Have you ever felt like you were just passing through life in a blur? I have. Every. Single. Day.

My phone was buzzing like mad in my pocket. I turned it onto silence after the 6th call from Stefan. I needed some time to myself. I needed to take a moment and process everything that had happened since my return. It was now late noon, as I sat in the Grill, sipping on a latte. Wishing that it would ease my ever heavy mind.

It did not.

'Bzzz'

I turned over my phone to see the screen light up once again. The 11th missed call flashed on the screen, like a floating beaker. Just as I was about you place it back down on the table, it vibrated into my hand.

Stefan's name appeared and I sighed whilst slumping back into the cushioned seat.

I swiped the green phone icon right and answered, "Yes, Stefan. To what do I owe the pleasure?" I cooed into the speaker.

There was a long silence on the line; I straightened my back in the seat, waiting for him to break the long awaited silence.

"Stefan?" I asked.

A long sigh echoed through the speaker, "You better come to the Boarding house. Klaus made a move on Jenna." I fell utterly silent. Everyone's voices from within the grill echoed though my ears as I sat in shock. "Jess…?"

I didn't even reply, my heart spiked as I grabbed my bag and shot-off out of the door before speeding to the house.

Heart pounding and blood pumping, I approached the door to the house and entered slowly. I wasn't sure what I may be met with once I entered. I didn't hang around on the phone long enough for all the gory details. Once the words 'Klaus' and 'Jenna' were said in the same sentence, I knew it had to be something dire.

The house was filled with tension, everyone was on edge, myself included. I walked in; Damon was sitting on the sofa, a glass of alcohol in his hand. He looked at me from the side, raising his eyebrow as he took a sip from the glass.

"What happened?" I asked as I walked in and took a seat on the sofa in front of him.

He shrugged, "Alaric… well, Klaus, was at Elena's, and things went from there. Now she's here and Elena is talking to her"

I knew Elena was here with Jenna. I could hear Jenna talking, yelling and sobbing . My heart ached for them both.

"Where was Elena? Was she home too?"

"No, she was out fraternising with the enemy." Damon shook his head.

"What do you mean?"

"She took the dagger out of Elijah, and let him go. So not only do we have Klaus, we also have a pissed off original that probably wants to kill us too."

I placed my palm on my forehead, "I told you this would come back to bite you in the ass!"

He rolled his eyes. We both stopped the intense stare-off as footsteps came down the stairs.

I smiled at Elena and hugged her tightly, "Hey, how's Jenna?"

"As well as can be expected." She sighed, "I only scratched the surface. There is so much more to tell. I just…"

"It'll be okay, and we're all here for you. The both of you"

"Thanks Jess." Elena replied as she squeezed my arm. "I'll be okay."

She goes to the front door but Damon and Andie are walking towards her.

"Where do you think you're going?" Damon asked Elena sternly.

"Back to Elijah."

"No." Damon replied in one single word. His tone was strong, commanding.

"Get out of my way, D-"

He grabs her arm, cutting her off. "Damon, let her go!" I yelled. He shot me a glare as he held her arm tightly, protectively.

"What? Do you really want Elijah to come for us after what we did to him… huh?"

I shook my head, "I didn't do anything!" I said. "But that doesn't mean you have the right to stop her from leaving the house." A glint of anger clapped over his face. He released her arm against his will and Stefan hugged her loosely before she left the house; the air was thick with tension.

A snarl rose from Damon's chest, "That's twice today you've stood in my way, I wouldn't make it a third." He warned his younger brother.

I turned to Stefan, "Do you think she'll be okay? I said. "I mean, with Elijah. Can we really trust him?" Stefan deflated before answering.

"I-I don't know, Jess." I leaned against the wall as Stefan looked perplexed. I doubted even he believed the words coming from his mouth. "I don't know him that well, but he seemed legit. We just have to trust Elena knows what she's doing."

I lounged around the Salvatore House for what felt like hours, but in reality, it was only 2. Stroking my left hand over the books in the living area shelves, the dust quickly puffed off and dispersed into the air. I loved that they had so many books. I could spend hours sitting in here with the fire burning, sitting in front of it reading. I jumped when I heard the sound of glass smashing in the direction of the library. I quickly sped to the scene. As I shot into the room, I stopped within the door frame as Stefan and Damon were punching each other like animals.

"Hey! Stop!" I called. They broke apart as another voice came into play in the room. I turned around as Elena stood a few steps behind me with a tall, suited man by her side. Elijah. My mouth became dry; my voice became coarse as they slowly entered the room. Stefan began wiping at the corners of his mouth with his thumb and fore-finger, getting the small specks of blood off. "Well… I'll be going now," I said. "Call me later." I looked at Stefan as the panic began to rise in my stomach.

"No." I never even took a step before I was condemned to my spot. "You're staying." Damon spoke from my side as he approached, his eyes never leaving Elijah's.

My shoulders sagged as I felt Damon's presence close by.

Okay, now I'm staying here, a room full of vampires, two humans, and an Original that I helped dagger not too long ago. What could possibly go wrong?

"Now you've invited him in?" Damon spat.

"Elijah and I have renewed the terms of our deal." Elena proudly stated.

"Really?"

"The two of you will come to no harm at my hands." Elijah pointed to Stefan and Damon. "I only ask one think in return."

I swallowed, hard. I was nowhere in the new 'Deal' and it made me uneasy to say the least.

"What?"

Elijah fixed his cuffs. "An apology."

"A what?" Damon repeated in distaste.

Stefan walked further into the room, closer to Elena and said, "I'm sorry for the part I played in your death." He sighed. "I was protecting Elena." His eyes fell upon his beloved as he approached her to the right.

"I understand."

All eyes fell onto Damon, awaiting his 'apology'. Even my eyes fell on him unconsciously. I knew he wasn't going to, everyone knew he wasn't going to for Christ sakes.

No one spoke. The silence was painful.

Elena crossed her arms, "The sacrifice is going to happen, Damon." She said. "Bonnie will be able to kill Klaus without hurting herself and Elijah knows how to save my life." The tears were starting to sting her eyes as she blinked. "I told you I'd find another way. And I did."

"Is that true?"

"It is." Elijah replied.

Damon looked at Elena.

"And you're trusting him?"

"I am." Was her strong reply. She was brave, braver than I ever could be. I don't know if I could put my trust into an Original, after everything that's happened. I don't know how she could be so trusting, but then again, she's always been like that since we were young.

"You can all go to hell." Damon hissed, and then left the room. Leaving his anger behind to linger in the suffocating air.

Stefan sighed, "He's angry with me right now," he wiped his cheek, still removing some specks of blood. "But he'll come round."

"Perhaps." Elijah spoke, his composure never faltering throughout his time in the house and the tense aroma or Damon's disapproval still hung in the air.

I chose to stay the night at the Salvatore's. It didn't feel right going home with everything going on. Also, I just wanted to be in a different environment. Going home just reminded me of everything that had changed since my return. I needed an escape, and Stefan was happy to grant me just that.

I slept in one of the many spare room that the house offered. I lay on the large bed, staring at the ceiling. I was still pissed as I continuously went over the night at the dance.

How could I not have known that was him? How could I have been in such close proximity, and still not notice the difference between Alaric, and Klaus. Well, I wasn't here long enough to be fully accustomed to Alaric, and no one knew anything about Klaus. Other than his brother, Elijah, but we cut that short when we staked him and threw his lifeless body in the cellar to rot.

I knew I was over thinking it, but I couldn't help it. What if it was Caroline? I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her. It was bad enough that it was Elena. She was also like a sister too me.

I sat on the sofa in the living quarters as Elena and Elijah went over the plan of action for tonight. As I drank my cup of tea, Damon sauntered into the room and plopped himself down beside me on the sofa, causing my seat to bounce up and some tea to spill. I shot him a glare, which he only smirked at. I was extra cranky tonight for some reason. The slightest things were pissing me off once again.

"Tonight is the full moon. We should assume that Klaus is prepared to break the curse." Elijah spoke, His eyes subtly making contact with my own, as I patted the wet patch on my shirt from the tea spillage.

"Elena said that the sun and moon curse is fake?" Stefan said. This peaked my curiosity. "That it's actually just a curse placed on Klaus."

"Klaus is a vampire born of a werewolf bloodline." Elijah spoke to the room of listening ears. But once again, his eyes connected with mine as I frowned at his information. I've never heard of such a creature. I've now met a few vampires and a werewolf, and both of them were dangerous alone, never mind combining both at the same time. "The curse has kept his werewolf aspect from manifesting. But if he breaks it…"

"He'll become a true Hybrid…" I spoke into the room, gathering the attention of all present. Elijah turned to me, his eyes full of wonder at my statement.

"How do you know?" Damon asked from my side.

I shrugged, "I didn't," I clasped my mug tighter until I heard the slight cracking of the material under my fingertips. "I took a shot." I admitted and he sniggered.

Damon stood from the seat, "Then why are we letting him break the curse? We can kill him today. With Bonnie."

"Damon." Stefan interjected. "Bonnie can't use that much power without dying."

"I'll write her a great eulogy."

"It's not an option, Damon."

Damon's fists balled in annoyance.

"All right, how do we break the curse?" Stefan asked what I so desperately wanted to know the answer too.

"Well," Elijah once again fixed his cuffs as he spoke. "The ritual itself is quite straightforward. The ingredients, so to speak, you already know."

"The moonstone." Stefan said.

Elijah nodded, "A witch will channel the power of the full moon to release the spell that's bound within the stone. After that, Klaus, being both werewolf and Vampire, will sacrifice one of each."

"Where does Elena fit in?" I asked from the sofa.

"The final part of the ritual." Elijah took a wooden box from the shelf by his side. "Klaus must drink the blood of the doppelganger… to the point of her death." The room fell silent. Damon looked at Elena as Stefan took her hand as she looked at him. Damon's eyes faltered for a moment as his brother done so. Elijah opened the box and took out a jar from within.

"And that's where you come in."

"This is an elixir that I acquired some 500 years ago for Katerina." It took me a moment to remember who the woman was Elijah spoke of. Katherine. "It possesses mystical properties of resuscitation."

"So I'll be dead?" Elena's voice cracked.

"And then you won't." The suited-original clarified quickly.

I heard a snigger from beside me. I turned to see Damon shaking his head.

"That's your plan? A magical witch potion with no expiration date?" He looked at Elena in disbelief. "You want to come back to life, what about John's ring?"

Elena shook her head. "Those rings only work on humans. The Doppelganger's a supernatural occurrence. Odds are, the ring won't work."

"I'll take those odds over your elixir. What if it doesn't work, Elena?"

"Then I guess I'll just be dead." She shrugged nonchalantly.

Damon looked at Stefan and he also shrugged. He turned his attention to Elijah whose body language was unreadable before he left the room.

"How do you know if this will even work, Elena?" I asked as I rose from the sofa. "You're taking an un-reversible risk. And if that fucks up… you will be dead." I half smiled. "Are you really going to take that risk?"

I knew the answer before she parted her lips. "Yes. I am." Just as Damon done before, I left the room without another word. I didn't want to be part of it anymore.

I couldn't.

I had been trying to get hold of Caroline for the past 40 minutes. Every call, straight to answer phone.

What are you doing, Caroline?

I needed to hear a familiar voice, one that wasn't talking about suicide, and by the looks of it, I wasn't going to hear that voice anytime soon.

Hours had passed now, and multiple calls later, I still couldn't get a hold of Caroline. The panic was beginning to settle in the pit of my stomach.

I approached the grill and walked inside and spotted Matt on his phone near the bar. "Hey, Matt!" I shouted as I walked over to him. He hung up his phone rather quickly. I gazed at him as I approached. "Have you seen Care? I can't get hold of her at all." He shook his head.

"No, sorry. I can't get her either." My suspicion began to build.

"Okay, well if you get her, can you please tell her to call me?" I smiled.

He nodded. "Sure."

Ever since the night of the decade dance, he was off. From the interaction between him and my mom, to the way he acted around Caroline and me. It didn't sit well with me at all.

I took a seat at the bar, waiting to be served. Just as the waiter approached me, I opened my mouth to order when another voice spoke over me.

"Bourbon." they ordered.

I turned to me left and there sat Damon and Alaric. I frowned and the worry set in as Alaric was sitting with us.

"Umm… Damon?" I spoke quietly.

Damon looked at me, confused by my worried face. Then it clicked.

"Ohh, no, it's fine. This is Alaric. Klaus let him go." Damon clarified.

The waiter walked back over with their drinks in hand, placing them down simultaneously in front of the men.

"I screwed up." Damon spoke into his drink.

"What do you mean?" I asked. He never answered so I turned to Alaric. "Alaric… what does he mean?"

"Yeah. Yeah, you did." Alaric said as he took a long drink from the glass."

"Yeah." Damon spoke to no one in particular, dismissing my question.

Once the bar tender returned, I asked for a sweet-tea which he retrieved quickly for me.

"Gentleman? Why so glum?"

A thick British accent cut through the air effortlessly. I leaned my elbows on the bar-top to look around Damon and Alaric to see a tall, dirty blonde man standing beside them. His eyes were sparkling; his lips were a blushing shade of pink and his skin was smooth shade of honey.

Wow! Who is this?

"Ugh," Damon groaned. "Klaus, I presume" Damon finally spoke as he placed his now empty glass on the bar.

"In the flesh." Klaus smirked. I moved back and sat firmly in my seat.

This was Klaus? The one that everyone feared? Don't get me wrong, there was an air of power that surrounded him, but he didn't look dangerous, yet, I couldn't calm the fear that bubbled in the pit of my stomach as he spoke.

Klaus looked at Alaric, "Thanks for the loner, mate." He was smart with his words. Calculating even. Damon got up from his seat, leaving me fully exposed and in the line of Klaus' view. I turned to face him, the heat rising in my cheeks as he held my gaze for what felt like an eternity.

"Any reason you stopped by to say hi?" I couldn't thank Damon enough for breaking his heated stare. Klaus closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, his gaze now on the older Salvatore.

"I'm told you and your brother fancy my doppelganger." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Just thought I'd remind you to not do anything you'll regret." His words were like poison. His poison was a silent threat.

Damon broke into a smile at his warning. "Ha. Thanks for the advice." He looked at Alaric and me. "I don't suppose I could talk you into a postponement, by any chance, huh?"

My brows furrowed.

What happened once I left earlier? What had he so badly messed up?

Klaus' lips pressed into a thin, straight line.

"You are kidding?" He looked at Alaric and then me. I couldn't hold his gaze, diverting my eyes down towards my hands that were now sweating as I wiped them on my white jeans. My skin flared with a sudden rush of heat. My skin was hyper-sensitive as I clawed at the thin skin surrounding my wrist. I quickly stood from my stool, pressing my body into the cool wooden bar as I tried to cool my temprature down, unknowing that Klaus had been watching my every move.

"He is kidding, right?" Klaus' tone snapped me out of my daze as I turned to him and the others to see what was going on.

"No, not really." Alaric spoke up.

Klaus' eyes turned dark, and his face fell tense as he sniggered ever-so-slightly.

"I mean, come on, what's one month in the whole grand scheme of things?" Damon's cockiness was riling Klaus up as a vein began to protrude from his forehead and neck.

"Let me be clear… I have my vampire. I have my Werewolf. I have everything I need." He held his arms out in triumph. "The ritual will happen tonight. So if you want to live to see tomorrow. Don't screw it up." Klaus turned and left the Grill, leaving his threat hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

"That was fun." Damon smiled. I punched him hard on the shoulder. "Oww! What the hell was that for, Jess?"

"Are you going to tell me what you 'screwed up'? I glared at him. "What have you done, Damon?"

"I may or may not have fed Elena my blood…"

I sunk back into my seat, completely shocked at his words. "Why? Why would you be so stupid as to do something like that to her!?"

"I was trying to protect her. I was making sure she would come back." Damon's face turned dark. "I was the only one trying to see the sense in this situation."

"Do you know that Elena doesn't want to become one of you… ever?" I shook my head in disbelief at his incompetent actions. His face fell. "Yeah. Well, now you do."

"You think if I took his werewolf out of the equation, she might… Get over the fact that I tried to turn her into a vampire?"

I sniggered.

"I think it won't matter, because you'll be dead." Alaric quipped.

"He's right. You have no chance in hell of getting near any of them."

"But without a werewolf, he can't perform the ritual tonight, which means I would have bought her one more month before the next full moon."

"And you'll still be dead."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Are you gonna help me or what?"

"What do you want me to do?" Alaric replied.

Damon and Alaric had gone to Alaric's apartment where he was holding Katherine for an unknown reason. And to be quite frank, I couldn't give a damn. I just wanted this over with. I wanted Elena to have more time. I wanted us to have more time to come up with a better plan.

Night began to fall over the town; the moon was beginning to rise in the east at a steady pace in the sky. Damon and I were walking in the woods, the ground was uneven and the temperature was beginning to drop, but I still felt like my skin was on fire.

"You okay"?

I turned to Damon as we walked at a steady pace. "Yeah, I'm fine."

As we approached the Fell's church Tomb, there was a man standing at the entrance. He noticed us in an instant. "Which one are you trying to save?" He smirked. "The blonde, or the wolf? Did you really think Klaus would leave them unprotected?"

My stomach sank as the words rolled off his tongue. The blonde. Caroline.

"Damon… it's Caroline. He has Caroline in there!" I panicked.

That's how I couldn't get a hold of her. She was taken. She was captured by a psycho-hybrid and his goons! How did I not notice something more sinister had taken place? I could have helped her if only I had gone home last night; instead I stayed at the boarding house.

Damon held me back, his arm across my stomach as he stepped in front of me to shield me.

"Wishful thinking." He shrugged. Before I could even blink, he rushed over to the witch and pinned him to the ground. "Jessica, Go! Now!" I didn't need to be told twice. Once he was pinned, I rushed over to the entrance of the Tomb, ready to descend the grey-stone bricks, when I was jolted into the air by a mighty force.

"Aghhh!" I screamed. My body was jolted into the air above the clearing. My body collided with a large tree stump seconds later. My body crumpled to the ground in a heap. I could feel the blood dripping down my back and seeping through my shirt. "Ugh!" I clutched at my head. The pain was excruciating, just like when Jonas attacked us in the grill. "Stop! Stop!" I cried into the crisp, chilled air. To my right, I heard Damon also crying out in pain. "D-Damon…" I muttered as I cradled my pounding head.

As I lay on my stomach on the damp grass, a gunshot sounded in the air, and the pain began to subside. My vision was distorted as I clutched the grass and dirt beneath my hands, digging my nails into the ground with anger and pain. I could feel my blood pumping through every vein in my body as my chest heaved with rage.

Hands grasped my jacket and pulled me to my feet. "Are you alright?" I began blinking rapidly to clear my sight; Damon was stood in front of me, hands clasped around my arms, steadying my unsure balance.

"Yeah… yeah I'm okay." I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. "What happened?"

Damon pointed to an unconscious Matt, sprawled on the green ground. "He shot him. Gave me the opportunity to snap his neck." Damon could clearly see the horror on my face at Matt's un-moving body. "Don't worry. He's not dead." He reassured me.

I swallowed a hard lump.

"Caroline!" I called into the air before finally descending the stairs into the Tomb. The stairs were brittle and crumpled under our feet as we rushed down.

"Jessica?" I head her familiar voice call my name as I came into sight.

"Care!" I rushed over to her and tugged at the restraints until they snapped. "Are you okay?" I grabbed her and pulled her into my chest. She buried her face in my neck as she clutched at the back of my jacket.

"I'm okay!" she mumbled into the crook of my neck.

"Come on. We have to get out of here."

"Your boyfriend's outside with a rifle loaded with wooden bullets." Damon informed Caroline as she brushed down her trousers. "You have some explaining to do."

"What?" Caroline and I answered in unison. "What, Matt?" Caroline added.

"Matt knows about you." I diverted my vision to the voice in to the other side of the tomb.

"Tyler?" I looked at him dumbfounded. Then it clicked. 'I have my vampire, I have my werewolf.' Klaus' voice echoed in my head.

"No, I…"

"Shh. Tomorrows problem." Damon cut her off before she could answer.

He's right, this is irrelevant right now. We had to go.

"Let's just get out of here." I said to the room.

"Wait. Damon no! I'm not leaving without him."

Damon looked at his watch. "Ohh. It's getting dark quickly." He looked at Tyler who was still chained to the wall. "How fast can you get the hell away from here?"

"I need to get to my family's cellar. I can lock myself up." Tyler answered.

"I'll help." Caroline spoke from beside me.

Damon walked over to him and crouched down. "Don't make me regret this." He said as he broke the chains and Tyler got to his feet, rubbing at his wrists.

As we left the Tomb, night had fully descended over the town and in the centre of the sky, a full moon shone bright as Matt began to stir from where he lay on the ground. Caroline rushed over to him. "Hey, Matt!" She turned and looked at Damon. "Hey. Did you hit him?!"

Damon rolled his eyes. "Did you already forget about the part with the gun and wooden bullets?" before she could answer from where she crouched, Tyler released a painful growl and held his chest tightly as he looked up at the moon in the clear sky.

"Tyler? Tyler?" I spoke softly, not knowing what was happening.

"It's starting." he gasped.

"We need to move, now!" Damon yelled. "Right now!" Tyler began to wince in pain as his transition was beginning. "Grab boy wonder and let's go."

"Come on." Caroline grabbed Matt from the ground and we all left the grounds of the Tomb.

As we walked the pace gradually began to slow more and more as Tyler continued to transition.

"What's happening? Is he okay?" Matt asked as we slowed even more.

"He better not wolf-out on us." Damon threw into the air and I rolled my eyes at his remark. I had never seen a wolf transition before. I was equal parts intrigued and horrified at the same time. His phone began to ring as we now stopped walking altogether. "Bad time, little bro." Stefan spoke to Damon through the phone. I couldn't make out what was said because Tyler started to wince in more pain. "Saving the day. I figured you'd understand. Just tell Elena to stay put." A silence fell over the group. Damon turned to face me. Eyes filled with worry and pain. "What?" he grunted. "I'll take care of it." He hung up the call.

As he hit the button to end the call, Tyler fell to the ground, doubled over in pain, as he clenched his stomach with his arms.

"Tyler!" Matt called for his friend.

"I don't know if I can hold it. Get out of here."

"Tyler… it'll be okay." Caroline spoke softly.

"Go!" He yelled.

"You've got time. We're almost there, just…"

"It's happening faster."

Caroline huffed, "Tyler, it's okay."

He never answered this time; instead, he cracked his back on the ground and looked up. His eyes were a bright yellow hue, glowing in the dark. He pounced at Caroline but Damon intercepted as I grabbed her, pulling her out of the way. Tyler and Damon both crash to the ground, one on top of the other. "Damon!" I yelled. Damon was on his back and Tyler was above him as I heard a snap of Tyler's jaw before he fell to the side and Damon got to his feet.

"Damon…" I spoke quietly.

He looked at me, "I'm fine." he reassured me.

"Get out of here!" Tyler screeched from the dirt at our feet.

"Get to the Lockwood cellar. If it held him in, it'll keep him out. If it doesn't… use these." Damon gave Matt the wooden bullets he emptied out the rifle back at the Tomb. Matt immediately loaded the rifle. "It'll buy you a couple of seconds. Go. Go!"

Caroline pulled on my jacket sleeve to pull me along with her and Matt but I pulled her hand off. "I have to help Damon, Care." I smiled at her as her eyes pooled with tears that threatened to fall any moment. We broke out gaze as Tyler growled from the ground once more, his bones cracking as his body contorted into unforgiving shapes. "Caroline… go." I told her one last time and hugged her tightly. She nodded and disappeared with Matt in tow.

I turned to Damon, who was facing away, unaware that I was stood there. He turned around as he thought all of us had left, but he was surprised when he saw me standing before him.

"Jess? What the hell are you doing? Go!" He told me. "Tyler is gonna be a full blown werewolf in a matter of seconds."

I nodded, "I know. So why are we standing here like a pair of assholes." I half smiled. "And I'ts Jessica, to you."

He smiled.

Had I done the right thing? Leaving Caroline and Matt, alone in the woods, with a Werewolf on the loose and out for blood. No. I couldn't think of that right now I could only have faith that they've gotten to the cellar and locked themselves inside for safety away from Tyler. Right now I could only worry about following Damon into the lion's den.

We were stood in the hallway, listening to the silent whispers coming from inside Alaric's apartment. I couldn't make out what they were saying as the blood was pounding in my ears with fear. Not fear of Klaus, but fear for my sister, for Matt... for myself.

The door to the apartment swung open with a bang, and Damon whooshed inside. I walked up to the doorway and stood in the centre of the frame. As I stood there, I had a full view inside the near empty apartment, and sat in the centre of the room was Klaus. His eyes were fixed on mine. This time, I didn't waver under his heated gaze.

Something possessed me to not flinch. To not blink, nor break his heated gaze.

"I wasn't aware you'd been invited in." He spoke, our eyes still connected, my emerald green melting into his ocean blue. Damon stood firmly behind him as he sat in a chair. Katherine stood to the side in the kitchen, leaning on the counter top as the drama unfolded.

I still couldn't quite get over just how much she looked like Elena.

"I've come here to tell you that you have to postpone the ritual." Damon spoke confidently.

"Didn't we already have this conversation?" Klaus drawled.

"Yeah," Damon smirked. "But that was before I rescued your werewolf and vampire and killed your witch."

His lips pressed into a fine line as he rose from the chair and turned to face the cocky vampire. "Excuse me?" Klaus spat in his direction.

"And you can kill me for it. I don't care. It was all… me."

What the hell are you doing Damon! I screamed internally. I wavered in the doorway, desperate to come in and shut Damon up before he went too far.

"Katerina, give us a moment." As Klaus commanded, Katherine left the living area and disappeared into one of the side rooms and closed the door behind her. He turned to face Damon again. "I've heard about you," He said. "The crazy, impulsive vampire in love with his brother's girl. I knew one of you would try and stop me. It was just a 50/50 guess who." Klaus picked up his phone and turned it to face Damon. His face fell. "The nice thing about werewolves is they tend to travel in packs." He began. "Need a closer look?" He threw the phone to Damon who swiftly caught it with one hand.

"Jules…" Damon spoke softly.

Jules?

"When you spend a thousand years trying to break a curse… You learn a thing or two. First rule… always have a backup. Backup werewolf. Backup witch."

"Backup vampire." Damon finished his sentence, his voice barely a whisper.

We should have known something like this was going to happen, but we didn't. We thought we had the deal sealed. Done and dusted. Instead, we had truly fucked up.

"I've got that covered too." Klaus said referring to Damon's words.

He had another Vampire, someone who wasn't my sister. Caroline and Tyler must have been the diversion so he could get someone he really wanted.

But who?

Before I could blink, Klaus whooshed over to Damon and snapped his neck in one swift motion. His body collapsed to the ground in a lifeless heap.

"NO!" I screamed as I watched in horror. I rushed into the room and kneeled down beside Damon's body, "No, please. No!" I whispered as tears began to gatherer in the corners of my eyes. Not tears of sadness, instead, they were tears of rage. I hadn't known him long but I couldn't help that we had formed some sort of connection with him since I came back.

"What have you done?" I looked at the back of Klaus' head as he stood above Damon's lifeless body on the ground. He turned and looked at me, the corners of his mouth turning up ever so slowly as his eyes bore into mine.

"I done what had to be done, love." This was the first time Klaus had spoken to me in his own form. It was strangely… unnerving. I didn't know what to say back to him other than 'how could you'?

How could you kidnap my sister? How could you put Elena through such turmoil? How could you snap Damon's neck so effortlessly and not bat an eyelash?

I could ask him a lot of things, but my mouth wasn't complying with my brain.

"Now," Klaus walked over to me and I froze. "Shall we commence with this evening?" He smiled. His gleaming white teeth shone bright as his lips parted, reviling two sharp canines.

"I'm not going anywhere with you!" I warned.

He grasped the top of my arm tightly, pulling me from the ground. "I wasn't asking." He tugged me along behind him as I fought every inch of the way as I was dragged down the narrow corridor. I looked back at Damon who was still on the floor. I needed him. I needed his help. I didn't know what was about to happen to me, and the unknown is what scared me beyond belief.

The woods. It was dark, lonely, but strangely, it wasn't cold. My body still burned with an intense heat.

It should be cold. Why wasn't it cold?

Something was happening tonight, the ritual that would allow Klaus to break the curse that bound him. Three sacrifices were about to take place and there was nothing we could do to stop it now. It was too late.

We were too late.

I dragged my heels as Klaus continued to pull me along behind him. I thrashed against his strong hold, but he never even flinched.

"Let me go!" I yelled.

He stopped and turned to me, causing me to walk right into his chest. He spoke quietly, "Love… you're making this more difficult than it has to be." His eyes began to search mine, looking between the two of them. I tried to look away, but his free hand turned my head to face him. "I suggest you do as you're told…"

It wasn't a choice. As he started walking again, I followed along behind, his hand never leaving my arm. As we walked further into the desolated woods, the air began to get warmer as the subtle flames of fire in the near distance rose in the air.

"Please… you don't have to do this. Just… stop!" I winced as his grip got tighter the closer we go to the flames. Then, a familiar voice caught my ears. "Elena?" I spoke softly.

"Greta, witches are supposed to maintain the balance in nature. It's your duty to them to keep this curse sealed." Elena spoke from within a fire ring.

I looked at the other two rings of fire and gasped at what I saw. "Jenna…?" I made eye contact with Elena as Klaus and I entered the opening. Her brow furrowed as she looked at the two of us and I shook my head. I don't know what she was thinking but whatever it was… now wasn't the time.

As Klaus dragged me further into the open space, I tried to pry his fingers off my arm. I had to help. I needed to help Elena and Jenna before it was too late. He stopped and I was too pre-occupied trying to get his fingers to untwine from my now throbbing arm, when I crashed into his back once more. He didn't even flinch as our bodies collided with force.

"I thought I told you to do as you were told?" He said as he turned to face me. Never once moving an inch, I swallowed the lump that formed in my dry throat. His smirk reappeared as his eyes glinted in the moonlight. In a flash, I was slung into the air with a great force.

I landed on my back on the soft, green grass. "Ughhh!" I gasped as lay there in a daze.

What the hell happened?

I rolled onto my stomach, my vision slightly distorted at the sudden change in gravity.

"My duty is to Klaus! The new order." I heard an unfamiliar voice speaking. A woman was stood at a makeshift altar with Klaus now at her side.

"Glad to know I still have a dance partner." Klaus smiled. He turned to face the three burning rings in the vast open space. "Hello, my lovelies. Are we ready?"

Time had passed and I was still laid on the ground. I'm sure I have broken or fractured my arm, as it pained me whenever I moved it. I lifted said arm, and forced it back into its rightful position. "Aghh…" I winced as I heard the crack of my bones forging together inside my body. I was hoping Damon was okay and was on his way and hopefully with Stefan and Elijah in tow.

I watched as Elena sat in the middle of her fire-ring, talking to the woman in the other ring, a woman who I can only presume is Jules, Klaus' backup werewolf. And by the looks of it, Jenna was the vampire.

"Shall we?"

The ring around Jules disappeared as her eyes turned yellow. She used her werewolf speed to rush at Klaus. As expected, Klaus got the upper hand and pinned her to the ground, plunging his hand into her chest and ripping out her heart in one swooping motion. I watched on in horror as Jules took her final breath before becoming limp, the tears rolling down her face as she died instantaneously. Klaus stood straight, breathing heavily as he held her bloody heart in his hand. I turned to face Elena and Jenna, who looked on in the same horror as I.

His witch, Greta, continued her chanting while Klaus held Jules heart over a bowl, squeezing the blood into the roaring flames.

"Does that mean it's working?" He asked into the flames.

The witch nodded. "It's working."

I felt like I was in a dream, one that I couldn't escape. No. It wasn't a dream, but more of a nightmare. One that would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Elena, Jenna and I all sat on the ground in silence. I hugged my knees close to my chest. Trying my best to retain my brewing anger inside. I tried to run towards Elena and Jenna but I was flung back through the air by his witch and encased inside my very own fire-ring, just like the others. Every now and then, I'd look up from my knees to see Klaus strolling around the altar, occasionally looking in my direction. He made my blood boil to the point that it caused internal pain.

The moon was high in the sky as I looked up. It was a calming effect, one that I used a lot. However, tonight it was doing the complete opposite. I felt feverish, shivering on the ground as I clawed at my skin. The same skin that was encased in a blistering heat.

The ring of fire which contained Jenna now subdued into a small flame, causing me to look up.

"Hello, Jenna." Klaus said. Jenna and Elena got up off the ground and looked at the Hybrid.

"Let her go. I understand that I have to die, but she doesn't!" Elena yelled, as she walked closer to her flames, causing them to roar higher, and the heat to intensify.

"Careful." Klaus warned her.

"Elena, don't."

"No, Jenna! We can't leave Jeremy without a family." She said, and my stomach sank.

Ohh no… Jeremy. What was going to happen to him?

I forgot all about him with everything that was going on lately. She turned to Klaus and spoke. "I followed your rules; I did everything that you asked. I didn't run. Please." She pleaded. I could tell from the patchiness in her voice that she was welling up. As was I.

"Well, well." Klaus looked up, and I followed his gaze. "I don't recall you being on the guest list." Jenna and Elena also looked up in the same direction. Elena gasped as Stefan stood atop of a cliff.

Klaus lingered for a few moments. "Very well, then." he said before looking towards his witch, then to me. "If she moves," He said. "Kill her." My eyes widened at the threat. But yet, it didn't make me fear for my life any more than I already was.

Klaus vamp-sped up to the top of the cliff and walked calmly over to where Stefan stood.

I looked over to Jenna and Elena, they were talking quietly as Jenna tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, and she was trying to listen into the conversation just like I was, but I couldn't hear a thing. Now that she's a vampire, she could hear anything.

"I have to do something. This can't happen. None of it." Elena gasped, as she paced in her circle.

Klaus and Stefan descended the cliff top and approached the circles.

"Quite the predicament. You know, it's funny, all this talk about preserving family, and here's Stefan, granting your wish."

"Stefan…" Elena mumbled sadly as her lips parted, inhaling sharply.

He nodded lightly and whispered, "It's okay."

"Well," Klaus pointed a stake between Jenna and Stefan. "Who's it going to be, Elena?" He goaded her.

"No!" She replied in an instant. Her reply was strong and forceful.

"Oh, don't worry. There's actually no choice." Klaus vamp-sped around Stefan and staked him in the back. Stefan let out a harrowing scream.

"No! Stefan! No!" Elena shrieked at what she witnessed before her. Klaus ripped out the steak, leaving huge pieces of wood embedded in his back to keep the pain persistent.

"I have other plans for your boyfriend. I want him alive. But for now…" Klaus stood back from Stefan, placed his hands on each side of his face, and twisted. Stefan's neck cracked causing him to disgracefully fall to the ground. Elena gasped in shock. "Whenever you're ready, Greta." Klaus called to his witch.

She began chanting another incantation which dispels the ring of fire surrounding Jenna. I saw the look on Jenna's face as her fire extinguished. She was frightened beyond belief.

"NO! Stop!" Klaus turned around, and was met by me now standing on my feet.

"I've already told you to behave... twice. There won't be a third." He growled and it sent shivers down my spine and caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand information. "I suggest you sit."

I looked at Elena and Jenna, both of whom were tear-eyed and filled with fear.

I wasn't about to let this happen. I couldn't.

"Find another vampire," I groaned, "Turn me." He smirked ever so slightly as I tried to entice him with a new offer. "Turn me and let Jenna go. I won't put up a fight."

He dipped his head, looking to the ground as I spoke.

I stepped forward on the soft ground. Greta continued chanting to my right up the hill on the altar, her hands spread wide, as Jenna's fire was dimly lit on the grass. I blinked for a split second, and then he was in front of me. I held my breath as eyes were staring into mine.

"Very well." He spoke softly.

"Jess, no! Please, Don't!" Elena yelled in my direction.

"It's okay," I mouthed to her as tears pricked in my own eyes, threatening to overflow. This was my end.

Klaus circled me slowly, placing his hand on my neck. I shivered under his touch. His fingertips were callous, as they rested on the front of my neck as he now stood at my back. He walked his body into mine, our beings now flushed together as a whole. A tear escaped my grasp against my will, and dripped off of my chin onto his hand. As our bodies pressed together, my breathing slowed to a steady, calm rhythm, but the rage burned brightly within, as did the heat.

My breath hitched as he lowered his head into the crook of my neck. A fire was sparked inside, but I fought it with every inch of my being.

Why was I feeling like he re-lit my extinguished flame? No. this needs to stop. It will all be over soon anyway, this won't matter.

My skin was now blazing. I tried my hardest to blame the flames from Elena's still roaring fire, but it wasn't. It was being near him.

Klaus' lips brushed across the caramel skin on my neck, causing me to let out an inaudible whimper. I moved my hand up to his, as they were now both placed around my neck. His hands were rough, cold, but they also held a poise of warmth under my touch.

"Do it." I commanded in a soft tone.

I closed my eyes as I felt him smile against my skin, his teeth lightly brushing over my artery... but nothing happened.

His mouth closed, but his grip tightened on my neck and he whispered, "Not today, love."

My eyes were shot open instantly as I felt a pressure building around my neck. The flames began to blur as I fought against Klaus' grasp. My breaths became shallow, and the light from the flames slowly faded out until I was left in the darkness.

Stood in the Cemetery, I felt like a failure. I offered myself to him, to save Elena the pain of losing yet another family member… but I wasn't enough. Klaus choked me until I fell unconscious and I awoke in the Salvatore house hours later. Unharmed. Stefan filled me in on what happened when I was out of it. I was pained to say the least. I wanted to help, I needed to help, but I couldn't. Now Jenna was dead and Elena was dead...for a short period of time that is. John sacrificed himself for her to live. So that she could continue to live her life. I guess he thought that the thought of Elena coming back as a vampire was a horrible idea. So much so, he gave his life for hers.

Caroline and Matt were safe now, and Tyler was back to himself until another full moon. Everyone was okay, we made it. Although we made it, Jenna and John didn't. We were all here to mourn them. To celebrate the life they lived. Well, that's the way I looked at it. Elena… not so much. I couldn't bear to make eye contact with her since I arrived at the Cemetery with Caroline. I hoped it would have been me in that freshly dug grave; instead, it was another one of her family members.

I tried. I really did, but there was one thing that still annoyed me to this very moment…

Why didn't he kill me?