with the Slayer's blood was the safer option.
"If we fail, Davina and the witches will take up the task...at the very least distracting Dahlia long enough for Hayley to get Buffy and Joy to the Slayers. The witches that work for them will have the power to shield Buffy and Joy for eternity."

As the wind begins to blow Rebekah sighs and turns to close the window closest to her to keep the rain from getting in. However, as the witch closes the window her eyes widen as she spots the blood on the frame.
"Elijah." She says urgently as she realizes what could have caused blood to get all over the window, and it wasn't a theory that would bode them well if it turned out to be true.
The Original frowns as he moves over before his eyes widen, without another word both he and Rebekah run off to the other side of the compound storming into the room where they were keeping Klaus' daggered body.

Or at least where they had been keeping him.

As Rebekah stares at the now empty coffin she turns to Elijah in a panic "Where the hell is he?"

"He's not the only one missing." Marcel says from behind the pair as he tucks his phone back into his pocket staring at both originals with wide eyes.
"That was Josh and Hayley." The vampire explains "Buffy got out. She and Joy are gone."

Freya's eyes widen in astonishment and she shakes her head while Elijah's jaw clenches "That's not possible." He argues only to be cut off by his elder sister who was angrily staring at him "Her demon side is built to fight against magic." She tells them "If she summoned enough of her demon energy...this wouldn't have happened if you would have continued giving her the serum!"
Ignoring the eldest Mikealson's outburst Marcel frowns as he thinks back to what Josh had said, the demon essence that Freya was talking about, from what Josh had told him it was starting to click.

Elijah not noticing Marcel's inner thoughts putting everything together sighs "Buffy is still weak. She doesn't know the Bayou, Hayley and the wolves will find her."
"She may not be that weak." Marcel says drawing everyone's attention making him cross his arms, this was not going to go down well, there was already a vengeful Slayer and a pissed off hungry Klaus on the loose if the rest of them lost their cool they were screwed "Josh said Buffy's eyes...they were flashing black and she had these black veins under her eyes...Buffy compelled him...and before she snapped his neck she may have... drank from him. Which means, she's at full power. So...pretty sure we're screwed."

After what had felt like hours Buffy groans as she takes cover under a large tree, she was getting incredibly frustrated. The Bayou was still a freaking maze and the storm was not helping to make it any easier.

Glancing around knowing she would have to take cover until the storm had passed the blonde sighs in relief as she spots an old cabin, speeding up to it she listens, smiling slightly as she doesn't hear any heartbeats coming from inside.
Kicking open the door the blonde quickly moves inside shutting the door behind her as she yanks off the waterproof coat.
Pulling Joy off her back carefully the blonde smiles down at the little girl and quickly moves her so she could rest on her hip.
As Joy continues to sleep through the storm Buffy couldn't help but laugh "You really can sleep through anything." She whispers before thunder fills the air again.

Buffy clenches her jaw and moves to the window peaking out at the sky as the storm continues to wage on. Looking out Buffy couldn't help but sigh as she felt that familiar dark energy run down her spine, this wasn't just any regular storm, that she was sure of. There was magic in the air.
Which could only mean one thing...

"Dahlia."

UNKNOWN LOCATION

Thanks to Stefan feeding her some of his blood allowing the Banshee to quickly heal she was able to return the favor giving him some blood so that his strength would return. Honestly, Elena was just glad that they weren't having to hunt for bunnies for Stefan to feed on right now.
Stefan who was at the payphone speaking to Damon glances over at Elena who was sat on the side of the road tears still streaming down her cheeks, he understood how much it was killing her. Watching the person you loved die right in front of you while your powerless to do a thing... crushed you from the inside out, making you feel emptiness you have never imagined possible.

"Where are you, I'll come get you?"

At Damon's question, Stefan sighs looking around the unfamiliar location "I have no idea. We're in the middle of nowhere. Listen, we'll make our way back...but Markos drained most of our blood. Considering the spells he was able to do...with just a little bit..."

"Yeah, I know." Damon moans cutting him off "Find Markos. Kill Markos. Then kill Alina throw in a bit of torture for that one. Then save Mystic Falls from becoming Traveler's homeland. It's gonna be a busy day for me, Stefan. Time to strap on the hero hair." Suddenly there is silence as a loud crashing noise from behind Damon making Stefan frown in confusion "Damon?"

"Sorry, Xander is using his new ghostly powers to annoy the living hell out of me."

At his words Stefan's eyes widen in shock "Wait did you say Xander...but..."

"Alina killed him? Oh, he's dead. He's just...Xander's on The Other Side. Pretty sure he and Enzo are bonding over their mutual hate of me."

At the mention of her dead boyfriend, Elena who was sat on the curb stands and turns to Stefan wiping the tears from her eyes "Did you say, Xander?"
"He's on the other side."

At his words, Elena takes a shaky breath a small hopeful smile crossing her lips "Which means...there's a chance we can bring him back."

NEW ORLEANS

As the hybrid ignored yet another call from Cami he continued glancing out of the window of the tower where Freya used to occupy herself as he watched the storm.
He was currently working out a plan to take down Dahlia as well as deal with his backstabbing siblings at the same time, while also figuring out where the hell they could be keeping Buffy and his daughter. So to say his mind was too preoccupied to deal with his therapist was an understatement.

"My deadline has come and gone and yet you bring me here." Dahlia hisses in frustration as she walks over to the hybrid who was yet to tear his gaze from the window as he watched the storm.
"I find it fitting." He tells her "This is where Freya plotted her own treachery."
The witch merely clenches her jaw in anger as she watched the hybrid who had still yet to even look at her as he spoke "When I granted you the strength to overcome that dagger's curse...I assumed you would thank me by taking swift and merciless action."
The hybrid sighs in annoyance as he finally turns away from the window and moves around the candle-lit room "Am I to traipse around in this monsoon you've created?"

As he turns his back on her the hybrid groans as a wave of pain fills his head, hissing in anger knowing it was Dahlia using her magic.

"This storm is to stop your family from running with The Slayer and The child." She reminds him "So I wonder: are you having second thoughts about standing against them? They are the family, after all, who left you here to rot."

The hybrid's eyes darken at the reminder of his own siblings' betrayal against him, finally turning to face the witch he glares at her anger fuelling his every word "I assure you there are no second thoughts."
"We struck a bargain for the benefit of your child...so that she would be delivered to me safely and be contented by the presences of her mother and father. Shall I remind you of the vision I showed you?"

At her words, the hybrid's jaw tightens as images of Buffy in a white sundress dancing in a beautiful garden with three blonde-haired children filled his mind.
"You wanted that to be reality." Dahlia reminds him taking a warning step closer "But make no mistake, I will take them both with or without you."
The hybrid's eyes darken and he quickly has to refrain himself from ripping her head off at her little threat "Let me be clear about one thing, witch. You need me. I know my siblings better than anyone, their strengths, their weaknesses. They are a powerful and determined lot. Perhaps capable of evading you for the short year you have until your slumber begins anew. You may well lose everything. But I know how to vanquish those who stand against us...and this is exactly what I intend to do."

Dahlia stays quiet for a long moment before she raises her hand and with a flick of her wrist, the storm slowly begins to calm.
"The storm has served its purpose. Now, enough delays. I will take what is owed to me, and if those wolves resist or attempt to run with them...I will kill them all myself."
Slowly a grin covers the hybrid's face as he makes his way to the exit sparing her a glance "I wouldn't worry about that. I have something planned for Hayley and the wolves that's far worse than death."

UNKNOWN LOCATION

Elena and Stefan were walking down the side of the road, while Elena was clinging to hope that Bonnie would be able to bring Xander back Stefan's thoughts were on Buffy.
He had a bad feeling in his gut that something was wrong he just couldn't pinpoint what.
"You thinking about Buffy?" Elena asks curiously as they continue to walk when Stefan nods Elena sighs as she thinks about her younger sister a small smile crossing her lips "If she was here right now she'd probably moan about her boots not being built for long walks."

Stefan couldn't help but chuckle as he remembers back to a time where Buffy had done nothing but moan about getting demon blood on her favorite top, she had a massive cut on her face and hadn't cared she had been more concerned about the top.
"You should see her face after she's been stuck in the Bayou." He tells her laughing softly "Never seen her so annoyed. She was cursing the Powers That Be for messing with her shoes."
Elena smiles slightly as an image of Buffy fills her brain, sighing she looks at Stefan almost nervous about what his answer would be to her next question "Is she...happy in New Orleans?"

Stefan hesitates, knowing that deep down Elena wanted him to say no, but the truth is he had never seen Buffy so free in herself. Despite all the threats with Dahlia she had found her place in New Orleans "I don't think I've ever seen her more at peace with herself since she was resurrected." He admits making Elena's expression fall slightly.
She had to admit it hurt knowing that she hadn't noticed just how out of place Buffy had felt since she had come back from Heaven. Honestly, it made her feel like such a crappy sister realizing that the only reason Buffy stayed was for her. Not Jeremy, Jeremy had been all for Buffy escaping it had been the Banshee that had pressured her to stay so long.

"You have got to be kidding me." Stefan mumbles suddenly causing Elena to spin around immediately spotting the car heading towards them that Stefan had spotted not a second earlier.

As Stefan puts his arm out in typical hitchhiker fashion Elena grabs his arm "Oh no, wait." She says before pulling down her top slightly to show a bit more cleavage before flipping her hair and holding out her arm.
As the car comes to a stop Elena grins "See." She smirks before heading to the driver's side only to freeze as she spots a woman in front of her "Hi...not what I was expecting."

Stefan sighs before moving around intent on compelling the woman "All right, let's cut to the chase you're giving us a ride."

The woman arches a brow in annoyance "You're trying to compel me? Who do you think freed you? Now get in, they're coming for you."

WHITMORE

On the Other Side, Xander was stood beside Enzo as the two of them listened in on a conversation/argument currently going on between the anchor and Blondie The vampire.

"Remind me again why we're eavesdropping?" Xander asks turning to face the Brit, to be honest, he was bored out of his mind right now, The Other side sucked!
Enzo chuckles as he taps Xander's shoulder "Well my dead blood bag friend, I think Miss Bonnie is hiding something. Which stops you and me...mainly me from returning to the land of the living."

Xander's eyes widen and he shakes his head, there was no way Bonnie would lie about being able to bring them back...there had to be a way, there had to be.

"What about Mary?" Caroline asks Bonnie in confusion "Didn't she send you a spell for Liv?"
Bonnie inhales tightly before shaking her head "I lied. Mary said there was nothing she could do unless we sacrificed practically half of Virginia. There's no spell. I made it up. The other side is collapsing and everyone on it...including me and Xander, is going away for good. So no. I don't think you should kill Tyler." Bonnie tells the blonde before leaving Caroline's apartment leaving the blonde vampire in a shocked state.

Xander takes a shaky breath before glancing over at Enzo who looked even more furious than he did a second ago "Looks like we're big with the screwed."
Enzo shakes his head, refusing to give up "Don't count on it, mate."