Chapter Twenty-Nine

Parting Ways

Auxor Castle

Southern France

October 2010

Auxor Castle was chased into nighttime by the ferocious, ceaseless thunderstorm. To Kol, it was a sign from the spirits that the Other Side was not done with them. They would not rest until reparations were made, a task he felt was his charge alone.

After his reconciliation with Caroline, they had had a quiet dinner with the family. Though Elijah's death loomed over everything, it was evident some practical decisions had to be made. Over the next few days, their allies would all be leaving. Emmeline and the students were to return to Des Cendres. The Mystic Falls Gang would have to face some very unhappy guardians. And in a display of true growth, Klaus decided to disband his hybrid army and send them back to their families, unless they wanted to remain part of his entourage (sans sire-bond, as ordered by his wife).

The family would remain at Auxor for a couple more weeks to help clean up the messes from the wedding and battles. Then, they would make the difficult journey to Texas to bury Elijah's ashes. A final goodbye.

Kol and Caroline were inseparable for those few stolen hours. After dinner, he had followed her around the castle as she surveyed the damage and distracted him with anecdotes and stories about her childhood. He teased her back lightly, and it was almost like old times, save for the fact that his brother was dead. They had parted ways around midnight. Caroline had gone upstairs to console her husband, leaving Kol all alone in the quietened castle. He took his time meandering back down to the catacombs and retracing their steps back to the d'Ebanne family tomb. Upon reaching it, he strode across the cold crypt to the place where he'd spotted the White Oak Stake.

As he gripped the weapon, his thoughts focused on the two people he was doing this for. The two women who had once mattered more to him than anyone else in the entire world.

Caroline and Mariko.

One last act, and their epic saga would be finished. Memories flashed before him as he stared down at the stake. Caroline showing him his death…building their treehouse…realizing she was never going to give him a bloody chance because she was in love with his brother. And, exactly as it'd played out in Silas' dream-curse, the day of her wedding when he'd confessed to still loving her. He knew as he did it it was probably the most selfish thing he'd ever done, but he had loved her so desperately. Desperately enough to risk his brother's wrath, enough to risk their friendship, enough to take whatever she could give him. He should've never promised to repress his feelings. He should have distanced himself. Instead, he'd tried to keep her as close as possible – a choice with terrible repercussions.

In the few short decades after her marriage to Nik, he suffered in silence, tortured by the fact that she had chosen his brother, dying a slow death inside. But even with all that pain and anger, he'd have done anything for her. He had jumped at the chance to take revenge on those who had wronged Jeanne d'Arc. Not only would it please Caroline, it gave him an excuse to get away from everyone. It had gotten harder to hide his inner turmoil from his family. But during those lonely days of revenge-driven carnage, secretly pining for his brother's wife, he lost touch with his humanity, inevitably causing him to lose control of his bloodlust.

The result was the massacre. He couldn't pin all the blame on his uncontrollable urges and frail mental state, though. If he were being truly honest with himself, he knew a dark part of his soul had wanted to punish Caroline for spurning him. This was the awful, bitter truth, one he'd fail to acknowledge for a very long time. Not anymore. He was done lying to himself.

When she'd returned to her school that night, his senses had returned with a biting vengeance. He couldn't bear facing her after what he'd done. Couldn't handle her looking at him with hatred, betrayal, and revulsion in her eyes. He knew his monstrous actions had made monsters of them both.

And so, he'd run.

Life away from her and his siblings had been mired with misery as he'd languished in self-pitying cowardice. Then he's stumbled upon Mariko Kurosawa, and the young witch had soothed away the torment of the previous fifty years.

At first, he'd been intrigued by the novice, as he often was with any beautiful witch. But he'd soon realized she may be powerful enough to help him, and he'd vowed to help her reach her full potential. Somewhere along the way, he fell for her, hard. Fiercely loyal, dogmatic yet reserved, gifted and inquisitive, determined – she was mesmerizing. Their brief affair had filled the emptiness inside his soul. Her death (or what he thought was her death) was as shocking as it was painful. She had been a bright spot in what had become a colorless world to Kol Mikaelson. Losing her had also destroyed any hopes he'd had of becoming a hybrid.

When Caroline had caught up with him again, he knew he deserved her wrath, but he'd hoped she'd find forgiveness in her heart. For if she forgave him, perhaps he could start forgiving himself. She had not. Instead, she'd daggered him, after revealing herself to be an Original of some kind, a so-called "Carolinian Vampire" – whatever the hell that meant.

He had been filled with a terrible wrath of his own when Katerina told him he'd been abandoned by his family for 116 years. His siblings had given Caroline the dagger and allowed him to rot for over a century. Vengeance would be his.

He had not let it consume him, however. He'd had his fun with Katerina. It had been a wondrous stroke of luck when Pacari stumbled upon them at Versailles. Through the young hybrid, he'd learned that with the assistance of a mysterious witch, Caroline had been reborn into the very thing he had long craved to become: a vampire-witch hybrid. She knew how much he wanted to be a hybrid. His wrath intensified. The desire to inflict as much pain on her as she had on him rose again from within the recesses of his soul, blackened once more. Pacari had unwittingly presented him with leverage – Rebekah had wanted to turn him. Caroline gave him her blood without telling Rebekah. Caroline must know he survived, but hadn't told Rebekah out of a guilty conscience and fear of her anger. He understood his great foe better than anyone.

He bid his time, wanting to strike at the right moment. When he'd finally descended upon New Orleans with Pacari in tow, his plan was to expose Caroline's deception. Of course, he should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

Mariko's sudden appearance had stunned him. His immediate joy upon seeing the woman he had once loved quickly shattered as he realized she had betrayed him in the most gut-wrenching way possible – she had allied herself with his enemy and faked her own death. It only got bloody worse once they were alone and Mariko explained that she betrayed him out of an obsessive love for Caroline that rivaled his own. It was she who had created Caroline's strain, gifting her with magic – the transformation he had wanted Mariko to give him. She was even using Caroline's surname now. Kol had realized the folly of his feud with Caroline. She was always going to win. She knew her ploy with Mariko would crush him. The second great love of his life would always choose his first great love, who, in turn, would forever loathe him.

He had gone to Nik for peace. The daggers were the closest he and his siblings could come to death. Spitefully, he couldn't help one last act of retribution against his family – planting the seed of doubt in Nik's head. It was easy enough. Nik was already doubting his wife because of the Pacari fiasco, and he'd always suspected he and Caroline had had a fling in the jungle. Kol simply…encouraged those doubts.

The long sleep revitalized him, and he'd awoken cautiously optimistic. While it had been fun toying with Caroline and her amnesia at first, it was a petty and short-lived pleasure. The seriousness of their situation had forced him to grow up and let go and realize he had clung to his love for her out of fear of the future. Fear of change. Deep down, he knew he had forgiven her, and figured her pre-amnesia-self had forgiven him. But they couldn't reconcile their past until their foes were defeated and her memories returned.

And now to have his best friend again, if only for a few hours, was incredible. If they had the time, their friendship would become stronger than it'd ever been, without having to reckon with repressed longing and hurt. More than anything else, he regretted how much time he'd wasted with Caroline. He hated leaving her now, just when they had the potential to deepen their bond.

But the sallow, depressed witch he'd talked to earlier in the day haunted him; he could not let Mariko remain the Anchor, especially after she told him she planned on asking Caroline to desiccate her. Caroline wouldn't do it, but he feared she'd pull some sort of self-sacrificing move to save Mariko.

She wouldn't be able to sacrifice herself for Mariko if Kol already had. He'd caused enough damage. It was time for him to step up and make amends for the past. Apologies could only take one so far.

Now was the time to act. Wrenching himself out of his thoughts, he tightened his grip on the stake and followed the sound of the storm up through the subterranean labyrinth until he emerged in the cool night air. He would offer himself to the spirits and let them decide between two choices – they could turn him into the Anchor in Mariko's stead, or they could kill him and turn the White Oak Stake into the Anchor. After all, the power of the Anchor was never meant to be bound to a human's body. Qetsiyah had only cursed Amara out of spite, certainly not practicality.

If they turned the stake into the Anchor, the spirits would be fortifying a cardinal rule of witchcraft – nothing can be truly immortal. His siblings could never destroy the stake, because destroying it would spell unspeakable doom for the Other Side – where Elijah had gone. His siblings would continue to have a weakness; balance would remain.

He paused to study Caroline's birthplace, backdropped against the churning sky; black, purple, and green. In an image straight off the pages of a Gothic novel, a bolt of lightning cracked over the castle, highlighting its ancient fixtures. Specters were shimmering into existence all around him – the Veil was reopening.

Familiar figures swirled around him, but one tiny shape caught his attention. She was standing alone in the middle of the field with her head tilted to one side as she stared up at him. She had olive-toned skin, hair as dark as mahogany, and fathomless black eyes that pierced through his soul. He knew her immediately. As if on autopilot, he crossed the length of the field to stand before her.

It was the little girl from Constantinople; her blood had been the catalyst for his massacre on the school all those centuries ago. His first victim that fateful night.

She continued to peer up at him, waiting, questioning, knowing.

He kneeled at her feet and handed her the White Oak Stake.

"I'm at your mercy, darling."

Wordlessly, she took the stake, but made no other movement.

"Either kill me or make me the Anchor," he whispered. "I'm ready for your judgment, no matter what."

She blinked at him once before disappearing into the darkness.

Kol waited. And waited. And…waited. The lightning flashed. The thunder rumbled. The wind rustled through the trees, while the castle remained absolutely still. The vision Caroline had shown him all those centuries ago replayed in his mind. He was in a bed, surrounded by his family and many other faces he did not recognize. Caroline was kneeling beside him, clutching his hand and shedding tears for his demise. He'd closed his eyes to dissolve into white abyss.

For a very long time, he thought this meant he was destined to be with Caroline. He eventually realized he was wrong. She loved him, but not the way he'd thought. He'd never understood the vision – until now. It wasn't his death. It was the death he would have been awarded if he'd been a good man, a man who hadn't taken hundreds, perhaps thousands of innocent lives. It was the death he was supposed to earn. If he was certain of anything, it was this: he had not earned that death.

The thunder was growing louder. The rain soaked through him. And Kol waited.

Then –

"Brother."

His eyes closed in recognition. "Elijah."

"Hello, Kol."

He looked up to see his late brother standing in front of him, wrapped in a subtle ghostly aura.

"Don't be scared, brother," Elijah said, crouching on the grass and grasping Kol's shoulder.

Kol sucked in a rattling breath. "Oh, yeah, that doesn't sound bloody ominous."

The corners of Elijah's mouth turned up. "I've been sent to deliver the spirits' message."

The younger brother nodded his head, bracing himself.

"You're here to help me cross over, aren't you?"

Two fifty-nine in the morning.

The Undying Witch watched the digital clock on her bedside table dispassionately, her mind numb and her body weak. In a few hours, she'd have been the Anchor for an entire rotation of the planet.

I knew I had something coming for me, but this? It feels a little extreme, spirits. Stupid, uncreative witches…

She'd spent the entire day in bed, wallowing.

Elijah, her old friend, was dead. She'd been in no mood to be around people, but they had come to her anyway. First Caroline and Nik, Pacari next, then Bonnie, followed by Kol, and finally Rebekah, who had apologized for holding a grudge against her for…ever. I guess there really is a silver-lining to everything.

She felt weaker than when Silas had overpowered her in Greece. That felt like a lifetime ago now. She'd gladly go back into the ring with Silas if it meant getting rid of this parasitic presence, this curse. Reliving the death of every supernatural creature on Earth was excruciating.

She didn't care what Kol or Caroline said – this was her life and her body and her choice. She'd force Caroline to desiccate her. They'd been friends since the 15th century; she knew what buttons to push.

She glanced at the clock again – how was it still 2:59? Was it too late to go to Caroline and make her do it now? With a rush of adrenaline, she threw the blankets back and stepped onto the floor, determined to find her friend and demand to be put into a comatose state until she could be fixed.

Behind her, the clock flicked to 3:00.

Mariko's legs gave out as an overpowering sensation slammed into her. She stumbled and braced herself against the wall, preparing for the inevitable. Another death.

Gods, please just let it be a little old witch who died painlessly in her sleep.

But she waited in vain. Nothing happened. She frowned after a long minute and stared down at her hands.

Magic was working through her system… Again. But this time…

No. How is that possible? Am I dreaming?

Outside, the thunderstorm continued to rage against the great castle.

Now I definitely have to visit Caroline.

She started off shakily, but as she made her way down the hallway to the hybrid couple's bedroom, she could feel her strength returning. She rapped on the heavy wooden door until Klaus opened it with a raised eyebrow. He was clad only in black pants that hung low on his narrow hips.

"Mariko? What's wrong?" he asked. He was tired, but alert.

Caroline materialized behind him, wearing a lacy negligee that left little to the imagination.

"Iki? What's the matter?" she inquired worriedly. "Has someone else come through you? Do you want me to numb the pain?"

The witch shook her head. "That's the thing, Care. I don't think I'm the Anchor anymore."

Caroline's lips parted in bewilderment. "What?"

Before Mariko could say anything else, she was distracted by something in the window behind them. She pushed past Klaus to cross the room.

"What the hell is going on down there?" she muttered under her breath.

On the grounds below, the Veil had been lowered once more. Ghostly visitors swirled around a figure kneeling in the middle of the northern field. A bolt of lightning cracked across the violet-hued landscape, revealing the mysterious figure's identity.

"What is he doing?" Mariko breathed.

Behind her, Caroline and Klaus whooshed out of the room.

"KOL!" Caroline yelled as soon as they were out of the castle, speeding across the grounds. He did not move. His head was bowed down, and he was clutching the distinctive White Oak Stake. The hybrids froze in shock when they saw who was kneeled in front of him, clasping his brother's shoulder.

"Elijah," Klaus breathed hoarsely.

Elijah rose to his feet with a smile. Caroline flew into his arms and he swung her around, laughing.

"How are we going to live without you, Elijah?" she murmured once he put her down.

"Oh, you'll manage fine," he teased. "Be sure to take care of my baby brother, Caroline."

She nodded with a small smile. "I will."

"He's going to need it," he said, gesturing towards Kol, who was still kneeling on the grass. Caroline frowned, gave Elijah one last hug, and sat beside Kol.

"Kol?"

Niklaus stared at his older brother with a terrible sadness etched into the lines of his face.

"You're not staying," he accused.

"I can't, brother. The Veil will be lifted momentarily; the spirits have already done more than enough for us tonight," Elijah told him.

Klaus broke eye contact to glare into the trees, trying and failing to force back tears.

"Niklaus, I once told you your soul was weak," Elijah continued. "I was wrong. You are ten times the man Mikael was, and far better than me."

Klaus scoffed. "Then why couldn't I save you?"

Elijah placed his hand on Klaus' arm. "Because you saved Elena. You had Mikael in your grasp, but you saved her. It wasn't about making more hybrids. You chose to save her because it was right. You felt remorse for your actions against her. You sought redemption. And that, brother, means you have redeemed yourself."

Klaus blinked at him, and then they were hugging.

"I can't do this without you, Elijah," he muttered into Elijah's shoulder.

"What, live your life? Of course, you can, Niklaus. You're already living it..." His voice faded as he said it, his arms disappearing.

"ELIJAH!" Klaus cried. "BROTHER!"

But he was gone.

All the spirits encircling them were flickering away. A final crack of thunder shook the earth in farewell as they departed. The rain had ceased. Klaus rubbed at his eyes before turning to look at his wife and younger brother on the ground. Caroline's fingertips were pressed into Kol's hand – the one grasping the stake.

"What the hell were you doing out here?" he snapped. "Why do you have the stake?"

"I didn't want anyone else to suffer. I knew you would try to switch places with Iki or something equally self-sacrificing, Care. And I couldn't live with all this guilt inside me anymore," Kol murmured.

"Are you the Anchor?" Caroline demanded.

"No," he murmured. "Mariko is no longer cursed. They've turned this into the Anchor."

"The White Oak Stake?" Klaus echoed in confusion. "I thought the Anchor had to be a person?"

Kol shook his head. "No. Qetsiyah only made Amara the Anchor as punishment. It should have never been a human being."

Rebekah and Pacari flashed to either side of Klaus, both looking tired and bemused.

"Would someone mind explaining what the bloody hell is going on?" Rebekah groused. "It's the middle of the bloody night."

"We're not under attack again, are we?" Pacari inquired wearily.

Kol handed the stake to his brother, who took it wordlessly. Mariko stormed out of the castle. Finn appeared behind her, easily overtaking the Undying Witch. He paused a few paces away from the rest with an inquisitive expression on his face.

"Nature still continues to demand balance. Destroying the stake would fracture the space between the planes of existence – here and the Other Side," Kol explained lightly. "And so, you must protect the one thing that can kill you."

"What do you mean, 'you?'" Klaus demanded.

Kol smiled at Mariko as she reached them, clutching her chest as she panted from the exertion.

"Feeling better, Iki?" he teased.

She stared at him. "What have you done, Kol?"

"I did what I had to," he shrugged. "Though, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this."

Then he conjured a blue flame into the palm of his hand and watched it dance along his skin.

"I'm a witch."

His family froze in shock.

"If you're a witch…" Rebekah started, her eyes widening. "Are you a hybrid?"

"No, they took my immortality," he said wistfully. "I'm human."

Pacari laid his hand on Rebekah's knee to prevent her from banging it into the table again. She sent him a brief smile before taking another sip of coffee. She was on her fourth cup and showing no signs of slowing down.

Everyone had been floored by Kol's announcement on the field. They'd all spent the past few hours huddled in the kitchen as the new status quo sunk in. First Elijah, and now this. It was unfathomable.

Sage was perched atop the kitchen island, directly across from Pacari. Finn was standing beside her. Her thigh grazed his arm in a casual, but unmistakable display of intimacy. Pacari knew the two had a lot to sort out, but he was confident they would be alright. Sage hadn't loved him for a thousand years for nothing.

Klaus was sat on Rebekah's right side, and for once, he was at a loss for words. He stared down at the table, his expression bleak. Mariko was between him and Pacari. She was just as frozen as the Original Hybrid. Their stillness was juxtaposed against Caroline's constant movement. Pacari's sire was stress cleaning the entire spotless kitchen as Kol hovered over her. She was still dressed in the lacy negligée she'd worn to bed, except she'd added elbow-length, yellow rubber gloves.

"You have to be careful around bleach – too much of it, and you'll hurt yourself," she muttered out of the corner of her mouth.

Kol's eyes widened. "There's so many little dangers!" He seemed a bit too excited by that fact, in Pacari's humble opinion.

Apparently, Caroline thought so too. She whirled around and jabbed Kol in the chest. "Is this funny to you?"

He smirked. "Darling, calm do-"

"Don't tell me to calm down, Kol Mikaelson!" she hissed. "Iki and I would have figured this out – no one needed you to be a martyr!"

His smirk slipped. "No. What we needed was a fresh start. I needed to make amends."

"Seriously? Do you know when I forgave you?"

"Caroline, it doesn't matter-"

"Because it wasn't last night. It was in 1791, the morning after Nik daggered you. I came home after attempting to drown my guilt in alcohol and opium and saw the look on my husband's face. In that moment, I realized what our feud had done to this family. That's when I forgave you."

Klaus laid his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands. Rebekah gripped Pacari's hand. He pressed a kiss into her hair.

A muscle twitched in Kol's cheek. He turned away from Caroline to rest his knuckles against the counter.

"I didn't go out there to earn your forgiveness, Caroline," he murmured.

"Then why did you bloody do it, Kol?" Rebekah snapped, interrupting them.

"Mariko did not deserve to be the Anchor. I had no delusions about the cost of asking for their help. I was willing to make a sacrifice after all I've done," Kol admitted.

Mariko bit her lip. "As grateful as I am, Kol, Care's right – we would have figured something out. Everyone in this room has made choices that will haunt us for the rest of our lives. I had accepted my fate."

Kol shrugged. "It's too late to change things now."

"Is it?" Caroline demanded.

He frowned at her. "What do you mean? I'm pretty sure the spirits are bloody done with me."

She waved him off. "Not them. You're a witch; a human. And I happen to be the progenitor of a strain of hybrids."

Klaus raised his head, his expression cautiously hopeful. Rebekah shifted in her seat to stare at her brother. Mariko raised her eyebrows, while Finn and Sage exchanged a look of surprise.

Kol did not move as Caroline ripped off her rubber gloves and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I can turn you," she whispered. "You wouldn't lose your magic."

Kol smiled at her. He took her hand off his shoulder, kissed it, and held it in his own.

"As flattered as I am by your offer, darling, I think it's best not to tempt fate. The spirits did me a favor by saving Mariko. It was their decision to take my immortality – I should respect that," he told her in a soft voice.

She turned away from him to wrap her arms around her torso.

"Caroline," he said, "haven't you always known-?"

"I'm going to put some clothes on," she sniffed, cutting him off.

"I think you look fine just the way you are, darling."

"Didn't I threaten to eat you if you were human? Remember that, Kol. Remember that," she teased, but her heart wasn't in it. She whooshed out of the room. No one followed her - it was obvious she needed a moment alone.

"Are you sure, Kol?" Sage asked hesitantly. "It wouldn't hurt to try, would it?"

Kol sighed. "No, it wouldn't. But I think I'm ready to change things up a bit. I spent a thousand years as an immortal blood-drinker who wanted nothing more than to reclaim my magic. It would be foolish to look a gift horse in the mouth."

After a few seconds silence, Rebekah stood up quickly, the chair screeching against the tiled floor. She poured herself another cup of coffee.

Kol yawned. "The human here has had a very exciting night. I'm going to take a well-deserved nap." He slapped Finn's shoulder. "Lighten up, dearest family. I'll still be around for another six decades or so."

The tension in the room expanded in his absence. A sob caught in Rebekah's throat. She leaned against Klaus' shoulder, letting the tears flow. He stroked her hair as his own eyes clouded. Pacari tightened his hold on his wife's hand.

"Damn it!" Mariko cried, shoving away from the table. The chair fell on the floor with a smack.

The door opened once more. Emmeline stuttered to a halt as she took in their expressions.

"What did I miss?"

Kol was steps away from his bedroom when he ran into Bonnie. She froze when she spotted him in the hallway.

"Kol," she said, staring at him. "Are – are you okay?"

"Why do you ask, darling?" he drawled.

She paused, her eyes roving over him. "You look like hell."

He held a hand to his heart. "Like cupid's arrow."

He caught her off-guard again by stepping forward to kiss her on the cheek. He couldn't hear her heartbeat, or smell her blood; instead, his senses concentrated on her subtle scent and warm flesh. He felt his own heart stutter from the close contact.

"I'll be seeing you later, love."

As soon as the door closed behind him, Bonnie let out the breath she'd been holding. Every time she was around him, she felt like her skin was on fire. His presence unsettled her, excited her – made her feel alive.

"Bon?"

Jeremy stood on the other end of the hallway. She swallowed, turning away from Kol's bedroom and walking towards her…boyfriend? Things had been pretty unclear the last time they'd spoken. She didn't trust him anymore.

"Hey, Jer," she murmured as she approached him.

They hugged.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded, his strong arms still around her. "Yeah, I'm fine."

The air thickened around them once they separated,

"Uh. I was just going down for breakfast," she said awkwardly.

He huffed out a laugh. "I would steer clear of the kitchen right now. Word is, Riko isn't the Anchor anymore. Kol asked the spirits to turn the White Oak Stake into the Anchor. They did it, but they took his immortality as sacrifice."

Bonnie froze. "What?"

"Yeah," he said, playing with his hair. "So now the Originals are all kinda freaked. The sooner we get out of here, the better. I just talked to Damon; he wants to buy our tickets home now."

She was still trying to process the first piece of information. Kol was human?

"Bon? You coming down? I was about to grab Ty while Damon gets Elena and Stefan."

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Uh, yeah. Actually, wait – no. Jer, I need to tell you something."

She'd decided the night before, tossing and turning in her bed while the storm raged outside. She couldn't stop thinking about the school, and all the other students and teachers she'd met there. The lessons, the energy, the building itself; how much it had felt like home to her. In the short time she'd know them, Mariko, Gita, and Emmeline had become more of a family to her than her own parents had ever been. Her parents had failed her; she didn't owe them anything. For once, she needed to do what was right for her.

"I'm not going back to Mystic Falls, Jeremy."

After standing outside the door for several long minutes, Stefan mustered the courage to knock. He knew she was alone in there, and he knew she was awake. He just didn't know if she wanted anything to do with him.

Elena's face betrayed nothing when she opened the door. She nodded at him, a small smile gracing her features.

"Stefan," she said carefully. "How are you feeling?"

He laid one hand in the doorjamb and rubbed his eyes with the other. "Honestly? Still reeling from finding out I'm a doppelgänger. Trying to deal with the repercussions of Klaus' compulsion. Recovering from Qetsiyah's magic. Hating what all of this has done to our relationship."

She bit her lip. "It's been an eventful year."

He laughed drily. "Yeah."

"I'm so glad Bonnie and Damon got to you in time before Silas died. I wouldn't be able to handle it if…" She trailed off, her eyes on the floor.

"Can I come in?"

Her eyes shot back up. "Uh."

"Listen, I know you're mad at me for how I acted before the Five took me, but I wasn't in the right state of mind. I was just so angry at Klaus I let it consume me."

"Stefan."

"I'm sorry, Elena. So sorry. I hate that I hurt you. I remember everything I said to you while I was under his compulsion. I was awful. But he made me turn it off-"

"Stefan, I forgive you," she interrupted. "And I know why you're here. I…"

She was distracted by something over his shoulder. Before he could ask her to continue, his brother sidled up beside him.

"Sorry – was this a private conversation? You'll have to finish it later," Damon said smoothly. "We need to finalize our traveling arrangements. Jeremy Van Helsing and the Hybrid Boy Wonder are waiting for us downstairs."

Rebekah went to bed early that night. Sleep evaded her, however. Too much had happened in the past 48 hours for her to even think about resting. She rolled out of bed with a sigh and crossed to the bookcase on the other side of the room. She pulled out the thick volume hiding her wedding present from Mariko.

She was sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace, staring at the vial when her husband entered. He pecked her lips before crouching down beside her and looking at the vial.

"What is that?" he asked.

Rebekah did not respond right away. She had been so sure of what she wanted. A week ago, she had four immortal brothers. How quickly things change.

"Is that…blood?" Pacari continued.

She sighed. "It's Silas' blood. The last of the Cure, since the Bennett Witch destroyed all of the blood bags Mariko and Emmeline got out of him."

His eyes widened in shock. He blinked up at her. "Where did you get it?"

"Mariko gave it to me on our wedding night. She knew I've always wanted to be human again," she explained in a numb voice.

He took it out of her cold grasp and placed it on the side table before taking her hands in his. "Do you want us to take it together, Bekah?"

She lost herself in his dark gaze. "I – I don't know, Ari."

He wrapped his arms around her. "You know I'll do anything for you, my one. But I think I deserve to have my say."

She pulled away from him and nodded, her hands pressed into his chest. He rubbed her knuckles with his thumb.

"I have waited to be with you for five centuries, Rebekah Mikaelson. That business in Paris at the turn of the century doesn't count – that was just sex. I finally have you again, as my wife. And you have me, without any doubts or worries. I spent nearly my entire vampire existence chasing you, and you wasted a good portion of yours scared what would happen if we did reunite. Now, that we're together again at last, I don't think we've had enough time. If you don't mind very much, I'd like to just hold you for a moment," he finished passionately, closing his mouth over hers.

She fell into the kiss, drinking him in, clutching him to her. Her chest grazed against his as he lifted her out of the chair, positioning her so she was straddling him. He tilted his head to the side to deepen the kiss, nipping her lower lip as he did. She groaned in pleasure. He stroked his hands down her sides, settling them on her upper thighs. Finally, he pulled away to gaze at her with fire in his eyes.

"As I said, I'll do anything for you. I just wanted you to know where I stand."

She giggled then, her head resting on his chest. "I think it was all I needed to hear, Ari. Besides, it would kill Nik and Caroline. And I don't want to share attention with Kol."

"Then," he swallowed, "do you want to wait a few centuries?"

She raised her head and kissed him firmly on the mouth. "No, my one. Let's give it to Finn. I don't want to hold you for a moment – I want to hold you forever."

The following evening was the farewell dinner. The next day, most would be leaving the ancient castle that had irrevocably changed all their lives. They gathered in one of the modernized inner courtyards which featured a firepit, patio furniture, and heat lamps.

Sage sat beside Finn on a loveseat, listening to Rebekah. The blond Original was attempting to tell Finn the family's story – everything he'd missed in the nine centuries he'd been daggered – but it was a lot.

"And I told you about the First Battle of Auxor yesterday?" Rebekah asked. She'd lost her train of thought as she'd reminisced about courtly love in the middle ages.

"Yes, when you turned Caroline," Sage told her, attempting to hide her grin. She glanced at Finn to find him smirking back.

It was heaven to be with him again. He'd told her his days with Esther and Mikael felt like living on borrowed time. It was only after their deaths and seeing her that he'd finally started to feel alive. In-between all the drama of the past few days, she'd tried to convey to him all the wonders and freedoms that came with being a vampire, something he'd never truly explored before the Five daggered him. She didn't want him to feel cursed – she wanted him to feel blessed. With her.

"Rebekah, if the witches here weren't able to break Niklaus' curse, how did it break?" Finn asked.

His sister waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Not a very interesting story. It just went away one day. He was on the beach with Caroline and Kol. One minute, he could hear the voices, the next, they were gone."

"That's it?" Sage questioned, shocked.

Rebekah shrugged. "It's all bloody rubbish, witchcraft. The rules don't mean anything."

"Watch your tongue, sister." It was Kol. He leapt over the couch to sit beside his sister. "You might be insulting your kin."

She made a face at him before turning back to Finn and Sage. "We were living at Castell de la Vida in Catalonia when his curse broke. We partied for months to celebrate. Some of my best outfits were from that time-"

"My brother has kept diaries to record his life as a vampire," Damon interrupted, joining the small group. "Do you remember your life through your wardrobe, Malibu?"

"I see nothing wrong with that," she said frostily. "I still have the gown I wore the night Kol left us. That was about a year after Nik's curse broke. It's a lovely shade of gold…"

As she sat on the other side of the courtyard with Caroline, Bonnie, and Klaus, Elena was taken aback by the force of her feelings. Not only was she saying good-bye to Bonnie, her childhood best friend, it was unclear when she'd next see Caroline, who had become a huge presence in her life. For better or for worse, all of the Originals had. What was alarming was, after he'd saved her life, Elena realized she couldn't really find it within her to hate Klaus. The fact that they were sitting together carrying on a civil conversation was proof of how far they'd come.

She spotted Stefan over his shoulder, talking to Tyler.

Freed from his sire bond to Klaus, Tyler was returning with them to Mystic Falls. He was going to finish high school to mollify his mother but was considering rejoining Klaus' entourage afterwards. Apparently, he found life adjacent to the hybrid exciting and liberating.

She knew upon their return she would have to give the brothers her answer to the unspoken question that lay before them – the question that had haunted her for longer than she'd care to admit. If she were honest with herself, she already knew who she was going to pick. Now, she just had to do it.

She looked at her best friend, who was sitting beside her. "Are you sure about this, Bon?"

Bonnie patted her knee. "I'm certain. The school… It's where I'm meant to be."

"You'll be both student and teacher at Des Cendres, since you're already so knowledgeable," Caroline said with a hint of pride.

Bonnie smiled at her before whispering to Elena, "I'll visit."

"You better."

Elena wiped her eyes then laughed to see Bonnie was doing the same.

"You always have a place in our home, 'Lena," Caroline told Elena sternly. "If you ever need anything, I'm just a phone call away."

"Thanks, Care. Where is home going to be for you, since you're not returning to Mystic Falls?" Elena asked.

The hybrid couple exchanged a glance. "We're staying here a few weeks, then briefly visiting Texas," Caroline explained. "After that, we're bringing Kol to Des Cendres."

Bonnie raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

Caroline followed Bonnie's gaze to Kol. He was talking to Rebekah, Sage, Finn, and Damon.

"Yes. It's the best place for him," she said in a soft voice. Klaus wrapped an arm around her.

Elena focused on him.

"Klaus – uh. I'd say thanks for saving my life, but you did kidnap me and steal my blood this summer, so-"

"We're even?" he smirked.

She rolled her eyes. "I would call it a truce." She offered him her hand.

He took it. "Text Caroline if you need anything – phone calls can be very disruptive. And if you ever have any spare blood, feel free to send me a bag or two."

"Nik!"

Jeremy wasn't really in the partying mood. The past couple of weeks had been the weirdest of his entire life, and he was more than ready to go home. Besides all the supernatural drama, he had been dumped – and it was likely he'd never see her again. He watched the group from a distance, lurking under a heat lamp.

"Hello, Jeremy." Riko emerged from the shadows like magical Batman.

Her short black hair was pulled into a topknot, and her face was void of all makeup. She looked younger than usual, especially barefooted and clad in an oversized sweater – a stark contrast from her usual attire of combat boots, jeans, and leather jacket. It didn't look like she was in the partying mood, either.

"Uh – hey, Riko. Are you feeling better?" he asked awkwardly. He had not had many reasons to interact with her, but the witch always made him uneasy.

"Much, thank you," she murmured. "Don't be sad your time with Bonnie Bennett has come to a close. You have a full life ahead of you. The skills of the Hunter afford you many freedoms."

"And I won't be compelled to kill vampires?" he questioned, needing to be doubly sure.

She shook her head. "No."

He wanted to ask her more questions, but she was already walking away. "Good luck to you, Jeremy."

Pacari was at the bar pouring drinks for himself and Rebekah when Damon Salvatore walked up.

"You know, I think I'm actually going to miss you, buddy," the younger vampire said.

Pacari grinned and punched his arm. "Likewise. Take care of yourself, mate. Text me if you need any advice."

"From the guy who spent five centuries chasing the same girl? I think I'm good."

"And where did that get me? Oh, right. I made her my wife last week."

"Well, I can't argue that logic," Damon admitted. "Gonna have your hands full with Kol?"

Pacari shook his head in disbelief. "I never thought it would be Kol. We're really going to have to keep our eyes on him – I'm afraid he does not fully appreciate his new condition. Being human is tricky business. Never know when you might asphyxiate from toxic gases then drown in a boiling hot bed of lava."

"Or be shot by your own father."

"Touché."

"You're right, Pacari," Mariko said from behind Damon. "We're going to have to babysit him."

"Look who it is. My second-favorite witch has returned from the dead," said Damon as she joined them.

"I wasn't dead. Just depressed," she clarified.

"Kol really did you a solid there."

She smiled softly. "Yes. He's too good to me."

"High praise."

Damon watched as Bonnie rose from her seat and crossed the courtyard. She paused a foot away from him.

"Hey, Damon," she said, a sad smile on her face.

"Bon-Bon…"

After Bonnie left them to talk to Damon, Elena got up to listen to Rebekah's history lesson to Finn. Alone now, Caroline leaned against her husband and splayed her hand on his chest.

"I really feel it now, Caroline," he whispered after a beat. She knew he meant his heart – grieving Elijah.

"Let me take care of you, Niklaus," she breathed, taking his hands in hers and kissing them gently. "I think they'll forgive us if we Irish goodbye."

No one noticed as she led him inside and upstairs to their bedroom where she turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature. He stripped and entered before it was even hot. She followed him in shortly after. He let her take total charge, washing first him and then herself. It was sensual but not sexual. When they were both clean, she rubbed him dry and led him into their bed. She returned to the bathroom briefly to clean up and brush her teeth. Then she was back, running her hands along his back soothingly as he lay on his side, staring at the wall with his hands tucked under his head.

After several minutes like this, he spoke in a raspy voice.

"Caroline."

She didn't need to ask what he needed. She understood.

A second later, her lips were on his neck, kissing up to his jawline then unto his shoulder and further down. He twisted onto his back and watched as she kissed down his chest to his navel, hip, pubic area, upper thigh. One hand massaged his nipple while the other snaked towards his member. He caught her wrist before she could touch him. He leant up and stared down at her bird tattoo – the tattoo that matched his own. He placed a fluttering kiss on her skin then locked eyes with her. Her eyes widened as he wordlessly brought his other hand down to caress her nub. He dipped one then two fingers into her wet center and swirled them around. After several long moments, he pulled them out to rub the wetness into her nub and nether regions.

Her fingers slid from his nipple to play with the curls at the apex of his thighs. They touched his balls ever-so-slightly, and he groaned. He ran his hand up her body from her nub to her breast, tracing a glistening trail of cum across her torso. He palmed her left breast then lowered his mouth to her right nipple and bit down. She arched into him, mewling.

When she could clearly take no more, he laid her down beside him and wrapped her leg over his hip. Gazing into her eyes, he positioned himself. She wiggled closer to him. He slid home with exquisite, excruciating pace. She rocked back just as deliberately. Their rhythm was entirely unhurried as skin slid against skin. Her muscles stretched and his thrusts grew deeper.

"Niklaus," she muttered, closing her eyes.

"Sweetheart," he groaned back. "Need – need to feel you, all of you. Taste you."

"Take it – it's yours," she swore.

He bit into her neck and felt himself harden as her warm blood dripped down his throat.

"Please, Caroline."

She responded by sinking her fangs into his shoulder.

Their lovemaking was a declaration of their devotion and love for each other. It was gentle, but powerful. When Caroline quivered around him, a quiet moan falling from her lips, he followed shortly after, lightning-like gold strands webbing across his vision.

Downstairs, the party had dwindled down. The remaining guests were gathered around Rebekah, Sage, and Finn.

"And then Nik and I ran into Caroline in Mongolia, but she didn't stay with us – she was still 'finding herself,' such a bloody drama queen," Rebekah was saying.

"And did she? Find herself, that is?" Finn asked.

"She found good sex," Kol butt in. "Went to Morocco, fell in love with a wanker named Saladin, took his virginity, broke his heart, blah, blah, blah."

"You're bloody awful at telling stories, Kol," Rebekah retorted.

"Sister, I'm hurt!"

Rebekah rolled her eyes and turned back to Finn, who was gazing at Sage lovingly.

"Actually, Finn," she said, "I got distracted with all these stories, but I wanted to give you something tonight. A gift."

Finn turned away from Sage to look at his sister with a curious expression. "A gift?"

She pulled the glass vial out of her jacket pocket and handed it to him. "Here, brother. I don't need it," she said with a smile.

Finn stared at the vial, turning it in his hand.

"Is that Silas' blood, Bekah?" Kol asked, shocked.

She nodded silently. Pacari, who was standing behind her, placed his hands on her shoulders. Gasps echoed through the small circle. The Salvatores exchanged a look of surprise. Mariko, who was never shocked by anything, was floored.

"Wait… That's the Cure?" Stefan demanded.

Mariko answered. "Yes. I had put some aside as a wedding present for Rebekah. Since Bonnie destroyed the blood bags, this is all that's left of it."

Bonnie winced. "Er - sorry?"

Finn looked down at the small vial for a long moment before glancing up at Sage uncertainly.

"I'll take it with you, if it's what you really want," she promised.

He frowned. "I don't know that I do. Now that I have a choice… Sage, all I've ever wanted is you."

"You have me."

"Yes, after a thousand years of being parted from you. Everything you've told me about being a vampire these past few days has filled me with an emotion I haven't felt since I was a human."

"Yes?"

"Excitement. I was excited for our lives together – as vampires. I want that life with you, Sage. I want that freedom, to lose my inhibitions and fear of myself."

"You could always hang on to it; use it when you're ready," Sage said in a measured tone.

Finn closed his fist around the vial and shook his head. "I don't think so. Best to break free completely."

He leant forward to give her a deep kiss filled with promise before placing the Cure on the glass coffee table. "It's up for grabs, then."

There was a long silence.

"I'll take it."

Rebekah's eyes widened in surprise when she saw who had spoken. The elder Salvatore brother stepped forward, plucked up the vial, and examined the blood closely before turning around to face the shocked crowd. His gaze focused on the one person who would have been affected most by his words.

"But I won't be taking it alone," said Damon. "Will I, brother?"

The next day, Kol popped his head into the library and found Damon pouring himself a glass of whisky. He, along with his brother, Elena, Jeremy, and Tyler, would be leaving for the airport in less than an hour.

The party had ended shortly after Damon's announcement the night before. Everyone was still reeling from it.

"And so, the Mystic Falls Gang is returning home. You lot are a bunch of adrenaline junkies, do you know that? I'm almost going to miss you."

"Likewise, buddy," Damon quipped back without looking up. Kol entered, glancing at the many grimoires as he walked past the stacks.

"Whisky too strong for the human?" Damon asked.

"Beer was healthier than water in the 10th century, mate. I think my liver can handle it," Kol said drily, plopping down onto a couch. "And when will you and your dear brother be joining me in mortality?"

Damon handed him a tumbler. "We need the power of compulsion to attend to some financial and business matters. Then, we're going to enjoy a wild night in New York before going for one last run through the woods of our childhood and taking the Cure together."

"Very symbolic."

The vampire sat down and took a long draft. He made a face. "I won't be sorry to say au revoir to this house of horrors. Not one bottle of bourbon in the entire drafty castle. Believe me, I've checked."

Kol swirled the amber liquid around. "They're French."

Damon snorted and they fell into a companionable silence. He glanced around the library, wondering vaguely how much his life would change once he turned. His gaze fell upon Kol, who had chosen to chug his whisky. The witch set the empty tumbler on the floor then lay prone on the couch and stared blankly up at the ceiling.

"I know you didn't choose to become a human but is it really that bad?" he mumbled.

Kol started, then twisted around to face him. "You know what's running through my mind right now? What bloody next? Silas is dead, the Anchor is dealt with, my father is ash, and my mother worm food. I've made up with Caroline, sacrificed myself to the spirits, and been forgiven for my indiscretions. There's no war to fight, or land to discover, or government to topple. So…what's next?"

"If I could answer that, I'd probably have stopped drinking a long time ago, friend."

"Fair enough."

Damon considered Kol's words. "Isn't that the point? As vampires, we're just trying to do anything to amuse ourselves, anything to make the days go by. Some of us find meaning, others, just good old-fashioned fun. But humans aren't so concerned with distractions. They're worried about doing as much as they can with the little time they have. And paying the bills. And somehow making it through another day."

"Is that why you decided to take the Cure? Give your life meaning?"

"I only wanted to turn to be with Katherine. Once she was dead (or, you know, faked her death), I had no desire for eternal life. But then my brother forced me to drink blood so he wouldn't be alone forever. We've both been pretty miserable ever since. It's our time – we've punished each other long enough."

A silence filled the room. Kol's dark eyes roved over the vampire for a long moment. "And what happens when Elena chooses one of you? How does that affect your relationship with your beloved brother?"

Instead of answering, the vampire rose to his feet and returned to the bar, where he poured himself another whisky.

"Tell me, is she still dating Stefan? It was quite unclear if they ever officially ended things."

Damon clutched the bottle so tightly it cracked. He set it down and rested his fists on the bar with his back to Kol. "She said she'll talk to us when we're all back in Virginia," he admitted. "Human."

"Waiting to see which one of you she likes better as a human? Sorry to say, mate, but I doubt that will work in your favor."

"You didn't know us as humans," Damon said, grinding his teeth.

"Thank god for that. Gotta hand it to the little doppelgänger, she sure knows how to play you two against each other. She learned that from the best."

Damon smacked his glass across the room and whipped around, his eyes darkening. "You don't know anything about her! Elena is not Ka-"

"Elena is irrelevant," Kol cut him off decisively.

Damon flashed to the couch and sneered down at the witch, his fangs descending.

"What's the term the kids are using? 'Chill?' Chill, Damon," Kol instructed. "It's not about either of the doppelgängers. You and your brother keep falling for the same girl in a subconscious effort to be closer to each other. It's quite touching, really. As humans, you had disappointing and neglectful parents, so you had to take care of each other. What a bloody torturous but beautiful solution you found for yourselves to ensure you always had a reason to be part of each other's lives – loving the same girl."

Damon turned away from him. "Oh, please. You've known us one summer," he retorted in a blasé tone, but Kol knew he was rattled.

"I'm very observant."

"Is that a lesson in Original daycare? Summing up an entire existence in a hundred words or less?"

"You should see Bekah. A natural."

"I'm good, thanks."

"Anytime, mate. Really."

"Why don't you try dissecting the fucked-up dynamics of the Mikaelson brothers? Didn't Klaus and Elijah fight over the first doppelgänger? And you mooned over your brother's wife for God knows how long," Damon instigated, returning to the bar to pour himself a replacement.

Kol crossed his arms over his chest and stared up at the vaulted ceiling. "Cain and Abel. Elijah, as the older brother, felt compelled to prove himself the better man. Nik, the younger brother, simultaneously craved to emulate and outdo Elijah, especially since Mikael hated him so much. He wanted to prove himself to our father. As I said, the doppelgängers are irrelevant – although Elijah might have genuinely loved Tatia, Nik never did."

"And Caroline?"

There was a short silence as Kol adjusted his position. Damon smirked.

"Not so easy when you have to turn the critical eye inward," he quipped, taking a long sip of whisky as he sat down again.

"Accident."

"Accident?"

"There wasn't anything biblical or deep about it," Kol continued. "When they first met, Klaus was a cursed madman and Caroline was thirteen. They didn't even speak. When I met her, she was older, more mature, with a strong sense of self. We both fell for her separately without the other knowing. By the time I realized my brother harbored feelings for her, I already loved her. It was all entirely accidental and incidental."

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

Damon leaned forward in his chair. "I found Rebekah's stories last night quite intriguing – especially when she was talking about Catalonia."

"Ah, the 1100s," Kol drawled. "If I had to rank centuries, the 12th would probably fall somewhere between-"

Damon cut him off. "Why did you leave Spain after Klaus' curse broke?"

Kol barely missed a beat. Barely. "What can I say, I'm a restless being."

"Bullshit. You loved Caroline at first sight, but you never made an advance past friendship. Instead, you left her in Spain with a brother who was obviously infatuated with her. Why?"

Kol squirmed into the couch again.

"You're right – it wasn't biblical. You were forever frozen at what – nineteen? Twenty? You were never going to be emotionally mature enough for Caroline, or any woman. What would you have done with her if you got her? You were too chicken shit to make a move in the 12th century because you were a teenager who did not understand the depth of your feelings. You were a teenager for over a thousand years, and that's why you were never going to beat Klaus. Your mother didn't just take away your magic - she cursed you to a life forever driven by heightened testosterone," Damon settled back into his armchair with a smug look. "That's why I want to be a human again. Time to move on."

"What are you talking about, Damon?" Stefan interrupted impatiently from the doorway.

Damon clicked his tumbler down on a side table as he rose. "Just making a point."

Stefan rolled his eyes. "It's time to go. Flight leaves in three hours."

"Can't wait."

Stefan glanced at Kol, who was covering his face with his hands.

"Uh – see you around, I guess," he said awkwardly.

Kol snorted. "Unlikely."

Damon stood up and started to follow his brother out, pausing at the door.

"So, now the three of us have an opportunity to actually change. I was always a little luckier because I was older, and my mind could adapt. You and Stefan had a tougher hand. I blame Stefan's turning age for the Ripper. Getting stuck at seventeen can be a real bitch."

Kol raised a finger and twirled it in the air in a faint 'Whoop-dee-doo' gesture. Damon chuckled.

"Are you about finished with the therapy session?" Stefan asked in an exasperated tone.

"I've said all I needed to say. You know, I think I've found my true calling, brother."

"Congratulations. Let's go."

"Bye now." With a mocking salute, the elder Salvatore wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulders and led him down the hall.

"Yeah, and good-bloody-luck with that love triangle, mates!" Kol called after them.

West Texas

November 2010

GRACE A. ROSS OWENS

1860-1943

Suffragette, leader, beloved wife and mother. Born into bondage, died free.

And ELIJAH M. OWENS

1861-1943

Her devoted husband. Father and frontiersman.

We know what we are but know not what we may be.

– William Shakespeare

They buried the urn underneath the granite tombstone that housed an empty coffin – the coffin that had been buried beside his late wife's seventy years earlier. Grace's descendants still owned the ranch Elijah had bought all those decades ago. No compulsion had been necessary – the Owens family were bursting with Southern charm and graciously accepted their flimsy tale of being distant descendants of Elijah's. One of Grace's great-great grandsons led them to the graveyard about a mile from the main house. It was nestled at the bottom of the plateau and covered with wildflowers. As per Elijah's request, it was a small and simple ceremony.

Elijah had always kept his will at Des Cendres; Emmeline and Gita had faxed it over while they had still been at Auxor. It was as detailed as it was generous.

To Caroline's great shock, out of his dozens of properties scattered throughout the world, he had left almost all of them to the school, with the request they become "outposts." There was a handwritten note telling her she should no longer fear expanding the school. He had gifted Niklaus his entire collection of vintage wines. Kol was given his library, which included their mother's grimoires – it was almost as if he knew Kol would get his magic back someday. He left Pacari and Rebekah his villa on Lake Como; he'd always hoped they'd reunite. Mariko was shocked when she learnt he had left her a private island in the Maldives. He'd left a note as well, in which he implored her to build a life for herself outside the shadow of the family. This, Mariko intended to take to heart. After placing a rose on Elijah's grave, she said her good-byes.

"Mind if I walk you to your bike?" Kol asked. She agreed.

"Off so soon?" he inquired as they walked.

"Elijah's note was clear. It is time I stop living in Caroline's shadow," she said.

"I wish you all the best, Iki."

She smiled at him. "And I, you. It's going to be a strange adjustment. Do be careful, Kol. Humans are so frail."

He sighed. "I am beginning to understand that. I stubbed my toe this morning. It still bloody hurts."

"Are you feeling remorse for your gorier kills?"

"Well, let's not get carried away."

"No, we wouldn't want that."

"Don't worry, my babysitters will keep an eye on me," he said petulantly.

She glanced back at the family, still gathered around the grave. "It's nice to have someone looking out for you."

He said nothing. They'd reached her bike.

"Caroline's going to continue helping me with my magic," he told her. "And she's offered me a teaching position at the school."

Mariko blinked at him in surprise. "Wow."

"I know, right? Two months ago, she wouldn't even let me know the location."

"Are you going to do it?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Do you think I'd be a good teacher?"

"You could learn."

"Perhaps."

"And Bonnie Bennett will be there, won't she?" she teased knowingly. "You'd both be learning and teaching. You could help each other...in more ways than one."

"Don't encourage me, Iki."

"In all seriousness, Kol, I think you should do it. The girls will love you. Think of it as your ultimate act of redemption."

He did not respond.

She stepped forward to give him a rare hug. "Good-bye, dear friend."

"Any idea of what you'll do next?" he asked as she pulled away and mounted her bike.

"Well, I'm tossing around the idea of destroying the Other Side."

Kol's eyes widened. "And bring back Elijah?"

Her smile was sad and pitying. "I think he'd choose to move on."

He swallowed thickly but nodded. It was true.

"But before I commit myself to such a complicated and spirit-upsetting endeavor, I'm going into semi-retirement for a few years. I deserve it."

"Truer words have never been spoken. Where will you go?"

"The island Elijah just gave me. It's a dream of mine to spend Christmas on the beach. I'm going to drink Mai-Tais and nap in a hammock all day."

"Caroline won't like that."

"I can't make my decisions based on Caroline's happiness. Not anymore."

He frowned. "Good for you."

"Kol?"

"Yes?"

"Just ask me what you want to ask me."

He hesitated. "Do you know she showed me a vision of my death?"

Her eyes widened. "No, I didn't."

"At the Battle of Auxor. It's why I fell in love with her. But after the massacre, I came to believe that it was not the set future, only a possible outcome that my misdeeds had erased. When I went out on the field last month, I truly thought I was going to die, even though it did not match up with what she showed me. I had given up on that future."

"And now?"

"Well now that I'm human, and Caroline is my best friend again, the vision makes a whole lot of bloody sense. So, I'm guessing what she showed me then was the definitive future, no matter what I did. Deserving had nothing to do with it."

Mariko considered his words. "Maybe. Maybe not. It was probably destined either way – by sacrificing yourself for me, you earned it back."

"Interesting."

"Try not to think too much about it, Kol. Waste too much time obsessing over your death and you'll forget to live."

"Fair enough. Until next time, Iki. Which means something altogether different now that my days are numbered," he said in a bewildered tone.

"What did I just say about overthinking? Besides, I have a feeling I won't be able to stay away for too long – I never have," she teased. "This family always finds a way of drawing me back into its fold."

"I used to hate that," Kol admitted.

"And now?" She put on her helmet and gunned the ignition.

He shrugged wordlessly with a reserved smile. She nodded back, and he knew without even seeing her face that she was smirking.

With a great roar from the motorcycle, The Undying Witch sped straight into the Texas sunset, as if in a direct challenge to dusk, daring another day to end. Kol watched until she had disappeared over the horizon; gone.

A/N: Sorry for the delay! I've always known what had to happen in this chapter, but actually writing it proved to be extremely difficult. I hated the first drafts of pretty much every scene. I had to rewrite and edit – a lot.

But only two chapters left now! Thirty is already written, it just needs a few edits. It will be up within the next week, I promise.

The characters had to make some tough choices here (as did I). I hope you liked my twists!

As always, thank you so much for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting.