A/N: more lemons ahead. If you're not into it, skip down halfway or so. And as always, review! (I really need to know how i'm doing!)


Elijah woke up the next morning to an empty bed. Sitting up and glancing around, he noticed Elena a distance away wearing his dress shirt. Slipping on some pants, he padded over to her, sliding his hands around her waist.

"Hi," Elena smiled to him.

"Hi," he said kissing her. The two stared out at the gap in the cliffs. "What brought you to the jump?" he wondered staring at the broken cliff curiously.

"Just exploring. I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep."

Elijah kissed the side of her face down to her neck and began unbuttoning the front of his shirt she modeled, so he could kiss her shoulders. "Come back to bed," he murmured.

Turning her around, he hardened at the sight of his dress shirt parting from her body. It had come separated just barely enough to showcase the beautiful valley of her breasts. Kissing a pathway down her naked flesh, he stayed kneeled faced with her tummy and clothed mound.

"'Lijah," she moaned as he kissed his way down her stomach to her hip bones and pulling down her underwear. He helped her step out of them, tossing her white cheeky panties to the side somewhere. His fingers ran just barely across her folds, grazing a wetness that seeped from her. It had him hardening tightly against his trousers.

"'Lijah," she moaned, running a hand through his hair as he kneeled in front of her.

Fingering her, he watched as she moaned and administered her own orgasm with his fingers. He enjoyed the way she directed his hand to pleasure herself, her body coating his pointer and middle finger, while his thumb rubbed sweetly over her clit. She was practically panting for him.

"I need you," she moaned, tilting her head back in ecstasy as she was close to orgasming.

"Cum for me first," he told her, staring up at her beautiful body with lustful eyes. Curling his fingers that were deep inside her, he stroked her and rubbed her in all the right areas. It was only moments after that she came all over his hand, standing there, crying out his name in pleasure. Elijah watched as her beautiful body convulsed, tightening around the fingers deep inside her, sending shockwaves throughout her body.

Slipping himself from her, he quickly picked her up, letting her wrap her legs around his body before speeding over to their bed to rid them of their clothing.

He kneeled nakedly in front of her, his manhood standing straight and erect waiting to be plunged inside of her. She moved to ride him, putting her arms around his neck before lowering herself onto him.

Moaning, he felt her warm walls assault him with pleasure as he held her steady, keeping his hands on her hips as she bounded up and down on him. Her breasts bounced jovially, matching the speed that she used to carry them to their own orgasms.

Feeling her start to tighten, he held onto her, using force to hit her deeper. He listened to the guttural moan that escaped from the back of her throat. She enjoyed him being rough, he noticed. And she especially liked when he was deep inside of her, filling her with his especially large length and girth. Elijah watched as an orgasm overtook her, groaning as his own took him when her insides squeezed him tightly.

"good morning," she smiled at him once they laid back down together.

Smirking, he brought a blanket over their naked bodies. "Good morning."

And with that, they went again.


Elena wasn't sure if it was because the two of them hadn't had sex so long that that was why she was so horny, but whatever it was, she was relieved that Elijah had the same sexual appetite.

"Elena," he groaned out, fisting her hair as she sucked his long length.

The length of his manhood was heavenly. Not only was he big, but long. She enjoyed how he got so deep inside her. She felt full when he was in her. Bobbing her head, taking in his hard flesh deep in her mouth, she pumped the rest of him that she couldn't fit with her hands.

Elijah gave a deep moan and Elena knew he was close. Slowing down her movements, she felt as his body relax, unstiffening from the orgasm it was preparing for.

"You're trying to kill me," he determined, glancing down at the sight of her sucking him with her mouth. He threw his head back and groaned as her head bobbed against him. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get that image out of his brain now. He was going to be constantly hard.

Tugging her hair and pulling her body up, he kissed her lips and rolled her over onto her back so that she was settled underneath the blankets.

"You're a tease, you know that?" He growled out, positioning himself at her dripping folds. He loved how wet she got for him. She was always ready.

"I was just-" she inhaled sharply, feeling him thrust himself deeply inside of her, "trying to make things last longer." She moaned.

Elijah held her hips, pulling them up a bit more to thrust deeper inside her. He wanted to be buried in her. He wanted every inch of himself to be coated in her fluids. Most of all, he wanted her to feel as crazy and high as she made him. Elijah continued to hold her hips, thrusting hard and watching as her naked body bounced before him. Her breasts jiggled, teasing him as he pulled himself out of her, only to push himself back in.

The veins around Elijah's eyes began to protrude, and as he went to pull away from Elena, he felt her stop her.

"Don't" she huffed out, grabbing on to the hands that held her hips. "It's okay. I trust you."

Nibbling her lip, she tentatively grazed her thumbs under his eyes. She wanted him to have all of her, and being with a vampire, that also then meant her blood. While she never thought she'd be into the whole blood sucking fetish with Elijah, she trusted him and didn't want him to hide himself. If anything, she felt proud she could bring out the uncontrolled side of him.

Elijah began to thrust in and out of her again, nuzzling her neck and burying his face against her skin. Elena got lost in the pleasure. Her body was close to orgasm, she just needed a bit more. Letting out a moan as he gave a hard-thrust back inside her, she felt a small prick against her neck.

It was an odd sensation of Elijah feeding from her. She thought she'd feel discomfort or a strong sucking sensation. Instead, she felt a rush of adrenaline, making her brain go fuzzy as her orgasm clenched her muscles together. It was as if he was kissing her, giving her a pleasurable hickey.

He pulled back as her orgasmic-high faded, his features returning back to normal.

"Did I hurt you, Elena?" Elijah wondered concerned as she laid there below him. Shaking her head, she smiled at him and leaned up to kiss him hard.

"Finish" she whispered. Giving her body to him, she let him take control, allowing for him to use her how he needed to get release. Thrusting himself hard and deep inside her body, Elijah buried himself within her. He continued his motions, listening to her moan as he pounded hard inside her. Feeling close, Elijah bit his hand and had her drink some of his blood to close up his mark on her neck. While he thoroughly enjoyed feeding from her and tasting her blood, he was bothered by the puncture wounds that reflected what he had done.

Putting his skin to her lips, he inhaled a sharp breath and stiffened, his seed jetting inside her as he orgasmed. He didn't imagine the sensation being so euphoric. Being buried deep inside his lover as she sucked on his skin, taking in his blood. They were closer than he imagined ever possible.

Elena pushed Elijah's open wound away when she felt the skin on her neck no longer pulse in discomfort. Though she appreciated the healing effects of his blood, blood tasted like, well, blood. Settling into the crook of his shoulder, she waited until he lay back beside her.

"Have you ever done that before?" Elena wondered.

"Blood sharing? No," he said staring at the rocky ceiling. "I had heard it would feel pleasurable. It's been said to be one of the most intimate forms of connecting with someone. It is not something to be taken lightly."

"I orgasmed after you bit me," Elena admitted with a blush on her face.

"I did too," he smiled. "When you took my blood."

Her blush reddened, making Elijah laugh a bit more. Kissing her, he reassured her. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Elena. I enjoyed myself quite well. As did you. That's all that matters."

"For the record," she noted, "I don't like the taste of blood – even if it's yours." He nodded and kissed her nose. She could, though. One day.


It was getting to be dusk and it was time for them to leave. Elijah had Elena pack the bag she had brought, while he had cleaned up the rest. Using his vampire speed, he had collected all of the blankets, candles, and pillows, tossing them neatly in his car.

"Ah ha!" Elena said finding her white lacy underwear.

Elijah smirked at the clothing, hardening slightly at the memory of taking those off her.

"We have to go," she told him with a knowing look. Glancing down at his half-mast erection, she pushed down her wave of excitement.

"We can be quick," he told her, coming up and kissing her. He could smell her, smell how she got aroused seeing him harden for her. Her panties were wet, he didn't have to dip a finger down there to know. She had gotten just as aroused as he had.

"We are never quick," she moaned, as his hands slipped up her shirt and under her bra to fondle her breasts.

"I'll carry you back to the car. That way we will have plenty of time and you don't have to walk all the way back."

Elena moaned again as he pressed himself up against her. "You just want sex."

"As do you," he said pinching an erect nipple. Elena let another throaty moan slip past her lips.

"Say yes," he whispered in her ear, pushing her hips back to grind against him. "Let me take you. Let me be deep inside you, Elena."

Short of breath from her arousal, she nodded.

Stripping her of her clothes, Elijah guided her so that she was facing the cave wall, before pushing himself deep inside her. Hands covering hers, he held her, thrusting inside her, taking her from behind. While the sensation was great, he needed more. Taking her hips, Elijah had her bend forward more. The deeper angle for penetration had them both moaning. And so there they were, without clothing, Elijah slamming himself into Elena's body from behind.

Elijah couldn't have desired her more.

Moving a hand around her body, he reached forward, his fingers finding their path to play with her body as he hammered himself inside of her. She let out a gasp as soon as his fingers came in touch with her sensitive nub. He played with her then, running his finger over the sensitive flesh, enjoying how she panted for him.

And then it happened. Feeling her inner walls tighten as he thrusted inside her, Elena's body shook with an orgasm. It wasn't until another orgasm fell over Elena, that Elijah let himself come inside her.

A rush of wind went past her and she turned to find Elijah had gone. Naked and confused, it was less than a second before Elijah had brought back a blanket to their spot and stood behind her, arms wrapped around her body again.

"We are supposed to get going," she reminded him.

"Come," he said ignoring the idea. Dragging her back to their spot, the two of them laid back down and cuddled.

"I'm not ready for this to end just yet," he told her in honesty. It was an amazing night with her, full of peace, happiness and bliss. It wasn't just the sex, but the night of talking and cuddling and laughter.

Elena ran a hand over his soft facial features. "I know, me either."

Elijah craned his neck down to kiss her. He loved how he could touch her body at any time. The skin on skin contact was blissful, and with no one around, the two of them didn't have to hold back. Caressing her, he ran his hands up, a thumb grazing over her hard nipple.

"'Lijah" she said in a warning voice.

Smirking, he held her, still caressing and touching her. She was always so ready for him, her body so needy and sensitive to his touch.

"'Lijah!" she called out, arching her back slightly as he continued to caress her bosom with his large skilled hand. Lowering himself, his mouth soon eloped the hard pebble, sucking and licking it like he knew she enjoyed. He turned to the other one, doing the same, and watched as Elena unraveled before him.

Running his hand down her body, he rubbed his hand over her core. It was wet, pulsing with need for him. Teasing her folds, Elijah slid his full hand up and down her core. The moans and sounds Elena would make, as he pleasured her, sent shockwaves through his body. He enjoyed how he could make her so needy for him.

Dipping his fingers inside of her, Elijah let his middle and ring finger do the work, cupping her mound as he dipped deep inside of her, before pulling out. His motions were quick, a slick slapping sound filling the air, as he thrusted his fingers in and out of her body.

"Aughhh," Elena groaned, arching her back as one of the most forceful orgasms began to approach her.

Elena felt his fingers speed up and curl around the bundle of nerves her body was aching to be touched. With a long loud whine, Elena orgasmed, a dam breaking between her thighs, as fluids gushed from her body.

Elijah laid beside her, slowing his motions as she orgasmed and placed soft kisses on her face and shoulder. His mission of making Elena's body squirt for him was complete. He had no idea if she'd was capable of it, but considering how sensitive and horny she had been for him, he couldn't resist testing out the experience he knew she'd enjoy.

She laid there spent with pleasure, wet in her own fluids, her hands ready to take his aching hard-on that was standing at attention for her.


They stayed as long as possible at the falls before returning home. It was close to midnight when Elijah dropped her off and she opened her front door to a pacing Jeremy. He was about to call a search party for them.

Comforted by his sister's safety, he hugged her and then began making his way to his room to play games on his laptop. Stopping about halfway up the stairs, he turned to his sister. "Hey, 'Lena?" he asked hesitantly. Staring down at her in the foyer, he frowned at the idea of making her unhappy. "I know you'll hate on me for this, but…Alaric contacted me the night you left for your date with Elijah. He had offered to teach me some ways to protect myself against vampires. He thinks I could be a hunter."

Before Elena could speak about all of the bad ideas and things he was getting into, he stopped her. "I've already met with him. He's actually taught me a lot. And I know you don't like it, but if he can help me defend myself and you, then it's worth a shot."

Elena sighed, her face softening. "Jer, I know you want to protect us, and I love you for that. But Ric isn't Ric anymore," she said taking in a deep breath. "The Alaric we knew is gone and we can't let this…alter-ego of him fool us into thinking he can be the same guy we used to know. He isn't that Jer."

Elena stepped forward, trying to be gentle with her brother. "He's using you Jeremy. I have no doubt you have the skills to be a vampire hunter…" The idea made her shiver, "but Alaric shouldn't be the one teaching you."

"Who should then?" he wondered to Elena.

Elena tried thinking of someone, but failed. He made a good point. Their social circle was getting smaller and smaller.

"Look," he sighed to her. "I'm not going to do anything stupid. I know where you stand with vampires and where I should too. It's not like I'm going to go off and kill Elijah. I just want to protect us better."

Too tired to fight, she nodded, letting him go for now so she could unpack. As he shuffled back to his room, Elena grabbed her bag, dragging it upstairs with her.

Throwing it on her bed, Elena laid back on her mattress and sighed. It wasn't even five seconds before getting home that she felt the weight of the world back on her shoulders. Laying there for a moment, she let herself wallow before getting up and continuing on.


She woke up in a cold sweat and gasping for breath. Finn and Alaric plagued her dreams, taunting her and bringing her fears to life as they held Elijah and killed Jeremy. Running her hands through her hair, she got up, needing to make sure it was not her reality. Slipping on a sweater, she padded through the shared bathroom and opened Jeremy's door slightly. Her eyes met his body, well and alive. He was sitting at his desk with headphones on playing some computer games.

"Are you alright?" He asked her, turning when he saw her reflection in his screen. She looked pale and her eyes scared.

"Bad dream," she noted to him queasy. The thought of losing Jeremy terrified her. He was all she had left when it came to family. He was the only one true in the world anymore.

"Did you want to come lay down?" he wondered to her, analyzing the way she held her body together, clearly not alright.

Trying to find the strength in her, she slowly shook her head. She was not going to be a bother. It was just a dream after all.

"I don't mind," he told her gently. "I planned to be up for a while longer anyway. I'll be here if you need me."

The offer was appealing. While she felt the need to say no again, her dreams haunted her. "Okay," she said softly. Making her way to his bed, she crawled under his sheets and tucked herself in.

"Get some sleep," he said, coming over and putting another blanket on top of her. Giving a small smile as she drifted off, he felt happy. It was a big step for her to let him in. Usually the fierce stubborn Elena wouldn't let him help her no matter how bad she was suffering. He had seen a big change in her.

It was close to 2am when he started to shut his laptop down. Elena had been tossing and turning, occasionally breathing heavily. He had gone over there a few times, rubbing her head as she used to with him as a kid, softly whispering soothing words. Ignoring the calls from Alaric on his cell, Jeremy went to bed. Slipping in the sheets, he gathered his sister in his arms, comforting her once again. He had no idea what she dreamed of, but it seemed to terrify her deeply.

"You're alright," he whispered to her. Waiting until her body relaxed and she was soft asleep, he too shut his eyes and fell in a deep slumber.


Elijah made his way to the Gilbert house early in the morning to be a bearer of bad news. While he wanted to wait and let her have a quiet morning, tensions were rising in Mystic Falls and it was important she knew. While they were gone Alaric was causing many problems – outing the vampires and hybrids to say the least. Elena was about to lose her friend and more.

Slipping into her bedroom from the window, he was surprised when his eyes found an empty bed. He listened closely, not finding any other noises in the house, and so an unreasonable panic swept through him. Attempting with all of his might to think logically and with reason, he walked to the bathroom door that was slightly ajar and looked around. Elena was not there, but Jeremy's side door was open. Peaking his head in the boy's room, he smiled slightly at the sight. Both Gilbert children were curled together in Jeremy's bed – him holding her as she tightly clung to his shirt.

Not wanting to disturb them yet, Elijah made his way downstairs quietly, deciding to cook them breakfast. Ever since Elena had mentioned how challenging she found it to not have a guardian around for her and Jeremy, he had wanted to step up. And making them breakfast was the least of things he could do for them, as her day was about to worsen.

Elijah cooked up eggs, bacon, and cinnamon buns, while preoccupied with curiosity as to why Elena was sleeping in Jeremy's bed. It was very unlike her.

Shuffling upstairs began to sound and Elijah knew they were up. The smells of breakfast wafted through the house, sweet smells of cinnamon and salty scents of bacon. Listening as they made their way down the steps, he smiled as Elena appeared, surprised and happy to see him.

"When did you get here?" Jeremy asked, coming to inspect what he was making.

"A bit ago. I came to talk with you both," he told them, figuring Jeremy should hear the news as well. Gesturing for them to take a seat, he kissed Elena quickly before setting the plates of food down before them. He let them take mouthfuls of food before continuing.

"It seems your former guardian, Alaric, caused much trouble while we were gone. He's informed the council of the vampire situation in Mystic Falls. And he has outted Caroline and Tyler's mother, along with Damon and Stefan, among others."

A pit in Elena's stomach grew as she heard Damon and Stefan being taken. "Have you-"

"My family and I have not been identified yet," Elijah said calming Elena's nerves. "I'm not sure why, but he has not told the council about us. Regardless though," he said pursing his lips, "the council is rounding up all vampires and holding them somewhere. We have no idea where yet, but we know they plan to exterminate them."

Both Elena and Jeremy glanced at one another.

"On top of that," Elijah said smoothing out a napkin on the table, "there is a new vampire hunter in town. He goes by the name of Connor. From what I hear from Niklaus, he wears gloves soaked in vervain. While it won't give either of you trouble, he is one of the five so he is extremely dangerous."

Elijah's cell phone rang and he excused himself to take the call.

It was a lot to take in for the morning. Elena had figured the world would at least give her an hour or so before hitting her with trouble, but she was not so lucky. On top of Alaric and being the immortal vampire/vampire hunter, they now had this guy Connor, who was some pro vampire slayer.

"One of the five?" Jeremy asked Elijah after he got off the phone.

Elijah tucked his phone back in his suit jacket and walked back over to them, leaning forward on the back of a kitchen chair. "The brotherhood of the Five. Essentially, they're gifted vampire hunters. It has been rumored that long ago a dying witch had casted a curse upon another powerful witch to fulfill the curse of killing the first ever immortal being, Silas."

It didn't sound so bad. "So why aren't they out looking for Silas?" Elena wondered.

"Every immortal creature they kill builds upon an invisible tattoo only hunters can see. With enough kills, it is rumored to show them to where Silas is entombed. Over the centuries, their purpose has been more focused on hunting and killing immortal beings than going after Silas. A rare few truly believe in Silas's existence."

"So, why don't you just kill this Connor guy?" Jeremy asked as if it was obvious. From what he knew, Elijah had killed plenty. Why would this be different? Elena gave Jeremy a look, making him retract a bit

"From what I understand, an immortal species cannot kill a hunter, as they are then put under the hunter's curse."

"the hunter's curse…" Elena trailed off, waiting for him to elaborate.

"I have never seen or experienced it, but what I've heard, the curse is pure psychological torture. The powerful hallucinations it brings are designed to bring the immortal being to madness, so that in the end, they take their own life."

The news made shivers go down Elena's spine. "I'm sorry, Elena. I have to go. It's look like Rebekah has gotten herself caught. We may have been found and Kol is out trying to track her down before he flees town. I must meet up with him."

Elena quickly got up, putting a hand out on his arm before he could rush away. "Doesn't that make it unsafe, Elijah? You said yourself you can't defeat this hunter, Connor, and you can't kill Alaric. You and Kol can't just go out there by yourselves."

Elijah stared down at her. Her concern was comforting, but he would not leave his baby sister to fend for himself. He was beginning to feel off put by her suggestion. "What are you saying, Elena?"

"Jeremy and I will go with you," she told him. "Alaric has been training Jeremy and you've seen me train. We're both humans so if anyone comes after you, we can stop them."

"How?" Elijah asked narrowing his eyes. "You just said it yourself – anyone comes after you – they could hurt you. You're not invincible."

Immortal you mean, Elena wanted to say to him. "The townspeople know us. They'd stop before doing anything. And you can knock them out. We can help you get everyone back."

Elijah shook his head. It was too dangerous. "I'm sorry, Elena, but no. I'm not going to put you or your brother in harms way. It's reckless."

"And what if Connor or Alaric are there?" Elena challenged fiercely. "What then? You can't kill them. You've said so yourself. Any vampire who kills Connor dies by the hunter's curse, and Alaric has the means to kill you, and you know he won't hesitate."

"And so, what? You'd kill the hunter?" he questioned. It wasn't meant to be challenging but that was how Elena took it. It showed a lack of trust in her, no matter which way he'd try to spin it. "We don't even know where they are keeping everyone. Pastor Young is keeping them somewhere, so until we figure that out-"

"-Pastor Young?" Jeremy cut in, breaking up the brewing fight between Elena and Elijah. "Elena used to babysit for his daughter."

"April," she answered, looking to Jeremy. Thinking back to the days she babysat April, it occurred to her where they might be keeping everyone. "The cattle ranch," she said looking to both men. "It's a large piece of land – remote and secluded. The pens could easily be modified to hold vampires. They must be keeping everyone there."

Without a word, Elijah went speeding off. Elena was about to call for him but before she could the front door burst open and shots were fired. Getting up and running to the front room with Jeremy in tow, the two orphans watched as Pastor Young and a team of deputies held guns to a keeling Elijah, waiting for him to go down.

"Elijah!" Elena yelled distraught.

Jeremy held his sister back by the shoulders, trying not to grimace as the police shot Elijah again, twice in the chest, making him pass out.


Pastor Young took Elena and Jeremy back to his house. Pouring some water into the kettle, he set tea on for the three of them.

"Still want to be a writer?" he asked Elena, attempting to make small chat. The kids had been quiet the entire ride to the ranch.

Elena snuck a glance to Jeremy, trying not to jitter in her chair as she shifted with worry.

"I remember how you'd read your short stories to my daughter when you'd babysit," the Pastor said, then walking to the fridge, pulling out some fruit for them. "She still loves writing because of you."

"Why did you bring us here?" Elena wondered to the Pastor. She was in no mood for small talk or games. She needed to make sure Elijah was okay. They already had Stefan, Damon, Caroline and Rebekah. It was only a matter of time before they'd find Kol or he'd flee town.

"My deputies can watch out for us here," he told the kids. "No vampires have been invited in."

Both Elena and Jeremy stared at the Pastor with solemn eyes. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but years ago it was your parents who were advocating having an emergency plan for this. I never thought we'd actually have to use it."

"What is the emergency plan?" Jeremy wondered, glancing to his sister who was staring out the window anxiously. If she didn't settle down, the Pastor was going to switch from thinking they were victims to vampire lovers and then they were going to be in trouble. Slyly putting a hand on her bouncing leg, Jeremy silently told his sister to chill.

"It starts with a quick evacuation of the vampires we know of. From there, we start putting vervain in the water system, and let it work its magic. My barn is equipped with metal cell bars and has an A/C system which blows out air laced with vervain, so we keep them there until we can kill and burn them. The vervain keeps the vampires weak so they can better be controlled."

"And then what?" Jeremy wondered. While he wasn't the biggest fan of vampires, he couldn't feel right about getting on board with this plan either. It felt sadistic.

"And then we kill them. We'll burn them at sunset."

"Alive?"

"Depends on who puts up a fight," the pastor said grabbing the hissing water off the stove. "Some will probably have to be put down before that, but yes, burned alive is the goal."

Both Gilbert children swallowed hard, glancing to one another in hopes for a plan.

"So, Elijah is in the barn?" Elena wondered.

The Pastor sighed. "Yes, where he can't hurt you. I had heard from your guardian Alaric and some of the townspeople who saw you together the other night at the movies. You guys were a couple, yes? Did he tell you what he was?"

Elena swallowed hard and Jeremy stared at her hoping she'd lie.

"No," she said shakily. It felt dirty to hide such a thing, but with the predicament she was in, she knew it was better for her safety and Jeremy's to fib.

The Pastor frowned and came over, putting a hand on her shoulder in sympathy. "They can be sneaky like that. They know how to blend in well. It can be hard to tell who is and who isn't a vampire, and it isn't your fault, Elena. That is why we put vervain in the water system. Your parents were the ones to actually discover it."

Furrowed brows set on Jeremy and Elena's faces. "Our parents? What did they have to do with anything?" Elena wondered.

Surprised, the Pastor took his seat at the table and fixed himself a cup of tea. "They were the ones who figured out vampires had a weakness to vervain." The kids stared at him bewildered. "Your father was not an ordinary doctor. In his spare time from seeing the townspeople he used to experiment on vampires. That's how he got us this sort of information."

Elena shook her head while Jeremy looked taken aback. "No, our parents weren't some mad scientists," Elena refuted. There was some mind game trying to come into play. Whenever Elena thought of her parents or looked back on the memories, it was never about experimentation or vampires.

"They weren't mad," the Pastor corrected them. "They were brilliant. Your father figured out that a wooden stake had to go in the heart – nowhere besides that – or it would be ineffective in killing them."

Jeremy sat in silence, trying to think of any memory he had of his parents doing medical tests on vampires. "I don't ever remember seeing them do something like that, Pastor Young. You gotta be mistaken."

"I'm sorry," the Pastor said at a loss for words. "Your dad would be the one to give the reports at our meetings. Your father and mother would keep them weakened in the basement underneath their medical practice. It was completely vampire proof so they wouldn't escape."

The news made Elena sick. She couldn't believe her parents would be capable of that, or that they'd do that to other people. Her parents were monsters. It was as if she didn't really know them at all.

When silence took them and the Pastor had finished his tea, he looked at the clock and then to the Gilbert children. "So, we'll hold everyone until sunset. My hope is that the other Mikaelson siblings – what are their names? Uh…Kol and Klaus," he said looking at a piece of paper with a list of vampire and hybrid names, "come searching for them as well. If not, we've got Alaric and Connor who have been more than willing to help track down loose ends."

"Who is this Connor guy?" Jeremy asked, glancing over to his sister who looked like was about to be sick. "What is his deal anyway?"

It was a valid question to ask, one that Elena actually desired to hear and was thankful her brother was here to inquire about. Her mind was swirling, trying to sort through and cope with all of the news and drama at once.

"He's a vampire hunter who happened to show up," the Pastor answered. "I guess he was passing through town and ran into the vampire, Damon Salvatore. And then when Alaric brought to our attention of a vampire problem, we figured Connor could be of help."

"Do you trust him?" Jeremy wondered.

The Pastor thought about it for a few seconds. "I guess he hasn't given us a reason not to. We have a common goal in mind – exterminating the entire vampire race for good."

There was yelling and shouting breaking up conversation from going further. Glancing out the window, shots were being fired from inside of the barn.

Before the Pastor could bark an order, Jeremy had hit the older man over the head with the butt of his own gun that sat near his chair. Elena stood there baffled by the scene.

"Go! I'll circle around the back of the house and make sure you are clear. Get everyone out of there and be careful of the deputies inside," he told his sister. While Jeremy did not enjoy harming the older man he grew up with, he also did not enjoy the thought of torturing and holding their friends and loved ones against their will. While they may be vampires, they were also people inside, and it mattered.

Giving her brother a quick squeeze to say thank you, Elena ran to the back door waiting for Jeremy's signal for the all-clear.

When Elena entered the barn, she stopped in both horror and disbelief to the sight she was witnessing. Two men in uniform taunted her friends with cruel words, before shooting them multiple times all over their bodies.

"Hey!" They yelled, noticing her presence and pointing guns at her. Lifting her arms in surrender, Elena looked over her shoulder, mustering the best distressed face she could. "The Pastor! He needs help!" The fake exclamation of concern fooled both deputies. Watching as they nodded to one another, the deputy closest to Elena went to go take her back, gun raised to protect them, as the other turned his back on them, watching the other side of the barn for possible intruders.

Taking her chance, Elena stopped the deputy before he could side step her, grabbed his gun and kicked his legs out from underneath him. Hitting his head with the butt of the gun, like Jeremy had done with the Pastor, she rendered the man unconscious. Moving her gun up to point and shoot the next guy, Elena fired off a shot as the man fired off his own. The deputy went down with a wooden bullet to the chest, while Elena stood in shock, a wooden bullet now puncturing her side.

"Elena!" Damon and Stefan yelled.

Putting a hand to her wound and seeing blood, Elena quickly put some pressure on it. As much as she wanted to run over to an unconscious Elijah, she needed to get all the abled bodies out as quick as she could. Damon and Stefan seemed to be the only ones left conscious. And so, she ran to Damon. She rattled the bars of his makeshift cage, only to find they would not budge. Eyes darting around, Elena quickly ran to the deputy's body and pulled off some keys.

"Let me see," Damon said, after she unlocked the door for him. Moving to see the depth of her injury, Elena pulled back, shaking her head.

"I need you to go cover Jeremy. He's inside with the Pastor." Damon's eyes darkened and Elena put a hand on his arm. "Don't kill the Pastor, Damon. I just want you there in case he tries anything and puts Jeremy in danger. Please," she whispered looking into Damon's eyes. She didn't want any more blood on her hands than she now already had. Damon gave in to her pleading eyes, giving her a quick nod before disappearing.

"Elena," a familiar voice groaned out. Turning around, Elena saw Rebekah start to wake up. Rushing over to her, Elena quickly unlocked her cage and went inside to help her up.

"What happened?" Rebekah wondered groggily.

"We are getting you out of here," Elena said roughly, as she took Rebekah's arm and put it around her shoulder. Setting her down outside of the cage away from the blowing vervain, Elena then went over to Stefan's cell.

"Get them!" the Pastor yelled from a distance. Elena's heart caught in her throat, adrenaline running high in worry for Jeremy.

"Rebekah, I need you to get Elijah and the rest of them out of here. Stefan, can you help me? I sent Damon to be with Jeremy. He was with the Pastor and-"

Stefan put a hand on her shoulder, not needing further explanation.

Throwing the keys to Rebekah, she hugged her blonde friend. "We'll be out by the house. Kol should be coming soon. Elijah was going to meet up with him to look for you. I'm sure he's coming," she said. Rebekah nodded and pushed her away. "Go," she instructed.

"Come on," Elena said grabbing Stefan's hand.

As they began running, Stefan pulled back from her, stopping only to fall on his knees.

"Stefan?" Elena wondered in concern.

He groaned, putting a hand out to signal her to stop walking towards him. Seeing the blood from her wound on his hand, Stefan struggled, soon putting his hand up to his mouth and licking the blood away.

"Oh no," Elena said softly. And it was in that moment Stefan changed.

Like a predator about to catch its prey, Elena stood deathly still trying to figure out what to do. She was still yards from the house, and she was about that same distance away from the barn. If she were to try running back for either one of them, she'd lose. She was stuck -trapped with The Ripper and bleeding with an open wound to her abdomen.

"Hey!" a voice called out.

On instinct, Elena turned around looking for the owner of the voice, and it was then that she realized her mistake. Hard sharp fangs punctured the skin on her neck as her head was pried back. Stefan's grip was strong, strong enough that she did not have enough strength to pull away or fight him.

Multiple things then happened all at one time. It was as if the chaos of the day's events met in perfect unison with one another. Off in the distance, Elena watched as her brother came out with a crossbow, shooting the hunter, Connor, in the chest. He fell to the ground with a thud, not even having time to throw a stake. In front of her then was Alaric. He came speeding towards them, only to be stopped short with a gasp. It was only moments after that he fell to his knees and slowly began to shrivel. And lastly was the call of her name that Elena heard from a distance behind her. It was the one thing out of the whole trifecta that made her feel most helpless. She listened as Elijah called out to her. She imagined him being walked out by Rebekah, weak and confronted by the sight of her being sucked dry.

"Stefan," Elena croaked out with the last of her energy. She didn't want this to be the last memory of her that Elijah would remember. She wished him happy thoughts, for that was what he needed.

Immense pain struck her as Stefan dug his fangs deeper into her skin, draining the last of her dry. Elena felt as her body began to shut down. It was an odd and familiar sensation. It was a combination of feeling lighter and numb at once. Tugging at his hands one last time to let her go, Elena felt a whoosh of air before his mouth was forcefully ripped from her neck. Unable to stop herself, her body fell to the ground with a hard thud and things went black.