Ch. 22 – The Last Dance 2x18
A/N: Ok, so here is the introduction of Klaus. I'm hoping you guys were looking forward to seeing Emilia interact with the Original Hybrid because it's pretty interesting. We'll also continue to see this more emotional side of Emilia and get a couple reveals, including why I had to edit some previous early chapters after I had already posted them (Not that any of you were really questioning that). This chapter was supposed to include the return of Elijah, but it was getting way too long to have all of what I planned to go down in that chapter be part of this one. But here's a hint for the next chapter to keep you invested, you are going to see Emilia's background finally revealed.
A/N2: So, I totally lost track of time for a while with this story. Part of it was life being busy. I had updates planned but I lost interest in posting because I wasn't getting reviews. I mean I wrote this for myself but I share it because I like responses. I really want to hear what people think. So, for a while, I was just writing without posting. But I went back and rewatched the show and then I went back and went through the story. And I made some edits, especially to the first season chapters (1-12) including 2 completely new scenes! I would love if you reread those, 1) to help remember if it's been awhile, and 2) to read this updated version.
Omake:
Klaus is in Alaric's body, in the teacher's apartment with Katherine, who is compelled to stay in her chair. Klaus is about to walk out when he walks over to the vampire doppelganger instead.
Katherine whimpers, "Please just kill me. I've told you everything I know."
Klaus leans down to be at her level, "You see, I believe that you believe that," he places his hands on her chair's arms, "but what would you not know?" he asks, looking into her eyes. "What could they be keeping from you? …Hmm…anything?"
Katherine stops avoiding eye contact and nods.
Klaus starts to compel her, "Tell me."
Katherine, compelled, reveals, "They were trying to see if Bonnie could find a way to kill an Original without a dagger."
"Bonnie, the best friend?" Klaus asks.
Katherine sighs and nods.
Klaus stands and crosses his arms, "I thought you said she doesn't have her powers anymore."
"She doesn't," Katherine defends. "Or didn't. I don't know. You kidnapped me remember, I'm out of the loop."
"We'll have to get to the bottom of that," Klaus sighs. "Anything else?"
Katherine tries to think of anything, thinking over all the people in this stupid town, someone she can throw under the bus, but her head starts hurting. She flinches and that gets Klaus's attention.
"What is it?" he asks, leaning down again.
"I…can't," Katherine stutters out. Her brain feels like it's going to explode as she tries to focus on this one person's face.
"What is it? Why can't you?"
Katherine groans and continues to try to push through, "I…she…Emilia!" She sees flashes but each one adds more pressure and more pain to her brain.
"Emilia? Emilia Gilbert, the sister?"
"The twin sister. She…she did something." Katherine falls back, panting after getting that out.
"Twin, really?" Klaus comments. He stands up again. "I guess I have another reason to check on my doppelganger. I have to see about this…twin."
"Please, just kill me Klaus and be done with it," Katherine says.
Klaus scoffs, "And show you kindness?" He leans closer, "I've searched for you for over 500 years. Your death is going to last at least half that long."
He compels her to stab herself over and over again. And then leaves.
End Omake:
"Please sign here," the notary and lawyer says. Ugh, doing this twice is exhausting. Lots of signatures needed from both of us. "And here."
"So this place is all yours?" Bonnie asks. Thank god she is here to make the paperwork go faster. "They just gave it to you?"
"For now," Elena replies, flipping the page, for us to initial another line.
"As owners, we are the only ones who can invite a certain kind of person in here," I explain. "Plus having both of us, means that if anything were to happen to one of us, then the other still has ownership." If only they knew who is exactly is one and who is other. Cause it's definitely different than who everyone assumes.
"Your own personal safe house," Bonnie realizes.
"With all kinds of extra security, and a ton of new rooms," I finish. "The boys have no idea how much they've given me-" A look from Elena- "us." What to do with all my new antiques and books? Ok, technically, I just have the deed to the house and not everything in it, but do they know that?
"That's the idea," Elena says.
"Wouldn't want to clean it," Bonnie comments. Elena and I both chuckle.
And my hand is starting to cramp.
Finally, the lawyer is eventually done, and the papers are notarized and everything, and I can shake out my hand all I want. I swear, I've handwritten essays that were less tiring.
Elena walks the man out with me following behind, ready to finally induct the Salvatore's into the new way of living here at the Boarding House.
Elena opens the door and shakes the lawyer's hand, "Thank you, Mr. Henry." I nod politely and shake his hand as well. And he leaves. I sigh out in relief.
Elena turns to head back inside, but I stay put and watch as both Salvatore's get up and get stopped at the barrier of the door. Oh, that was fun. Damon was walking just slightly too fast and got smashed. Nice.
Stefan clears his throat to signal my sister, who turns and realizes, "I'm sorry. I completely forgot."
"I didn't," I say. The guys turn to me and I flash them a cheeky smile. Hey, I've got to make my own fun sometimes.
"Stefan," Elena starts. "would you like to come inside my house?"
"I would love to. Thank you," he replies. Ugh, you're in love. We get it. They chuckle when he's inside.
I turn to Damon, who is still stuck outside.
"What are we, twelve," he asks.
"One of us is," I say. Meaning me, right now, but let's keep him thinking I called him juvenile. I chuckle and clear my throat, "In order to be let in, you must promise to obey the orders of the owners of this house." Gotta include Elena on that one.
"No," he says, disbelieving.
"Damon, seriously," Elena adds. "My way. You promised." Literally over Elijah's dead body. "I call the shots," she continues. "No lies, no secret agendas." Oh, that one stung. Very glad it's not me out there. "Remember?"
"Yes, Elena. Sure," he finishes very sarcastically, but he does agree. Close enough for me and what I have planned to work.
"Then Damon," I say. "Come in."
He walks in slowly, looking around. Oh, he should be. I've got so many things planned. Such as right as he steps on the entrance way hallway runner, he gets doused in a bucket of water.
All over his leather jacket.
Everyone stares in shock at the spontaneous magic, but I just turn to Bonnie, who has walked up, and we both start cackling.
"Welcome to the new Boarding House, demon," I cheer.
Stefan is trying to hide a smile, but Damon spots it and tells him to, "Shut up," as he walks towards his bedroom, leaving wet footprints behind.
Bonnie, still chuckling, then hands Elena her jacket, and we grab our stuff.
Stefan turns around, asking, "Wait, where are you going?"
"To school," Elena answers.
Damon stops his trek and turns back, "Uh no, we didn't create a safe house for you to leave it."
"Yeah, guys. Klaus is out there. We know that," Stefan agrees.
"Right," Elena says. "But where? No one knows. Look, I really appreciate what you guys are doing. And I'll be able to sleep at night knowing that I'll be safe here, but I'm not going to be a prisoner."
"Plus, it's junior year! Very important!" I point out, "Elena is already in enough trouble for missing as much as she has, and I am not covering her failing grades anymore."
"C's aren't failing, Lia," Elena points out, quieter.
"They are close enough," I grumble.
"C's get degrees," Bonnie comments.
"But not acceptance into proper universities, ergo we are going to school," I finish.
Elena rolls her eyes and sighs. She looks towards the guys who are still not on our side. Stefan cracks immediately but Damon has to be stared down by both of us.
Eventually, he breaks, with the reminder of his wet state, "Your way, Elena."
"Don't worry, I'm ready," Bonnie assures us. "If he shows his face, I can take him. I know how." And that's what I'm worried about. But I'll be doing double duty today as student and as lookout. I figure I can spot him before that card needs to be played.
"The way I see it, next to Bonnie- and Emilia, is the safest place I can be," Elena states. And I'm kind of touched that she took the time to point me out as well. Damn right, she's safe with me.
"Come on," I say. "We're going to be late."
And with Stefan as a last-minute addition, the Elena Protection Squad is off to school.
My head is on a swivel throughout the entire day. Something has got me feeling off and my gut is never wrong. Not anymore. So, I'm frantically trying to focus on all of my lectures, while also trying to pinpoint what, or who, has got me feeling…wrong. Luckily, History class comes, and I am ready to relax in my favorite class, with my (absolutely unbiased, how dare you) favorite teacher.
But something feels off, even as soon as he steps into class.
I'm ignoring Elena's silent argument with Stefan about going to the decade dance. I mean after the last one, with Elena watching me torture a vampire for the first time, I'm not exactly looking forward to this one. But, I gotta give Caroline credit, I do love the 60s.
Bonnie agrees to go, and I know Caroline is going, so I guess I am too.
I see Elena smile at our friend in front of her over my right shoulder and I sigh when she turns to face Stefan on her right side. Luckily, Alaric is walking in as Stefan rolls his eyes in agreement.
"Hello class," Alaric says as he walks in. He stands behind his desk and flips through his gradebook as he asks, "What…are we learning today?" Um, what? Does he not know?
Dana is the one to answer, "With the decade dance tonight, we've been covering the sixties all week." He should know this. Why doesn't he? How hungover is he?
"Right," Alaric answers. "The Sixties." He pauses and stares. It is way too long of a pause and I'm trying to figure out where he's staring. I turn and I see that he's staring at… Elena? He moves before I can really confirm it. He turns to the board. "The, uh, ahem, the 60's. I wish there was something good I could say about the sixties." I think I'm having an aneurism. What the fuck? "But…actually they kind of sucked." I actually choke at that. The people around me give me a look, but no one is shocked. I tend to get emotional about history, especially in the days of Tanner. "Except for the Beatles of course. They made it bearable. Uh, what else is there?"
What else is there?! I am about to stand to start fighting when Elena grabs and pushes me down. I turn to her and she shakes her head. I give her a pleading look, but she just pats me sadly on the arm and turns to roll her eyes at Bonnie and Stefan.
Alaric lists examples, "The Cuban Missile Crisis thing. We walked on the moon. There was Watergate."
I actually have to clench my fists to keep from correcting him. What is wrong with him today?!
Elena corrects him instead, "Watergate was the seventies, Ric." Some of the class turns to stare at her nickname and she falls back in her chair as she fixes her mistake, "I- I mean, Mr. Saltzman."
"Right," Alaric says. His tone is off. "It all kind of mushes up together in here. The Sixties, the Seventies."
"In that case," I say standing up. "I guess I'll teach the class for you." I sit on my desk and I start lecturing. "The 1960s were one of the most tumultuous and divisive decades in American and world history, marked by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and antiwar protests, political assassinations and the emerging "generation gaps" ( – Topics 1960s). Starting with the election of the charismatic John F. Kennedy in 1961, many Americans believed they were standing at the dawn of a Golden Age. However, this golden age never materialized. In fact, by the end of the 1960s, it seemed that the nation was falling apart ( – 1960s history)".
I continue, "The term "The Sixties," as they are known in both scholarship and popular culture, is a term used by historians, journalists, and other academics to describe the counterculture and revolution in social norms about clothing, music, drugs, dress, sexuality, formalities, and schooling; and in others to denounce the decade as one of irresponsible excess, flamboyance, and decay of social order." I sit up taller as I say "Fun Fact: the decade was also labeled the Swinging Sixties because of the fall or relaxation of social taboos that occurred during this time, but also because of the emergence of a wide range of music; from a folk music revival, to the Beatles revolution, to the serious lyrics of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Norms of all kinds were broken down, especially in regards to civil rights and expectations the men would go off to meaningless wars (Wikipedia: 1960s)."
My words start to get even faster as "The Summer of 1969 was in particular a wild time, with the First Woodstock, the Manson Murders, the Stonewall Riots (which is often considered the start of the gay right's movement), and the moon landing all occurring within the same 3-month period."
Elena is the one to shut me down, "Emilia, breathe. We can't understand you when you talk that fast."
The class laughs and I take a moment to glance at Alaric who is staring at me with a very weird face.
Ok, pretend that's normal. I shrug at him, "I'm just saying, anytime you want me to take over, Mr. Saltzman…"
"Yes, thank you, Emilia Gilbert," 'Alaric' replies, stressing my name. He gives me a look before he turns back to the board and class proceeds as close to normally as we can get when Alaric is like this.
(quick A/N: not a historian/history person so all my facts and quotes are from websites. Credit goes to the writers, researchers, and whatnot who contributed to the articles I used)
I spend the last of my study break and most of my lunchtime in the art room. I know I should be regrouping with my friends and checking in. Making sure Caroline is okay with decorations and with the aftermath of compelling Matt's memories away. Making sure Bonnie is coping with her powers and Jeremy isn't stressing out too much about it. Making sure Elena is safe and that all aspects of my plans for tonight are in place. But I'm not doing any of that.
I'm hoping one last thing falls into place instead.
I bide my time painting a 24 x 30-inch canvas. I don't always get the opportunity to paint larger pieces and it's been a while since I worked on this particular piece anyways. I want to finish it while I have the chance. I'm working on the details on the figures when someone walks in.
I glance up and greet him, "Hey there, Al. Long time no see."
He walks in slowly, looking around at the various pieces of work on the walls.
"Hello, Emilia," he says casually. But I know his voice well-enough to detect the hidden edge that's there.
"Are you here to ask me about class today, because you should know better than to keep me quiet," I say to him, smiling politely over the side of the canvas. I focus back on the painting, "I'm not one to keep history hidden. No stone unturned, as I always say, you know?"
"Indeed," Alaric comments, still looking around the room with occasional glances to me. Hmm.
"Or are you here to discuss my most recent test grade. I know a B- isn't great, but you got me with that essay question. I knew I should've studied harder, but you know what's been going on with Jenna and…" I sigh, "Damon. It just slipped my mind."
"That's alright, Emilia. It was a difficult test," Alaric says.
And there it is.
We spend the next few moments in silence broken by my phone ringing.
Text from Bonnie:
K made move. Compelled Dana to give E a message. He'll be at the dance 2nite.
I text her back:
What was the message exactly? Tell me everything that Dana said.
She quickly replies:
Dana said a hot guy asked if E was going to be at the dance tonight. Said she could meet him at the dance. Said his name is Klaus. Called his name stupid but swears he's hot. She didn't know if he was still there, so we figured compelled. Said he wants to know if E will save him the last dance.
I glance up at Alaric who is staring at me and my phone. But when I catch his eye, he is all polite smiles.
I text back:
Thanks, Bon. TTYL w/ plan
I put my phone down and pick up my paintbrush slowly. I start painting but quickly glance at the man chilling against the counters in front of me. I take a deep breath before asking, "Did you hear the latest update?"
Alaric shakes his head, "No, what happened?" He paused slightly too long between his words and his tone is too casual for him to be my stressed-out teacher.
I shrug, "Klaus made his move. Compelled Dana to give Elena a message." I lean to the side to peek over my canvas and easel, "Apparently he had the message include the last dance tonight and the fact that he's hot. How weird is that?"
Alaric smiles all too calmly and says, "Indeed."
I focus back on my painting, "I mean what kind of aggressive, pompous, interfering, quick-tempered, egomaniac would do something like that?" Ok, so a bit of sarcasm bled in there at the end, but overall, I think my comment still hit the mark.
Alaric looks shocked for a moment and covers it by crossing his arms across his chest. "I don't know," he says. Well, someone is looking slightly uncomfortable.
I switch my brush for a finer one and get in close to my artwork to get some of the smaller details in, "I mean, you wouldn't know anything about that. Would you… Klaus?"
Alaric's whole body shifts when he hears his name. Gotcha.
I smirk, "I would say it's nice to meet you, because I'm sure you never heard the words before. But honestly, I was hoping you'd never show."
"How did you-" he starts.
"Figure you out?" I finish. I splash my brush in some water to clean it. I take my time drying it off, "It was rather obvious. Despite the impression of being simple that I'm sure you have of him - you know being a disposable human and all – Alaric is not one to let me have free reign of his classroom." I tilt my head, lift my now cleaner brush up to make sure, and add an affected tone, "Despite how hard I try." I dip it in the white paint and bring it to my canvas, "Plus you failed a series of tests I laid out for you here in this very room and conversation." Each number I list I paint a new spot and detail, "One, Alaric only responds to a few nicknames, Al, is not one of them. Two, I have never said, 'No stone unturned' in my life. Alaric knows that. Three, I'm not usually one to be disruptive in class. I like learning and I wouldn't want anyone to get in the way of that. Which brings me to four," I look him dead in the eyes as I say, "I don't get B minuses." And back to my painting, "Five, Damon, while often annoying and often threatened by me and everyone who has met him, is not currently a source of drama for me. And Six," I place my brush into the water again and step to the side, so for the first time I'm not blocked by an easel, "Alaric would never step inside this art room in his life. He's not one for the smell of paint. The 'famed' Klaus on the other hand…" I pick up a new brush and get back to my painting, "There's rumors of your art skills. The one thing to calm you down after a rampage. You quite literally paint with the blood of you enemies. There's a landscape of yours in The Hermitage. All kinds of stories." I peek over at him, staring at me inscrutably. "I knew that you would come looking for me. It wouldn't take you long to figure out what I was. I figured this would be a good spot, quiet and proves that you are not the person whose body you are using." I lean over for another glance, "And I actually know of possession spells."
Alaric smirks and it looks completely wrong on his face. He's completely dropped the pretenses and now I get my first sort-of look at the Original, Klaus. "Well done." He stands up and saunters around the room slowly, every inch of him looking like the predator that lurks beneath the surface. "I knew someone would figure me out eventually. I had anticipated finding out your little plans before it happened, but I must say well done."
I try to keep painting, but my back tenses as I feel him pass on my right side, "What can I say? I'm a good researcher."
"Are you?" he hums.
I turn to face him directly, "Yes. I am. And you are going to want to hear what I've found."
"Am I?"
"You are," I say, determined as I can be. "Because I know your secrets."
Klaus chuckles, "Oh do you?"
"I imagine you miss you sister, Rebekah. You made it a habit of killing her boyfriends, but after a stint in the 20s, she hasn't been seen since," I say. He goes completely still, rage pouring out of every pore. I stand up taller, my tone getting more questioning, more aggressive. I'm not backing down to him. "What happened to her? Did she get a little tired of running and you had to kill her?"
"I would stop talking if I were you," Klaus says, getting into my face.
"Why? Who wouldn't want to tell the world that you murdered your entire family?" I pause taking the riskiest gamble of them all "Or I guess they aren't really your family, are they?"
Oh, this is a bad plan.
"I SAID, STOP TALKING!" He screams at me, squeezing my throat in his hand and throwing me against the wall. Luckily for me, his supernatural strength didn't transfer. So, I'm only thrown far enough for him to get distance and for me to just hit the wall. I gasp a bit but otherwise, I'm fine. Maybe a couple bruises from hitting a stool.
"I know plenty of your secrets and I'm prepared to tell the world unless you do one thing," I say as I stand up slowly.
"You presume to threaten me," he says, staring me down from across the room.
"Not threaten, bargain," I explain. Ok, my ribs hurt more than I intended.
"I am not Elijah. I don't make deals," he argues. This would be so much easier if you were.
"You haven't heard what I'm asking," I comment.
"And why should I bother to hear what you have to say?" he asks, stepping towards me.
"Because I'm offering you a Petrova doppelganger to sacrifice," I say in a rush.
He stops in his tracks.
"You know that I am one. You and Elijah both recognized me immediately. I will give myself up, willingly, for you to sacrifice. No running, no fighting. A thousand years and you can be free."
"You would give yourself up willingly?" he asks surprised.
I cross my arms against my chest, "I would do anything for my sister." The 'unlike you' rings unsaid in the air.
"Your family is not going to give up that easily."
"Not for Elena, no. You threatened her, they retaliate. There are plenty of plans in the works to kill you."
"But would they not do the same for you?" Klaus asks.
And damn, I flinch. "They don't see the need."
Klaus looks intrigued. Fuck. "And why would that be? Do they not care as much for you?"
Oh, he wants to play it like that? He's not going to get away with it. I'm too used to men playing that card. "What they know won't hurt them," I murmur.
"So they don't know?" Klaus asks. His tone a mix of surprise and amusement.
"You may not be Elijah, but you know the benefit of a good plan," I comment. "You've been waiting for a human doppelganger for 500 years. You think I don't know that you have backup plans for your backups? You think I was just going to let you walk into my town with you knowing that there was a second doppelganger?"
"And what better way to keep something a secret than tell no one?" Klaus agrees.
I shift my weight and take a deep breath. This is getting too chummy and I'm running out of time, "You leave my family and friends alone and you get a doppelganger and your secrets stay that way."
"You must keep a lot of secrets," Klaus comments, scrutinizing me.
"I know a lot of things. Some of that information needs to be kept until the right time," I reply.
He chuckles, "Oh, I bet my brother loved you."
A rush of…something goes through me. Embarrassment, confusion…maybe a bit of something that feels like regret. None of it makes any sense and none of it is worth losing focus over. "We agreed on a few things." One being a plan to kill the man in front of me, but for some reason, I don't tell him that.
"Making deals being one," Klaus points out.
I shrug in response.
Klaus pauses and shifts. He stands taller and walks to me, "But the thing is, I'm not my brother, and I don't make deals. When the time comes, I will sacrifice a doppelganger. I don't care if it is your or your darling sister. But I will have a doppelganger, and there's nothing you can do to stop me." He leans in, "But you and your little friends are welcome to try."
He chuckles as he walks out.
Fuck.
That didn't go as well as planned.
Ok, so this is fine. It's not like the oldest vampire in the world is coming after my entire family while in the body of my favorite teacher/kind-of-uncle. And now he not only knows that I'm a doppelganger, he knows that I am keeping it a secret from my family, so there are plenty of ways for this to go wrong.
Ok, need a plan.
Step 1. I… Um…
Well, what are my assets. Ok, so assets: Bonnie,
But she is going against Alaric, and she has a limit that's basically a Doomsday switch for her. Klaus has compulsion, Original strength and benefits, and witches. He's already pulled off a possession spell and whatever happened with Isobel.
So not looking great in the asset department.
No, I just gotta think.
I need a plan.
Just a really good plan.
I can do this. I've made great plans before and I can do it again.
I can make sure we get out of it... That they can.
No, I can do this. I just have to-
THINK! Think, brain, think!
Oh, god.
I can't…
I can't breathe.
I just…
I need…
My head is spinning.
Klaus. Alaric. Elena. Bonnie. Jeremy. Matt. Caroline. Damon. Stefan.
Elena. Jenna. Alaric. Klaus. Eli-
I need…
I wish…
Oh God, I can't stop thinking.
I can't focus.
I need…Ugh, something! Some-
I can't…
Breathe.
I need to work. I need a plan.
I failed in my last one. But I can fix this!
I have to fix this.
But I… don't know how.
I need…
I wish…
God, why is this echoing in my head?
More faces flash.
Klaus in Alaric. Images of Klaus and his siblings. What Klaus might look like.
Elena. Elena screaming. Her bleeding out.
Bonnie. Bonnie crying. Bonnie screaming. Bonnie getting her powers back.
Dr. Martin. His last moments. His murmured final words.
Why am I thinking of this now?
I need to focus.
I need a plan.
I need…
Oh, I know what he's saying now.
But…I can't.
I can't do that.
I can't bring Eli- I can't touch the dagger. I can't bring him into this. No matter how much Dr. Martin wished me to with his final words.
I just need other options.
I have to- I have to protect Bonnie.
I… have…need…want…
God…
I just… I just…
I can't even admit it to myself, can I?
Useless. Useless. Useless.
A disgrace. A waste of-
No! I need to focus.
I need…
This all rides around…Bonnie.
I can't…
I can't be here anymore
Ok, breathe. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Again. In: 1,2,3… Hold: 1, 2, 3, 4 and Out: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Keep going.
1,2,3…1,2,3…1,2,3,4
Better.
Ok. Back to work.
I ignore the shaking and finally pick up my phone. Wow, 37 new messages. I missed something.
God, it's late.
And I don't have great service. It's gonna take me a while to get back to my car.
I need to get out of these woods and catch up.
I need a plan.
And I guess that means I need their help.
Ugh.
I catch up with Damon. We have barely a few hours and it's rushed but we have a plan. Multiple plans, in my case. Oh, I hate this. But I…couldn't. And I have to do this. I need to protect them.
I'm still shaking when I get ready. Elena and Bonnie don't notice.
I gotta say we do make an imposing group with us all together. Stefan and Damon in dark suits around the purple peace-loving hippie Elena. Followed by Jeremy dressed up in a vest and bolo tie, clutching the neon pink and orange swirled go-go dancer Bonnie like a lifeline. Me and my mini orange-and-white-striped shift dress finalizes the group. All of us looking around and on edge.
Further coupled by the fact that the room goes quiet as Dana goes up on the stage and to the microphone, "Thanks for being here, everybody." There's cheers and applause as we walk through the crowd. "We have a special shout-out tonight. This is for Elena." Oh no. We all immediately tense. I start looking through the crowds. "From Klaus". I spot him, still in Alaric's body, smirking as the lyrics "This is dedicated to the one I love" play around us. I look back to the group before he notices my gaze.
Motherfucker.
Damon rolls his eyes and calls the move, "A lame cheap shot. He's just trying to bait us."
Elena's looking around and comments, "I know everyone here."
Stefan guesses, "Maybe he's not here. He just wants us to believe he is."
"Oh, he's here," I murmur. Even if I hadn't seen Klaus's smug face through Alaric's body, I would know. I can feel the wrongness of the possession spell from here. It feels like something is slightly off-center, just wrong enough to make you notice but hard to actually spot.
Damon gets my mind off of that thought by pointing out, "It's a party, people. Blend. Let him come to us."
Bonnie agrees and drags my brother into a dance, despite his protests. Damon walks away towards Ricklaus. My arm shoots out to stop him automatically, but I miss the moment and he goes before I can come up with an excuse to stop him. I leave Elena and Stefan in the middle of the dance floor with a squeeze to my sister's arm and a mumbled excuse about finding Caroline.
But really, I still can't catch my breath.
I manage to help with a super smooth partner switch. Stefan nods Damon over from his spot at the side of the crowd to catch Elena who was spun in the middle of the dance floor. Stefan wanders over to Caroline and Matt over in another corner of the swaying crowd. I snag Matt for a quick chat by the punch while Stefan updates Caroline. Despite Matt's smiles, he doesn't look relaxed. Maybe he can sense the tension flowing in the room. Either way, I let him go back to Caroline and stand hidden on the side while partners switch again, with Damon stealing Bonnie and Jeremy with Elena at the punch bowl, and conversations flow a few more times.
At one point, I see Jeremy storm off into the hallways with Stefan following behind. I follow a few feet behind. If this is what I think it is, Jeremy may just fall into place. I stay around the corner, just far enough to hear when Jeremy admits that Bonnie channeling the power needed may just kill her. I slide to the ground by some lockers when I hear him. I hate this so much. My brother is agonizing over this decision and it kills me how much this is hurting everyone. But I have something of a plan. And this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
I almost break down when I hear him tear up and say, "What am I supposed to do?"
I'm so sorry Jeremy, but this may just kill you.
I take a few deep breaths before I slowly stand. Keep it cool, Emilia. There's work to be done. A plan to execute and hopefully, friends to save.
Of course, my mini-meditation session took too long and now, Jeremy is gone. I'm following his most likely path, when I overhear in the distance of the quiet hallways Jeremy say, "Okay, seriously. Wrong day, wrong guy." And followed by the unmistakable sounds of fists hitting flesh.
I start running and I turn the corner to find Stefan and Damon running up in the opposite direction to stop three guys attacking my brother on the ground.
"Hey, idiots," Damon calls. And the guys immediately pull out weapons, including a stake-firing crossbow, which is shot into Damon's left shoulder. "Let me guess," he groans, "Klaus says hi."
Stefan flashes forward to attack the middle guy in a white suit jacket. I snag the one on white suit jacket's left. I grab his shoulder to face him towards me. He and his silly tie-dye shirt go down with a couple quick punches to the torso and one to the head, knocking him out. He doesn't even have time to use the gun, that I assume is loaded with wooden bullets, before he's out.
Damon is about to strike the one who used the crossbow with the very same stake used to attack him when I call out to him, "Wait! Don't kill him! They're compelled. They're just a distraction!" I lean over to help Jeremy up. I finish, "We need to find Elena."
Damon throws his attacker into the lockers and runs off in the direction they came from. I shoot a look at Stefan and he runs down the other hallway.
I turn to Jeremy who is wincing, "Ok, we don't have a lot of time, but if you want Bonnie to live, you need to do what I say."
Jeremy's head whips up to stare me down, "Emilia? What?"
"Jeremy! Not the time to question me. I need you to listen!" I interrupt.
He stands up straighter and immediately focuses, "What do you need me to do?"
I grip his arms and detail what I need him to do as quickly as I can. He runs off a few moments later and I take a moment and run the other way. It's time Klaus and I meet again.
I find them in the East Wing, far enough from the gym and isolated. He looks like he's going towards the cafeteria…and the art room.
I find them just in time to see Elena slow down in her steps following 'Alaric'. She looks around and says, "Something's not right here." Bonnie is right next to her and I breathe slightly easier. I can try to protect them from here.
Bonnie asks, "Where's Jeremy?" Oh, so he used that ruse to get them.
'Alaric' stops, and laughs, turning to face us. Well, them but he is still facing my direction. He chuckles, saying, "I just had to get away from that dance. The Sixties, ugh. Whose idea was that? I much prefer the Twenties. The style, the parties, the jazz."
"Alaric," Elena starts to question.
And I make my move, coming in from around the dark corner by the vending machines. "That's not Alaric."
The man in front of us smiles, "Emilia. So good to see you again."
My sister glances over her shoulder to ask me, "Emmy, what are you talking about?"
"See the smarter twin figured it out quite a little while ago," the man says. He looks to me over Elena and tilts his head, "Didn't you, sweetheart?" And doesn't that sound weird coming from Alaric's voice.
I grab Elena and pull her behind me, all of us staring down the man pretending to be our history teacher.
Bonnie stands in front of us, hands up and at the ready to fight him off with magic, "What's going on?"
"C'mon on then, Emilia," Ricklaus says as he leans towards us, staring me down again. "Explain it to them." He stands up straight again. "I'll even give you a hint. As she said, I am not your beloved teacher."
He stares at Elena and raises his eyebrows at her shocked face.
She finally figures it out. "Klaus," she whispers in shock.
He smiles, "Surprise."
"Oh no. No, it's not possible," Elena mutters in fear from behind me.
"It's a possession spell. It's Klaus in Alaric's body," I explain.
He clasps his hands behind his back, "Well done. But relax, Elena. I'm not here to hurt you. You're not on my hit list tonight." His head swings so he is staring at Bonnie. "But you are."
He surges forwards and with a flick of her head, Bonnie sends him into the air and then the lockers. He's left a dent in a few and he's only on the ground groaning. Something's not right. He feels more 'wrong' then just the possession spell.
He stands slowly, "Did I mention that I know a witch? You're going to have to hit me a lot harder than that." Crap. Protection spell. He knows about her weakness. He's going to try to force Bonnie to use too much power. He surges again. This time Bonnie flings her hand out and Ricklaus is thrown into the glass trophy case at the end of the hall.
Elena gasps and I start grabbing Bonnie to pull her back. I need to get her away.
Alaric just laughs, crouched over on the ground. "By all means, Fire away! If you kill this body, I'll just get a new one." He stands. "Maybe Jeremy."
"Run," I command, pushing Elena back and dragging Bonnie with me. We turn around and sprint around the corner. Bonnie throws the doors closed with magic and they take a moment to breathe.
Damon comes up from the doors behind us, "What happened?"
"Klaus is in Alaric's body," Elena explains, winded.
Damon looks confused, "what?"
"He's possessing it or something," Bonnie explains further. I mean I had to explain that to them, but sure, explain to Damon. Brain, this is so not the time.
"Go find Stefan," Damon tells Elena. "Now." She gives me and Bonnie a squeeze before she turns and runs out the doors Damon just came through. He turns to Bonnie when she's gone. "Can you kill him?"
"He has some sort of protection spell on him," she says, shaking her head.
"You have the power of a hundred witches. Break it," Damon tells her.
"It's not that easy," I defend her.
"I'm trying," she says at the same time. "If I kill Alaric, he'll just possess someone else."
"He knows she has these powers and he's trying to kill her," I finish.
"No," Damon says. "Klaus does not get to win tonight, no way. Are you still willing to do whatever it takes to kill him?"
"Damon, no," I interrupt, but they don't listen. Bonnie nods in response. He is about to open his mouth when I interject myself between them physically. "Wait, I have a plan."
It doesn't take long to explain everyone's roles. And the fact that we have to keep it from Elena. It burns me the whole time, but I have to do this. Klaus is not going to stop until Bonnie is dead, so that's what he'll get.
As soon as Bonnie heads to face Klaus - full of determination and Bennett spirit - and Damon heads to intercept Stefan and Elena, I make a break for another wing of the school. I realized early on that I can't- I can't handle this. I can't see Elena's face as she watches our friend face off against that monster and lose. I can't watch as Alaric's body is contorted and broken just to try to hurt the 'soul' of the man inside. I can't be there to watch any of this go down. I'm just too…weak.
I crash into a storage closet just in time to feel Bonnie's magic overpower the school. It crashes against my door until it suddenly stops. And I break into tears.
I did this. I did this to my friend.
And I…I can't…
Oh God. Bonnie, I'm sorry.
Damon is the one to find me what feels like hours later. He doesn't comment on the makeup washed off or running down my face. He just nods sadly, and I take a wet, shuddery breath and stand. I follow him quietly outside, my arms hugging myself as tightly as possible. I make it to the door of the passenger seat before Jeremy is back.
He runs up to me and sees my wrecked face and falls into my arms. We hold each other for a few moments before I can finally manage to ask, "Did you do it?"
He nods into my shoulder. His eyes wetting the fabric of my dress.
I squeeze him tight and let go. I try to rub the tears off his face. His eyes fall closed at my touch and a few more tears slip out. When he opens his eyes, I nod at him and we open our respective seat doors.
The drive from the school is completely silent. The weight of Bonnie's sacrifice and her literal body in the trunk behind us lingers heavily in the air. Our first destination does nothing to fix it. Jeremy and I step out slowly and hesitantly; as if once we cross some threshold, everything will become real. Damon walks out solemnly, but more determined than us Gilberts. He pops open the trunk and despite our intense desire to avoid looking, Jeremy and I can't help but glance at the body Damon pulls out. Jeremy just collapses against me and I stand frozen. It's our parents' funeral all over again.
Damon leads us inside without any hassle. It's an oddly sacred kind of feeling, walking into a space inhabited by the final resting place of a hundred witches. More if I heard the story of how Damon found this place correctly, with Emily Bennett's death being here as well. Bonnie resting along with her ancestors. It doesn't even occur to me to think about the fact that I spent all this time researching how to find this location and Damon is the one who actually found it. There's no time for bitterness right now.
Despite this being part of our plan, it feels we are guided to what was once a living space in this old mansion, but is now a dusty mess of a room, filled with creaky floorboards and a multitude of candles. But it's the room that Jeremy said that Bonnie completed her spell to absorb her powers in, so it's the room that we planned to leave her in. But seeing as Damon and I are leading Jeremy in, despite Jeremy being the only one who had been in the room before leads to a more supernatural explanation for our amazing sense of direction. Especially as the candles and the fireplace light on their own when we walk in.
This is where we leave her. Damon moves forward to place the body on the pallet in the center of the candles. He steps back silently, and we are guided out, the moment unbroken. Jeremy remains behind to sit vigil.
The car ride to the Boarding House continues with the somber silence that is only broken by Elena's exclamation when we walk inside.
"What did you do with her?!" she asks, standing from her chair.
Damon lets all her emotions roll off his back, and asks Stefan, "Will you please calm her down?"
"Don't talk like I'm not standing right in front of you," Elena says, getting in Damon's face.
"Please calm down," he tells her.
"You knew," Elena accuses him. She cries as she throw barbs at him. "Didn't you? You knew that if she harnessed all that power, that she would die. Didn't you?"
"Yes," Damon replies. "Yes, I knew."
I am about to step in when Elena slaps him. On any other day, I would be more than happy to see Damon get slapped, but not today. Not after what's happened.
"Elena," I say, stepping in front of him. "You need to listen to us. You need to hear what we have to say." I try to start explaining, "Bonnie…Bonnie had to…she had to…"
Damon finishes for me, "Bonnie had to die. Klaus using Alaric's body was a total surprise. She wasn't prepared for that. And he wasn't going to stop, and we weren't going to be able to stop him until he knew she was dead."
I step in to explain further, "He had to believe she was dead."
Elena's head flickers between the two of us in shock. Like she can't comprehend what she is hearing.
Damon gives her a moment before he continues, "She cast a spell. Bonnie's okay."
Elena's body collapses back, as if she took a blow to the stomach. She rocks on her feet unsteady. She looks over at me, "She's okay?" she questions.
I pull her in a hug, "She's really okay."
Elena grips me with all her strength as our relieved tears drip down our faces. Stefan passes us as we rock back and forth trying to reassure each other. He follows Damon out while Elena and I continue to bask in our relief.
We move apart when my phone rings from its clip on my thigh harness.
It's Jeremy. Confirming that Bonnie is awake and setting up confirmation.
It takes a few minutes, but we sit down, and I set up the computer to let her video chat with a very alive Bonnie on the other side. The rush that goes through me at seeing her alive and smiling is indescribable. I did it. I didn't fail her. I didn't let her die.
"Bonnie," Elena gasps out.
"Elena," she cries out. "Elena, I'm so sorry." I can't imagine the pain that they both must have gone through with my plan. I couldn't watch as Bonnie 'died' and forcing Elena to watch, unknowing to the true plan, must have hurt Bonnie so much.
Elena chokes out more tears, "It's ok. It's ok." She draws in a breath and smiles, "I just needed to see it for myself."
"There wasn't enough time for me to tell you," Bonnie explains.
"It's okay, seriously," Elena reassures. She looks over to me and I nod back. Elena then turns back to the screen and grabs my hand, "Emmy and Damon explained it all to me."
Bonnie nods in reply.
After a few minutes of apologies and updates on her new secret living situation (including a location change to the slightly cleaner basement curtesy of the surprisingly acquiescent witch spirits), I leave Elena to chat with Bonnie by herself while I clean myself up a bit. I am drained from all the crying and my makeup and outfit is a mess from all the tears. I take my time, showering and changing in 'my' guest room, while also taking every moment to re-center myself. I've been off for days, with all that came from Klaus, John, Isobel, Jenna, and…Elijah. I've been feeling off-kilter for way too long. Klaus is still coming. And now there is nothing keeping him from coming after me or my sister. I can't have another day like today. My head was off and that lead to Bonnie almost dying for real. If my crazy plan had even one thing off, Bonnie could be really dead, and we would have no way to save any of us.
We need more assets. I need to do more research. Like I once told Elijah, I'm not going into a sacrifice without making sure that there is some way that I can protect my sister. I don't want to die, but if that's what it takes, I'll do it. There's plenty of sacrificial magic out there. I just need to find something that would use the power of my sacrifice to protect Elena. I need to do more work.
After a few hours, I creep downstairs to grab some water and hopefully a snack. Instead of food, I find Elena sneaking into the basement. I take a moment to make sure she wouldn't be on the stairs before I quietly creep after her. I hear the clink of a lock sliding unlocked and the creak of a door opening. I breathe as calmly as I can because I really hope she isn't doing what I think she is. I take a few moments to make sure she didn't regret the thought and turn around. That she won't just come right back out, but after a few minutes, I can't deny it anymore. I walk down the rest of the stairs. I hear my heart thud instead of my footsteps the whole walk down the cellar hallway. I take a deep breath as I turn to look inside the open doorway.
My eyes fall first to the desecrated man on the floor. And then to my sister. And then to the dagger in her hand.
"Elena, what did you do?"
A/N: Ok, first update in 8 months. How did I do? What do you think about Klaus and Emilia's interactions?
Please review!