A/N: Obviously, some of these jumps from one group of characters to another, etc are a little back-and-forth timeline wise, but that's just like the episodes. Sorry if it's getting confusing. Was trying to keep it as exciting as possible as I struggle with action sequences.

Also - if you're wondering why Stefan can sometimes take these alphas and sometimes is bested by them, Deucalion answers that question for you. In TVD, Stefan and other main vamps have taken on Originals and won, while at other times, they're taken out by average joe werewolves/vamps. It's all about the element of surprise, the attack, etc (and what works best for the plot - haha)

On that same note - don't ask my why/how there are 2 vaults in an old small town bank. I think we can extend disbelief because I only thought of this flaw now and it's sort of pivotal to my whole story...plus...this is a world with supernatural creatures. We can pretend there are 2 vaults.


Chapter 41: Turn the Tables

When Deucalion found Ethan and Aiden lying in a pool of their shared blood in the alley behind the bank, the same alley he had just been tossed into, he didn't exactly spare a second to nurse them back to health. Ethan was out but Aiden was stirring when the alpha grabbed his arm and hauled the boy to his feet.

"They're going into the vault."

"Good," Aiden grunted, spitting blood onto the concrete and leaning down to check on his brother.

"The plan is working."

"Was getting thrown off the roof part of your plan?" Aiden straightened, rubbing his shoulder and wincing. "Or Ethan and I nearly getting killed?"

Aiden didn't have time to react before he was slammed against the side of the building, head buzzing from the contact with the brick.

"The two of you almost got killed because you underestimated. Got cocky. Vampires are strong. Just because you caught them off guard before, doesn't mean they aren't. That is why we be smarter. Now, Derek and Scott are off after Boyd and Cora, and they've taken the little human hunters with them. It isn't exactly what we had planned for them in that vault, but it will do. Especially with the betas out of control and out in the world with all those easy innocent victims to tear through. Derek's hand will be forced. Either way, we get what we want from him."

Deucalion finally let Aiden go, pushing him aside.

"But we still need the others, to keep them, alive and waiting for when Derek is ready to come kill them himself. So, you are going to go inside and help Ennis and Kali make certain no one leaves that vault. I'm going to go make sure that they get in it."


"Maybe one of us should circle back to the bank," Derek looked over his shoulder as they walked toward the school. "No one's heard anything from any of them."

"It's going to take all of us to get Boyd and Cora," Scott shook his head. "We need to cover all the doors. Boyd was going to rip those kids apart and Cora nearly killed that girl. She would have if Jeremy hadn't shot her. Now someone's dead. We have to take care of this. All of us."

"Yeah, us against two betas. While Erica, Isaac, Jackson, they're all back there, against the entire Alpha pack!"

"I trust Stefan and Caroline -"

"This isn't about trust, Scott! And, not to mention, that you trust just about everyone, but that's beside the point. Trusting them isn't going to magically help them against the alphas."

"They're strong. I've been training with Stefan. And Caroline's smart."

"Erica could be just as out of control as Cora and Boyd!"

"This isn't helping!" Jeremy stepped between the two. "Derek, I know you're they're alpha, so you gotta act like it. Be a leader. You can't fight a war on two fronts. You can't help us go after Cora and Boyd if you're busy thinking about everyone else. It sucks, I know. But you have to think strategy right now, and not emotions. Against Cora and Boyd, you're our strongest and best bet. And this isn't just about your pack or any one of us anymore. Innocent people are gonna die if you don't focus. So, focus."


"What the hell is going on down there?" Stefan knelt down by the hole in the roof. "Isaac! Jackson! Somebody answer me! Caroline!"

"It's wolfsbane!" Came the response, Caroline shouting back up at him. "They filled the whole room with it and knocked them out! It's killing them!"

"I'm coming down!"

Stefan gripped the edges of the opening, prepared to drop down when something heavy and growling collided with him. He rolled with the body across the roof until he came to stop underneath it and on his back. The alpha's fist connected with the vampire's fast once, twice, three times. There was a solid crack of bone and Stefan spat blood at his attacker as he brought up a knee, jamming it into Deucalion's groin and then stomach. Bringing an elbow to the werewolf's face, Stefan slipped out from underneath him and made to grab him. The alpha countered and broke the hold before Stefan could even complete it.

"You think you can beat me?" Deucalion laughed as he straightened. "And on a full moon?"

"Maybe," Stefan ducked a punch. "Maybe not," he returned one of his own that missed its target. "But I can distract you."


"Tyler!" Caroline screamed, fingers running frantically through her hair, hands clenching at her head. "Tyler! Wake up! You have to wake up! You have to wake up or they're going to kill us! Get up, please! "

With no response, the vampire whirled around, running toward the door. "Let us out! Let us out right now or I swear I will kill all of you! Open this door! Open up! Open it! They're dying! You're going to kill them! All of them! Is that part of your plan because I don't think so! So let us out! Now!"

The vents sputtered until finally dying off. There was a low clang and the door slowly started to swing open. The vampire sped to the back of the vault as Kali, Ennis, and Aiden lunged in. It wasn't until Ennis had already charged Caroline and been kicked back by her that they noticed it.

The vault was empty.

"Bye!"

The vampire smiled, pulling the two wolfsbane grenades out from behind her back and tossing them toward the alphas. She was already through the hole and leaping to the roof when they exploded in the werewolves' faces.

They were still screaming when the door behind them swung closed.


"This isn't going to work," Jackson huffed, pacing along the wall.

"Shut up," Tyler hissed, turning away from his place at the open vault door. "Do you want them to hear us?" He glanced outside. "They're still at the other vault. Signal Stefan."

The hybrid didn't wait to watch the werewolf obey, keeping his gaze ready and roaming the halls of the bank. He could see the two alphas, the large man and slender woman, arguing outside the other vault, the one that he had mere minutes ago, escaped from. He waited as one of the twins approached them, listened as Stefan and Caroline started to put on their little show, and watched as Kali flipped a switch before opening the door.

"Now."

Tyler was at the door to the other vault just as the grenades went off, Jackson hurrying close behind him. They heard the screams as they pushed together, the vault door swinging shut with a satisfying bang. The hybrid went to the same switch he had watched Kali use and flipped it, grinning.

"Time to go."