"So which one do I shoot?" Ric asked, eyes set on the t. v screen.

"I don't know, maybe the one running right towards you?!"

"AAAAH!"

"AAAAHHHH!"

"WHERE DO I GO, WHAT DO I DO?!"

"I DON'T KNOW, RIC! I DON'T KNOW!"

"DO I SHOOT HIM?!"

"NO, THAT'S ME YOU JACKASS!"

"Uh... sorry 'bout that."

"YOU JUST SHOT ME!"

"Yeah... sorry."

"THAT IS IT!"

"STOP SHOOTING ME! ELENA! COME DOWN HERE AND CONTROL YOUR SISTER!"

"SHE'S UPSTAIRS WITH CAROLINE AND BONNIE!

NO ONE CAN SAVE YOU NOW, SALTZMAN!"

Ric's phone started to play music.

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, And they're like

It's better than yours,

Damn right

it's better than yours, I can teach you,

But I have to charge

I burst out laughing and dropped the controller. "What the hell is that?!"

His cheeks were pink.

"My alarm..." he muttered before he quickly switched it off and stood, squaring his shoulders as though salvaging the little dignity he had left. "I have to meet Meredith at the Grill."

And he put his controller down before walking out of the house, leaving me lying on the sofa laughing and clutching my sides.

I walked up the driveway to the Boarding House. Elena wasn't at home and neither was Ric. Jeremy would be at school in Denver now so I couldn't call him. Rebekah wasn't answering my calls either so I didn't really have much else to do. I opened the front door to see Elijah sitting in the front lounge.

"Heyya Eli." I said, closing the door behind me. "Did you watch Downton Abbey?"

"Yes." he smiled. "It was a very good suggestion, thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Have you seen Damon or Stefan?"

"Not since yesterday... I was just looking for them now. Why?"

His brow furrowed and he leant forwards. "Rayna, just how much do you know?"

I heard the front door open and close behind me.

"Damon." Elijah said, leaning back in the armchair.

"Elijah." Damon replied, standing just infront of me.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"What have you told her?" Damon asked.

"Nothing." Elijah said before looking at him smugly. "I suppose we have that in common."

"Where's Elena?" Damon asked.

"Where is my mother?" Elijah countered.

Where is Stefan?

Damon's fists clenched.

The door opened again.

"I can't find her anywhere." Stefan announced, coming through.

He froze as he saw me and Elijah. Namely Elijah.

He came and stood next to Damon and in front of me. Protectively? I didn't know, but I did know that he was blocking my view of a particularly good looking original that seemed to be holding some valuable information, so I stepped to the side so that I could see Elijah.

"Hello, Stefan." Elijah said.

"He has Elena." Damon revealed.

I looked at Elijah and tilted my head to the side.

"I don't think his pockets are that big, Damon."

"Actually, she's with Rebekah." Elijah said.

"Wait— are you crazy?!" I asked. "Rebekah won't live to see the sunrise!"

"Elena." Stefan corrected. "I think you meant Elena won't. And I see what you did there with the sunrise thing."

Damon looked at him in an 'are you serious?' kinda way.

"You know?" Stefan asked. "Vampires... Sunrise."

I beamed at him. "Why, thank you. I thought it was pretty good too."

"As you can imagine," Elijah continued. "my sister's just dying to tear her throat out. So, if you want to help me save my sister's life, I need you to help me stop my mother."

"What does Esther have to do with this?" I asked, only to be ignored. "Why is Elena involved in this? What am I missing?"

"I'm a little embarrassed to admit but when it comes to killing thousand year old vampires I'm a little rusty." Damon shrugged.

"Yes well unfortunately even when killed my mother doesn't want to stay dead. Not with the spirits of nature at her side." Elijah glanced at me.

I held my hands up defensively. "Don't look at me. I wouldn't help Esther if my life depended on it."

"What are we supposed to do?" Stefan asked.

"The witches that released my mother... she is drawing power from their blood line. That line needs to be broken."

"So," I said, catching on, "We're gonna try and kill Esther. Can someone explain why?"

Stefan and Damon looked at each other awkwardly.

"My mother wants to end the atrocities she created all those years ago." Elijah explained. "If she kills one of us, she kills all of us."

It took me a while to process this information. I looked at Stefan and Damon. Their faces said it all.

They knew. And they probably had known for a while. "YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?!"

"Look," Damon said, "Rain, maybe now isn't the best time to—"

"MY SISTER MIGHT DIE AND YOU NEVER THOUGHT TO TELL ME BEFORE THAT ESTHER WANTS TO KILL THE ORIGINALS?!" They were all

taken aback at my shouting-voice. Well, all of them except Stefan. He'd heard it with the whole Gloria... hostage situation.

"What does Elena have to do with this?" I asked Elijah.

"She gave her blood to help my mother complete the ritual." Elijah said.

My eyes widened.

Elena would... do that? Help kill five people? Help kill any people at all?

No. Of course she wouldn't... Elijah must be wrong. He has to be. He has to be.

"So you're using her as leverage because you need help stopping Esther?"

"Yes."

"So what do you mean?" Stefan asked. "We have to break the line..."

"Yeah," Damon said. "He means—" he drew a line across his neck.

Stefan looked back at Elijah. "You want us to kill them."

I shook my head. I had to save my sister but I couldn't let Bonnie and her mom get hurt either...

"Yeah, I'd do it myself but I have absolutely no idea where they are and seeing me they'd immediately know my intent, they won't expect to be harmed by the likes of you." Elijah stood. "In any case, you have until six minutes after nine to find them."

"Oh how super specific of you." Damon said.

"By 9: 07 the moon will be full and my mother will have the power she needs to kill me and my family if you do not stop her before then, Rebekah will kill Elena. So we all have our timeline. I suggest you get started."

Elijah cast a glance down at me before leaving the Boarding House.

"We need a plan." Stefan said.

"Any bright ideas?" Damon asked.

Stefan shrugged. They both looked at me.

"Nu-uh. I am not helping you too. I'll save my sister my own way." I said before walking past them.

"We have to work together." Damon said.

I spun around on my heel. "You know what? I don't have to do what either of you say. You don't tell me things and you obviously don't trust me. You'd rather lie to me because you knew I wouldn't want you to resort to murder. But no. No, you had to go mess everything up. I hope you realize that in your blind hatred for Klaus you've signed Elena's death sentence. So, excuse me while I clean up your mess."

I turned around and walked out of the Boarding House, slamming the door behind me.

I stormed down the driveway, but stopped as I heard the front door open and Stefan and Damon flashed in front of me, blocking my path.

"What?" I demanded, folding my arms across my chest. "What could you possibly want?"

"Look," Stefan said. "I'm sorry for not telling you."

"We can trust you." Damon said. "We just don't tell you things sometimes. Imagine how Matt feels."

I rolled my eyes. "Matt isn't in the middle of all of this!"

"We'll get her back. I promise."

"Just don't hurt Bonnie." I sighed.

"Just a sec, Jere." I said as I removed the phone from my ear, to look at my guardian sternly. I had just entered the Grill, and now he was blocking my path.

"Ric," I smiled sweetly up at him. "Please, move."

"No can do, Rain." he replied annoyingly. I scowled up at him. And I do mean up because Ric is very tall.

"Yes, you can do and you will do." Why wasn't he letting me in the Grill? He shook his head.

"Oh, but please, I... I gotta pee!"

He studied me for a moment, before sighing and stepping to the left. "Fine. But afterwards I want you going straight home." he said sternly, and I nodded, before running past him and straight towards the bar, laughing to myself.

I sat down, not noticing the two originals a few seats to the left of me.

"I remember her from last night." Kol smirked. "She looks like a tasty little thing."

"Say another word," Klaus replied, "And I'll tear out your liver."

I put the phone back to my ear as the barman brought me a drink, pretending I hadn't heard the two originals.

"So, how are you feeling?" Jeremy asked.

"I have a headache," I admitted. "And I'm pale... More so than usual. I just feel like I'm being drained."

"You know, I think I know what's wrong."

"Really?"

"You have a cold." I scoffed. "Yeah, because God forbid something normal happens." he said sarcastically.

"I know. I don't remember the last time any of us had a cold. It's more likely that I'm turning into a werewolf, to be honest.."

"What?" he asked.

"Well, you know. Witch, psychic... The next thing without me having to die would be a werewolf."

I could hear Jeremy laugh, and I smiled.

"You know," I continued. "How many other were-animals do you think are out there?"

"Were-cat... Were— squirrel... Were— bunny?"

"Aw, that would mean Stefan would have been eating people all this time. 'Hey, Stefan. Good news, ya didn't kill Thumper! Bad news...'"

Jeremy laughed again. "I gotta go. I'm meeting up with some friends."

"Really?" I asked. "That's great, Jere... I wish I had friends."

"You do."

"No. I have acquaintances and extended family. All of which are either busy or I'm ignoring because they've been lying or they're in Denver."

"Hey! Do not guilt trip me. Who's been lying to you?"

"Better question— who hasn't? Anyway, we've uh, got a plan to sort a current issue. I've been kept out of it 'cause I don't want to know if I'm honest."

"Is Elena okay?"

"... She will be."

I didn't want to lie to him. That would be hypocritical.

"Rayna." he said, using my full name in a parenting tone. "Bye, Jere! Have fun with your friends!"

"RAYNA!"

I hung up and cringed. Jeremy's angry yelling voice was almost as loud as mine.

Which was loud.

Little did I know, Alaric and Caroline were sending each other worried looks from across the Grill. They didn't want me there, but I didn't know this, because I was too busy holding my head.

I put my phone in my pocket before getting up and stopping when I noticed the two originals who were both watching me with very different expressions.

"Join us for a drink?" Klaus asked. His eyebrows were raised, but his eyes looked concerned.

He's only worried because I'm his prophet. He doesn't actually 'fancy' or care about me.

Kol held up his glass to me.

"I'd rather die fo thirst, but thanks." I said before turning on my heel and walking out of the Grill, ignoring the cold feeling inside of me.

I was walking to my car, when I heard my name being called. I turned around to see Klaus walking towards me. Nearly getting hit by a car in the process.

I snorted.

And then, when the car had driven past he continued to walk towards me.

"Rayna!"

"I don't have time for this." I said. I had to get home and figure out what the hell was happening to me. "I'm busy."

"Oh come on! Surely you can spare a few minutes?" he asked, eyebrow raised. He slid onto the bench and looked up at me, patting the seat next to him. "Talk to me. Come on, get to know me!" I think I know you well enough, Klaus. "I dare you." he smirked.

I sighed and slumped down next to him, leaning back in the seat.

I looked at him to see him looking directly at me, his full attention on me. My heart beat picked up.

"So what do you wanna talk about, then?" I asked. "You."

"I thought we were talking about you." I said, raising an eyebrow.

He smiled, what I thought might just have been an actual genuine smile. He shook his head. "Tell me about yourself. Your hopes, your dreams. Your plans for the future..."

"Plans?" I laughed humourlessly, but the pain in my head didn't seem to be there any more. Something told me this was the calm before the storm, so I decided to humour him.

"I used to be able to see myself doing something." I admitted seriously. "You know, something productive with my life? I wanted to do something important. I wanted to be important."

"You are important."

"No. Not because I was a witch, or a Prophet."

He was about to say something, but I beat him to it. "No, I wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer... Something that could actually help people. Mom and Dad always hoped I'd get into somewhere like Harvard. But I don't want to go there anymore. My place is here. I can't do any of that anymore."

"Why not?" he asked me, frowning, still looking at me intently.

"Because you are not the first bad guy to come after my sister, Klaus. My friends? My family? They need me. I have to stay and protect them. I've lost way too many people to turn my back on those I have left."

"You would hardly be turning your back on them, love." he argued. "And you are important. Not because of your abilities, but because of who you are."

I scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"In all my life I've never met anyone like you... You deserve to have the life that you choose."

I frowned and looked into his now soft blue eyes. "No. I don't."

He was about to say something when he put his hand on his heart and stood up. I felt an indescribable pain in my head and groaned, before feeling myself being lifted into a pair of strong arms.

I didn't know what was happening, but I knew that whoever was carrying me, it wasn't Klaus.

And that scared me much more than it should have.

I felt myself being dropped to my feet and wobbled slightly, before regaining my balance and looking up into the eyes of Finn Mikaelson.

We were surrounded by trees, but in a clearing. Was this the witch burial grounds?

I couldn't tell. Everything was spinning.

"Rayna!" Bonnie yelled.

I looked around, seeing a sort of circle on the floor with a star drawn in the center.

I was in the center of the star, and outside of the circle I saw Bonnie standing with her mother, and then there was Esther.

"They are coming, mother!" Finn yelled.

"No. It's too soon," Esther said. "The moon is not high enough. Go! Quickly!"

Bonnie's mother grabbed her daughter's hand. "Come on, Bonnie!"

Bonnie looked at me with teary eyes, neither of us knowing what my part in this was. I nodded to her, mouthing for her to go.

She nodded and she and her mother ran away.

I looked to Esther. "You're draining my powers." I said in realization. "You're draining them and using them to kill your own children!"

"My sons," Esther said, "Come forward." she stepped into the circle, and I spun on my heel to see Elijah, Kol and Klaus.

"Stay beside me, mother." Finn said.

"It's okay." she replied, and I looked at Klaus, my eyes wide. "They can't enter."

"Rayna?" Klaus asked. "What are you doing with her?" he demanded, turning to Esther and Finn. "Let her go." he growled.

He stepped forwards, and the flames surrounding the circle seemed to grow, and the immense pain in my head returned. I gripped my forehead and winced.

"That's lovely," I heard Kol say. "We're stuck out here while the favourite son plays sacrificial lamb. How pathetic you are, Finn."

"Be quiet, Kol. Your brother knows virtue you cannot even imagine."

"Whatever you think of us killing your own children and an innocent human would be an atrocity." Elijah said, looking at his mother with barely contained disgust and hatred.

"My only regret, is that I did not let you die a thousand years ago." Esther said. "Rayna's sacrifice will rid the world of vampires. Hardly an atrocity, Elijah."

"Enough." Klaus growled, fists clenched at his sides. "All this talk is boring me. End this now, and let her go. Or I will send you back to hell."

I started to feel faint.

"For a thousand years, I've been forced to watch you." she said. "Felt the pain of every victim. Suffered while you shed blood. Even you Elijah with your claim to nobility, you're no better. All of you... You're a curse on this earth. Stretched out over generations. If you've come to plead for your life," she said, tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry. You've wasted your time."

Esther started to chant, when the flames once again grew. "Sisters!" she yelled. "Do not abandon me!"

I felt her sucking more power from me. "MOTHER!" Finn shouted.

I closed my eyes, my body falling to the ground.

"RAYNA!"

"She's going to be okay, though, right? I mean... She has to be."

"Yes, Elena. She'll be right as Rain soon."

"Now is hardly the time to make a joke, Damon. She's my sister and she could've died. I should have been there for her..."

"You couldn't have done anything, Elena."

"But still. I wish I had been there. She's my little sister."

"You should go home."

"What about Rain?"

"She'll probably want to stay in her spare room tonight."

"Yeah... Call me when she wakes up. I need to talk to her. Ric'll wanna speak to her as well."

"Sure. You better go. Unless of course you wanna stay with me."

Stefan, who I had not yet heard speak, snorted.

I heard the front door close, but kept my breathing slow and steady as I pretended to still be asleep on the sofa at the Boarding House.

"You okay to babysit?"

"Sure, Damon." Stefan replied in his sarcastic over enthusiastic tone.

"Great."

There was silence, and then— "I know you're awake."

I smiled slightly before opening my eyes and sitting up. Stefan was on the sofa opposite, drinking some amber liquid.

"Didn't feel like answering their questions?" he asked sympathetically.

I nodded. "Can I stay here tonight?"

"Of course."

"Stefan?" I asked in a quiet voice. He quirked an eyebrow. "How exactly did I get back here?"

"Klaus dropped you off, shortly after feeding you his blood."

"Oh." I said. "Guess he didn't want anything becoming of his Prophet." I said before standing and walking towards the staircase.

"Yeah." he snorted, before saying almost bitterly. "That's why."

I decided to ignore that comment, before I turned back to face him. "Stefan, I need you to promise me something."

He looked at me curiously.

"I need you to promise that you'll look after my sister for a few days."

"Why?"

"Because..." I said. "I'm leaving."

"Mystic Falls?"

"I'm going to visit Jeremy in Denver." I looked at him pleadingly, "Please, just look after her."

He didn't say anything.

"Right." I rolled my eyes. "Guess I'll have to talk to your brother."

I stomped up the stairs before coming face to face with Damon.

"Are you sure going to Denver is the best idea? This isn't like you, just leaving."

"My brother needs me." I said.

"Stefan kills less people with you around, and Elena needs her sister. I can't be the only sane person here."

"I need to live my life how I choose." I told him.

He nodded. "Bring me back something good. Not some crappy keyring. I'm talking designer leather."

"You have enough leather jackets."

"You can never have enough lather jackets.

I laughed. "Okay, Damon." I said, standing on my tiptoes to ruffle his hair. "Okay."

Rayna,

Today I did things I abhor to protect the one thing I value most, my family. If anyone can understand it, it's you. I put your family in jeopardy to save mine. Your compassion is a gift, Rayna. Carry it with you, as I will carry my regret. Always and forever.

Elijah.

I folded the letter and put it under the pillow.

After calling Elena, Bonnie and Care who'd all been worried, and calling Ric but receiving no answer, I looked at my phone before shaking my head.

No. I shouldn't call him. What would I say? Thank you?

But that doesn't really cover it. How do you properly thank someone for saving your life?

I was actually pretty annoyed about it. I didn't need saving, and I didn't like to be saved. I would much rather be a superhero than a damsel in distress. I'd actually rather be the villain, to be honest.

Usually, if anyone had saved me, I'd have just given them a hug and thanked them over and over. I was hardly about to do that to Klaus.

So after turning off the lamp, I put my phone on the bedside table and rolled over, pulling the blankets around myself, closing my eyes and drifting easily asleep, hair covering my face.

Until I heard footsteps.

I was still half asleep, but kept my eyes closed as I heard what must have been footsteps in the room. I felt fingers graze my cheek and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. I opened my eyes and sat up, looking around the dark room. There was no one there.

Being too freaked out to go back to sleep, I grabbed my phone and called Klaus.

"Rayna?"

Why did I call him again? I should hang up and if he asks I can say I called him by accident.

"Um... hi."

Idiot.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good. I just wanted to say, uh, thanks. And I'm sorry your mom is such a bitch. Kinda sucks."

"Yes, it is hard to think of Esther as a mother."

"So, um... Goodnight, Klaus."

"Goodnight, Rayna."

I hung up, and put my phone back on the table.

THE NEXT DAY

The ride so far had been quiet, as Stefan drove me to the airport. I hadn't told Klaus that I was leaving, but I had called Rebekah to say goodbye. All my other friends knew though, and though I knew Elena wanted me to stay with her, she was also glad that I could see how Jeremy was doing and fill her in.

So after an emotional goodbye, I hopped into the car with my Ripper friend. The journey had been a little on the awkward side. It was only when we pulled up at the airport that he spoke.

"How long are you staying in Denver for?"

"A few days." I answered. Hadn't I told him this before? "Right. Be careful."

"What was that about having no emotions, Stefan?" I grinned.

"I'm serious." He said. "We wouldn't want you getting yourself killed. Besides, Elena has a tendency to go on a little and she'd be more annoying if something happened to you. So would Damon."

I rolled my eyes.

"I know you have emotions, Stefan." I said before wrapping my arms around his neck.

"This isn't because I didn't tell you about trying to kill the originals, is it?"

"Of course not." I said, before pulling away and smiling. "It's not about that. Or you."

He put a hand to his heart in mock offense, and I laughed. "I need to spend some time with my brother and make sure he's okay. Yunno?"

He nodded in understanding. "Be safe."

"Thanks for the ride, Stefano."

I knocked on the door, looking around the nice neighbourhood. The houses here were taller than in Mystic Falls, and the front gardens were bigger with more trees. This was probably because at home the trees were all cut down to make stakes.

The door opened, and middle aged woman who wasn't much taller than myself looked at me through glasses. A huge grin appeared on her face.

"Rayna, sweety, is that you?!"

"Aunt Margaret?" I gasped. Aunt Margaret was a family friend, the one who was currently looking after Jeremy.

She hadn't aged a day. Not a grey hair in sight, nor a wrinkle.

She looked exactly the same. This was very disconcerting.

"You've grown so much since I last saw you!" the woman shrieked as she pulled me in for a hug. "Not in height, but you've turned into such a beautiful woman."

"Thank you." I smiled.

"Why didn't you tell us you were popping in?" she asked, smiling, releasing me from her death grip. "I don't think I've seen you since the funeral."

I shrugged. "I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Come in, come in. Don't worry about your suitcase. Ross can bring it in. Ross! ROSS!" She yelled in her loud voice.

She ushered me in, and I smiled and waved at her quiet husband, Ross, who frowned at me for a moment, before apparently recognising me and nodding.

His moustache had grown since last time I'd seen him. So it was safe to say that he wasn't a vampire.

He then picked up my suitcase and took it upstairs to one of the spare rooms.

"Would you like me to call Jeremy for you?"

"Nah." I shook my head. "I'll go up and surprise him."

I ran up the stairs to one of the many spare rooms in the large house. I knocked on the wooden door to the room that Jeremy had always stayed in when we visited, and opened it.

He was sitting on the bed playing video games on the t. v. "Rayna?" he asked, grinning. "Oh my God!" He stood up and met me in an embrace. I looked over his shoulder to see someone else that had been playing video games with him.

My grip on my brother tightened and my eyes widened in fear.

He grinned at me, brown eyes sparkling.

Jeremy pulled back and smiled. "What are you doing here?"

I didn't take my eyes off the man sitting at the foot of the bed.

"I wanted to surprise you." I said, my voice sounding distant.

"This is my sister. Rayna. Rain, this is my new friend who I met just today," Jeremy said, gesturing to his 'friend'.

"Kol Johnson."

I looked at Kol with a raised eyebrow. "Johnson?"

Oh, you have got to be kidding me.

OG AUTHOR'S NOTE: A/N— THIS IS NOT A STORY IN WHICH EVERY MALE FALLS FOR THE OC. I saw a Guest review for this chapter stating something along those lines so I thought I would add this on at the end. Rayna is going to Denver, and she will definitely bond with Kol. But not romantically.

I never wanted Rain to be one of those OC's in which all of the males fall for. And she isn't. Sorry for any misunderstandings, but thank you to the Guest for the (not so constructive, but appreciated nonetheless) criticism. I'm glad I can make this clear now:) Aaaaand there we have chapter 14. Thought I might leave it on a bit of a cliffy for you all. I had a choice to make this chapter. Do I make Rayna go to Denver or do I make her stay? So I made her go to Denver. Just to spice things up a bit, and I really like to explore what went on in Denver exactly. It's going to be a lot of fun I can promise you. Did you all like this chapter? How do you feel about the Denver thing? Please continue to review and if anyone hasn't left a review yet some feedback would be great and very much appreciated. THANK YOU to 'grapejuice101' for the help with this chapter. Especially the scene with Damon and Stefan. Check out her profile:) The award for best readers, followers, favoriters, PMers and Reviewers goes to you guys! Until next time.

UPLOADER'S NOTE: AHHH. Its been a while - not that long really, only like 8 days. But hello! I am back to uploading! This semester has been all over the place and it's kicking my butt so far. So, there are 4 chapters left to this fic plus an announcement of the sequel that the original author included in this work. I'll try to upload a few more chapters today for this fic and then start working of the ones for the sequel. Once I have some chapters down for the sequel I'll post ch. 19 here letting y'all know that the sequel is up! But yay! We're supper close to the sequel! I'm really exited too because part of the reason I re-uploaded this was because I wanted to be able to read it whenever and wherever I wanted.