Review responses:

Guest: I'll continue to touch upon it, but the full details won't be revealed until the next story. Sorry for being so cruel!

Keep an eye on my maths in this one. That's all I'm going to say for now. ;)

Also, I hope you are all doing well and keeping safe during these troubled time. Hopefully I can provide you with a little entertainment and distraction from it all, even if it's just for an hour or so. And hopefully this will all be behind us before I finish this story. Remember, think happy thoughts, and look after yourselves!

Lots of love to you all!

Chapter 38: Earn Back our Trust

She'd been sitting in an immense darkness. Almost as if in a pit. At the very bottom. Where even the brightest of lights from above couldn't reach her. She'd been in this place before. She knew it well. From times long ago. There was never a pleasant memory attached to when she entered this realm. It varied when she came out, like she was about to. She could feel it. The rumbling in the darkness before the pit lit up and her eyes opened to find herself in stone bricked room on a hard dirt floor.

Gasping for air that would not enter her lungs, Amelia shot up into an upright position. Still she tried to inhale, but nothing would come in. From next to her, her brother, Elijah, was acting in much the same way.

"Katerina!" she heard in the distance, only to then realise it had been her brother's voice, near gone as he tried to speak.

At the mention of that name, Amelia became that bit more alert, searching until she saw that face. That face that had caused her brothers so much trouble. The face she wanted to rip off with her bare hands. Only when she tried to move she found herself skidding back across the floor and into the wall.

Every part of her body was tingling unnaturally, a blaze with some foreign force that made her want to go in every direction – preferably which every would get her out the fastest.

"It's me, it's Elena," said the girl with Katerina's face. And that was when it came back to Amelia. The doppelgänger. Elena. The final piece in the trap she and her brother needed to get at him. To get at Klaus. How they'd played out everything perfectly, only to be stabbed in the back by those immature fools.

"What…have you…done!" Amelia shouted, but it came out as nothing but a whisper, before she found herself rolling across the floor and into the open door. It wasn't of her choosing. It was the strange force, pushing on her from every angle, trying to push her out, as if she were in a place she didn't belong.

"We've cannot be in this house," declared Elijah, seconds before he ran into the wall with a burst of vampire speed.

He'd gotten it a second before Amelia had. They'd been moved into a house were they hadn't been invited, and because of that the supernatural forces which prevented them from entering were trying to force them out. Only said force couldn't pick a direction and was just forcing them in every direction at once, causing their bodies to feel more compressed by the second before resulting in an unintentional movement. Such as Amelia when she suddenly found herself thrown beyond the door and into the hallway wall. A second later, and Elijah came crashing into her.

"We have to get out of here!" hissed Amelia. Elena was running towards them to assist, but then the forces conversed again and Amelia found herself running, trying her best to flow and guide the forces expelling her from the house at the same time. On her way up the stairs she tripped, only to then continue with her limbs banging of each step until she was thrown into the wall. With a grunt she got back up and charged on, hitting the wall at the top of the stairs.

Somehow Elijah had gotten ahead of her – most likely while her face had been getting bashed off the stone steps to the basement. He vanished around the corner and Amelia managed to follow him. He got the front door of the Salvatore house and opened it to the outside, only to then have Amelia charge into him from behind as they both toppled out and onto the stone porch.

At last, Amelia could breath again. She didn't even mind the pressure her brother was exerting on her chest. Thankfully though, he got up before the relief of breathing wore off, helping her up as she went to dust of her coat. Only to then see it was covered in a thick layer of ash and soot, much like the rest of her ensemble.

So, they'd tried to burn us to ash. Thought Amelia tiredly, giving a brush of her destroyed raincoat regardless. It was hardly the first time she'd been burnt alive. At least this time she'd been unconscious while it had been happen. Doing so while awake was not the most pleasant of experiences.

At the sound of running footsteps from whence they'd come, Amelia looked back into the Salvatore house to see Elena running into the hallway. Stopping when she saw both Originals stood outside.

There was a pause. Each party studying the other. Elena taking in the irritated and unpleased looks upon Elijah and Amelia, while they took in her cautious glance. And the daggers in her hand – the ones they'd used on them both.

Without warning Elijah shot forward, but it was futile as he slammed himself against the invisible wall between himself and Elena. After a brief moment of realisation, Elijah, still pressed against the divide, asked, "What happened?" Only to then be met with Elena's shush and a finger to her lips.

To clarify, she then mimed to above them and then to her ear. The obvious implication being that the Salvatores could listen in on them. Which meant they didn't know the they'd been awakened or that Elena was talking to them. Interesting.

Resting her hand on her brother's shoulder, Amelia pulled him back from the entrance to the house, so that she might better see Elena and viscera. "I'll tell you. Not here. Can I trust you?" Elena then mouthed to them both, as she switched between their contrasting eyes.

"Can we trust you?" Elijah hissed silently back. The rage clear in his expression, while Amelia was at least able to repress her own down below the surface level. But then, all her rage vanished into shock, as Elena held out both daggers beyond the threshold. She motioned for the two Originals to take them.

Amelia and Elijah looked to one another in clear confusion. There was nothing else in the world that could stop them like those daggers. It was the only effective weapon against them, and Elena was handing them both over. Not one, but both. It was her gesture of good will, trying to earn their trust by leaving herself with nothing but the hope of their mercy.

It was bold, and Amelia had to admire it, even just a little, as she and her brother each took a dagger from Elena. Only to then swiftly hide them with in their jackets.

There was then a moments hesitation, before Elena looked them both squarely in the eye, and stepped outside.

"My car," she then mouthed, pointing towards the nearby vehicle. Elijah gestured for her to lead the way. She passed them by without a word or a glance, striding straight for her car. Whatever was happening she'd clearly come to accept that she'd made her decision, but for Amelia and Elijah, they were still very skeptical about this whole predicament.

That said they weren't about to let Elena out of their sight again. So they followed her to her car, Amelia getting in the passenger side while Elijah got into the back behind Elena who sat in the drivers seat. She then put the car into drive, and as quietly as she could, rolled away.

From the side of the garage, Sarah silently watched Elena's interactions with the Originals from across the driveway. She'd accurately predicted that they'd end up coming out this way when they'd awoken, since they hadn't been invited in by Elena.

She briefly thought if the only reason they'd survived such an experience, was because they were Originals, and that if such a thing had happened to a normal vampire, then he or she would be torn apart. However, she quickly shoved the irrelevant point aside, as she focused on what Elena and the Originals were doing.

She could see their lips moving, but wasn't able to pick up any sounds. Then, after a few seconds, Elena then handed over the daggers and Sarah wanted to slap her forehead. Even if it had been just one they would have had something, but with both daggers now back in the Originals' hands they were defenceless. Although, it seemed to make Elena feel safe enough to step outside, and then lead the Originals to her car.

There was only one reason Sarah could think of for Elena sneaking off with them both. She wanted to make another deal.

Briefly Sarah considered going and getting brothers, but then she realised how quickly that would blow up in all of their faces. And it was too late for her to stop Elena either, or else make another scene. Plus if she stayed and tried to explain to her brothers, they'd both lose it, again. Which really only left her with one choice.

So, she pulled on her helmet, flicked up the kick stand of her bike, and followed Elena from a distance as they drove into Mystic Falls.

"Now, remember, Katerina. You are to obey Niklaus and his every command while I'm gone," explained Leiah, as she finished the compulsion. With the brainwashing now complete, Leiah released her hold on the vampire's chin and let the scowling woman go to pour Klaus his morning coffee.

Still smiling, Leiah turned from the kitchen and shot brother's host body a grin. "You're welcome," she said smugly.

"I'm grateful as always, sister," said Klaus in the teacher's voice, as Leiah sauntered up to him.

"You know, I'd just gotten used to seeing you like this," Leiah said as she flicked the teacher's nose, giggling as Klaus rubbed it poutingly. "I'm almost going to miss it."

"Well, personally I can't wait to get out of this body," replied Klaus, a hint of anxiousness to his voice. Although, he always got that way when gone from his own body for too long.

"Don't worry, brother," Leiah said confidently, as she patted his foreign cheek. "Maddox and I will have your body back to you by tonight… Tomorrow morning at the least." After all, there was only so long she could sit in a car with Maddox before something had to happen.

However, all thoughts of what she'd do to the witch during their pitstops vanished swiftly when Klaus snatched a hold of her wrist. His glaring eyes looking down into her suddenly alert blue. "No. Delays. Leiah," he warned coldly, before Leiah snatched her wrist back with a pout.

"For God sake, Klaus. I'm only playing around," she snapped, rubbing at her wrist.

"Well I'm in no bloody mood for your stupid little games, sister. Now, it's time you were going," declared Klaus, as he took Leiah's arm and lead her towards the door.

"You never let me have any fun," grumbled Leiah as Klaus opened the door. He then gave her a shove out, only to have her swing back around before he could close the door. "Actually, before I go," she then added in a more gleeful tone. "Could we take a selfie. Of you in this body."

"Don't waste my time," grumbled Klaus going to shut the door before Leiah forced it back open with her superior strength. It must suck to be human. She said silently to herself, in case saying it out loud landed her in any more trouble.

"Please, Nic," his younger sister pleaded with her big blue eyes. "It would mean a lot."

"Take it when you get back," he snapped in response, trying and failing to shut the door again.

"Come on, it'll take two seconds." And seeing that he wasn't going to get her to leave until she got her way, he conceded on this one issue.

"Fine," sighed Klaus, before plastering on a smile like he knew his sister would want.

Beaming, Leiah bounced back into the apartment as she pulled out her phone. She then grabbed Klaus with her arm around his neck and pulled his borrowed face up against hers as they both smiled for the camera. A few taps of her phone screen later, and she had all she wanted. A few dozen photos of herself and the teacher smiling. Only now she wished she'd taken more before their time was over.

"Hey, Katerina," Leiah called into the apartment as she stepped out, looking over the photos she'd just taken. "Could you take some more photos of Nic while I'm gone."

"No, she can't," Klaus said curtly, before slamming the door in his sister's face.

"Rude," Leiah muttered to herself. Scowling until she saw the smiling faces of herself and the teacher on her phone. Oh well, they'd always have the memories. Thought Leiah as she made her way down the stairs, joining Maddox in his car out front.

"You ready?" he asked, looking across to her from the driver's seat.

"Not quite," Leiah purred in mischievous thought. "Head two blocks over, then stop."

Maddox did as told before pulling over. "Okay, what are we–" his sentence was cut off by Leiah's lips as they slammed against his. With in a second she'd mounted him and reclined his seat as far back as it would go, giving her all the space she needed to work in.

"Just something to hold me over until we get back," Leiah whispered into Maddox's ear through a shaky breath, before their lips reconnected and she reached down to unzip him.

What Niklaus didn't know, wouldn't hurt him. She reminded herself, as she felt Maddox reach down to unzip her in turn.

"Please pull over," instructed Amelia, her eyes flicking back to the road ahead. It was a housing street with plenty of other cars parked on either side, which would allow them to blend in for a moment while she thought.

"Is everything all right?" asked Elena, looking to the blonde Original in the passenger seat next to her. "Are you thirsty, do you need blood?"

"No, Elena, I'm–"

"Please," Elena said, already rolling up her sleeve. "If you need some I don't mind. I've been letting Stefan feed off me for over a month now."

Amelia looked from the veins on Elena's wrist, to her open brown eyes. She really was trying her hardest to mend this bridge her friends had burnt for her.

"Aren't you on vervain?" asked Elijah from the back seat.

"No. I've only got my necklace."

"Which I so easily removed last time," pointed out Elijah in an almost threat. Amelia watched as Elena swallowed uneasily.

"I trust you not to remove it," she said as confidently as she could.

Still watching her carefully, Amelia took Elena's wrist in her hand. Studying her and her slight increase in heart beat. "Just a little," Amelia promised, before the monster within took over.

Her fangs dug into Elena's flesh, and her calm blue eyes were overcome with a storm of swirling blood. After a sip she pulled away, fighting the urge that still persisted even after all those years. It was enough though, enough to rejuvenate her strength and relax her.

Elijah followed suite, taking just a drop before Amelia got a chance to see the damage she'd done to Elena's wrist. To her surprise however, it was rather reminiscent of two plain puncture wounds. The blood making it look worse than it actually was. "Could you pass me a bandage from the glovebox?" asked Elena. Amelia obliged, even making sure to clean the wound before wrapping it.

"Thank you for that, Elena. It was most generous," said Amelia once the whole affair was over.

"Although, considering what you and your friends did to us, it's the least you could do," Elijah said from the back seat as he wiped his lips of the blood.

"Elijah," scorned Amelia in a level tone, looking to him through Elena's review mirror. What he was saying might well be true, but it wasn't the sort of thing people like them should say out loud. It was rude.

"No, he's right," Elena spoke up in his defence. "And I still need to apologise to you both for what happened. I had no idea they were planning something like that, but that doesn't excuse it and I am sorry. Sorry that they broke our deal which you both upheld even when I couldn't."

It was touching, and in truth Amelia always did appreciate a sincere apology – which Elena had just provided them with – but it would take more than that to mend the trust that had been broken. Especially when she and her brother had been daggered just like he used to do to them. Leaving them powerless and in the darkness, all alone. It was one of the few things that could shake Amelia, that experience. And even if she still had the dagger in her possession, it didn't make her feel completely safe from its terrifying effects.

As if mirroring her thoughts, Elijah then asked, "Where did you get the daggers?"

Elena looked back to him. Then to Amelia so she didn't have to crane her neck. "I'll tell you both everything. But we have to work together, the three of us. I need both your words," Elena explained, which was hardly all that surprising. It was obvious the only reason they'd been freed was so Elena could make another deal with them.

"I'm sorry, Elena, but after everything that's transpired, I for one will not be handing out my word so easily." There was some genuine sympathy to Amelia's voice, but the simple fact was that she'd been stabbed in the back, literally, and that made Elena's word meaningless to her. So why would she give her word to someone she knew couldn't keep their own?

"Nor I," added Elijah.

"I understand," Elena said. "But I still want to help you both. And in return, I would like you to help me."

"And why should we even consider your proposal?" asked Elijah, as Elena craned her neck once more to look back.

"For the same reason that neither of you have killed me," Elena said, looking to Amelia, "You need my help to kill Klaus. And I need you both."

Amelia thought this over for the briefest of moment, before she took Elena's necklace in her hand. She ripped it away and threw it onto the dashboard, before grabbing Elena's throat and forcing her back against the chair, making sure she had no chance of reaching her vervain. Although she only seemed to realise what was happening after the sizzling of Amelia's skin ceased. Even then though, she didn't panic, remaining still as Amelia wasn't even choking her – merely holding her in place as her blue eyes attempted to bore into her mind.

"You're quite right, Elena. We do need you. And now we have you," pointed out Amelia while Elijah remained in silence. "And while you are offering to cooperate with us freely, as you can see, we can make you by force. So why burden ourselves with your needs and wants when we now have everything we need to achieve our own?"

"Because I know you both," Elena answered as firmly as she could.

"You know nothing of us," Elijah hissed in her ear as he leaned forward.

"I know you're both honourable. And that despite my friends betrayal, me removing those daggers still means something to you both," Elena said, voice raised to keep them quiet rather than out of fear for herself, as a ferocity moved its way into her words. "If I'd wanted to try and blackmail you, I'd have let one of you go and held the other over you. But not only did I let you both go, I gave you the only two weapons we had against you both. I've thrown myself at your mercy because I know you won't force me to do anything against my will. I'm not going to strike a deal, and if you don't want to give me your word then I understand. But I am offering my help, and I would appreciate it if you helped me too, though I'd understand if you don't. But I give you my word, that I will help you to kill Klaus."

Her voice then grew quieter as she then said, "My friends are all willing to die to protect me. But I don't want that. I'd rather die than see any of them do the same for me. And I understand their reasoning, because if it was them I'd want to try and save them too. But that's why I need you. Because your the only ones who I can trust not to put my survival first. The ones who will help me to defeat Klaus, even if it means sacrificing me. And that's the only way I can protect everyone I care about from him."

It was only when she finished, Elena realised that at some point during her speech, Amelia had released her. The harshness in her blue eyes now gone and replaced with something almost vulnerable. As if Elena had just reminded her of who she was.

"You're very passionate, Elena," Elijah said softly from the behind. "You speak from the heart. But pretty words won't be enough to win back our trust. How do we know you or your friends won't just break our agreement again when an opportunity presents itself?" If she'd had a response for Elijah, she didn't say it. Distracted by the buzzing of her phone as she pulled it from her pocket.

She glanced a the screen telling her who it was. Thought about it for a moment before then answering, eyes going to Amelia to see how much she'd object. Amelia merely watched and listened, which seemed to be what Elena had been hoping for.

"Where are you? Are you okay?" came Stefan's concerned voice, confirming that he at the very least had known nothing about Elena's plans as of late.

"Yes, I'm fine," Elena replied calmly.

"Where's Elijah and Amelia?"

"They're right here with me." Another glance to Amelia, before she went back to looking out the windscreen. Unable to hold the Original's blue eyes while talking to her boyfriend.

"Where? I'm on my way."

Amelia then watched as Elena responded, without any prompting from her or her brother. "No, Stefan. I need some time alone with them." She was really trying her hardest to win them back over, and doing a far better job than any grovelling vampire minion had over the years.

With the vampires, they did it out of fear for what the Originals could do to them. Elena – as Elijah had pointed out – was acting from her heart. Her intentions were for that of her loved ones, but what she was really trying to prove to the Originals in the car with her, was that she could be trusted once more. However, she wasn't the only one who needed to earn back the Originals trust if they were going to strike an alliance.

"Listen to me. They can't be trusted, they'll use to you to get to Klaus," presided Stefan from down the phone. Him being another of the ones in need of proving himself to the Originals once more. He'd been part of the problem last time, and from the sound of it there was no reason for him not to be a problem again.

"They both live by a code of honour, Stefan. I know I can trust them. If I were to try and betray them again they'd still end up getting what they want. But I want them to trust me the way I trust them. Me removing the daggers is part of building up that trust again. Just like I'm doing now by not telling you where we are."

"You can't do this alone," insisted Stefan uneasily.

"She won't have to," Amelia spoke up, capturing Elena's confused attention. However, she elaborated no further, forcing Elena to return to her call with Stefan and conclude it as she'd originally intended.

"It's my decision, Stefan. Please respect it like you promised you would. And make sure that Damon keeps to that promise too. I'll be in touch." And with that she hung up, before Amelia extended her hand for the phone – a further sign of the the trust Elena was trying to earn back. Part of her had probably seen it coming, as she resigned her phone over, placing it carefully into Amelia's hand, before letting go.

"Before we move on, there's some other things I should probably fill you in on," Elena said sheepishly.

"Oh, that can wait a moment," said Amelia as she looked straight ahead at the parked car in front. "At least until Sarah gets in the car."

"Sarah?!" Elena exclaimed, only to then look back sharply as the passenger side back door opened and Sarah climbed in next to Elijah. Then, without being asked, she pulled out her own phone and handed it over to Elijah who gracefully took it from her.

"I haven't called anyone to tell them where we are," Sarah declared, having been listening in obviously.

"We know," Elijah said, pocketing the phone.

"Sarah, what are you doing here?" asked Elena, eyes wide and panicked as if her presence might ruin all the progress she'd made so far.

"You can relax, Elena," Amelia informed her, having turned to look at her once more. "Of all your friends, Sarah seems to be the only one who respects your opinions enough not to interfere even if she might disagree with them. We are happy to have her join us if you want."

At that reminder, Elena found herself smiling at Sarah over her shoulder. In a way it was almost fitting that she was here with her, as she tried to negotiate with the Originals again. She'd been there every other time, always at her back and listening to what she wanted. When she'd wanted to sacrifice herself for those she loved, Sarah had tried her best to help her even if she didn't wholly agree with it. And when her own views came up, she explained them to Elena rather than snap and shout at her or force her to do things another way. With Sarah, it had always been her choice, and Elena would never be able to thank her enough for that.

"Thank you," Elena said to the Originals. Feeling a little more at ease now that the sides were matched, numbers wise that is. And she could trust Sarah just as Amelia had pointed out. She was here to support, not force her view and opinions on the situation.

"And for the record, I would like to apologise for my brothers' actions too," Sarah said after she broke off eye contact with Elena, leaning around to look at Amelia in the seat in front.

"They deceived her along with me," Elena explained. "Going as far as to lock her up just to keep her out of the way."

"Hmm, wonder how that feels?" Elijah said dryly.

Amelia aloud herself a tiny smirk at her brother's words, before it vanished from her face as quickly as it had formed. "That's enough apologising," advised Amelia. Partly because she was reaching a point where another apology would serve more harm than good to the girls' cause. "Now, what have me and my brother missed that's important?"

Elena pursed her lips, before then coming out and saying, "He's here."

"Klaus is here?" both Amelia and Elijah gasped, as if suddenly realising they'd not just been out for a few minutes like last time – or even over night. Most certainly a few days at least had passed by since they'd been daggered. And with Klaus in town, their trust for Elena suddenly jerked up a few notches. Quite simply because it might well become a necessity soon.

Elena nodded, the worry radiating throughout the car. Elena even going as far as to lower her voice as she spoke. "He's taken over Alaric's body."

"Not only that, but he's got another Original with him," added Sarah.

"Who?" Elijah snapped, gaze shooting towards Sarah who met it, a bit taken aback by his demanding and urgent tone.

"Someone named Leiah," she answered, watching the Original's face as he took in this news. At first he was just shocked – as shocked as he had been when Sarah first mentioned there was another Original. But then he frowned, lines of concern appearing along his forehead, his eyes suggesting things had perhaps become just that little bit more complex now. Which was true for him and Amelia at least.

"Leiah," Amelia whispered, as Sarah and Elena's gaze swung to her. She didn't say anything more though, staring straight to Elijah with the most unnoticeable of smiles on her face. Unnoticeable because of her parted lips and surprised – yet subtly joyful – eyes.

"Yes," added Elijah in a murmur, as if having only part of a conversation with his sister.

"Elena, if you'd be kind enough to take us to the Lockwood's?" Elijah then abruptly asked, to which Elena nodded before starting up the car once more. The ride there was silent, with Elena and Sarah sharing bewildered looks through the mirror, while the two Originals sat silent in thoughts. The worrying aura growing from them with each passing second, until they finally arrived and all exited the tension full car. On the way out, Elena grabbed her necklace, putting it back on as they approached the Lockwood mansion.

Sarah was stood at the back along with Elena, both unsure as to why the Originals had brought them here to the Lockwood's home. Both remained quiet however, as Elijah rang the doorbell with Amelia at his side. The door then opened to present one Carol Lockwood – dressed as if she were about to leave.

"Elijah, Amelia, girls?" said Carol Lockwood in surprise, peering around to see all four of them with a very confused look on her face. One that was getting worse by the second as she then saw the burnt and blackened remains of both Amelia and Elijah's outfits. "What are you doing here? What happened?!"

"We've had a bit of an incident, Carol," Elijah explained smoothy, as if singed cloths were a problem everyone faced from time to time.

"We were hoping you could perhaps help us," added Amelia as she brushed back a lose strand of her blonde hair, having escaped it's once secure place in the bun at the back of her head.

"Well, I'm on my way to a meeting, so I–" Carol began to apologise, only for Elijah to step towards her. His eyes capturing hers as she began the compulsion.

"It won't take but a minute of your time," he assured her, almost as if he wasn't even compelling her, but rather charming her.

To further add to that idea, Carol Lockwood then broke out into an obliging smile. "Of course. Anything you need," she said as she stepped aside, gesturing them all in. One by one they stepped in, Sarah and Elena once again sharing unsure looks, confused as to how Elijah had been able to compel someone like Carol Lockwood, who really should be on vervain.

"Carol, would it at all be possible for me to borrow something off of you? As you can see, me and my brother are in dire need of some fresh clothing," explained Amelia once they were all inside.

"Well, your a bit taller than me," pointed out Carol Lockwood in serious thought, before she then brightened up. "But I'm sure I've got something you can squeeze into for the time being, and some of my coats should be big enough for you too. Just take your pick." Amelia thanked her with a smile and a nod. "And as for Elijah, he can try on my husband's suits. I haven't boxed any of them up yet."

"That'll do nicely, thank you Carol," Elijah replied, before watching as Carol made her way up stairs.

"How did you know she's not on vervain?" Elena asked quietly as Carol vanished beyond the landing above them.

"'Cause we're the ones who got her off it," answered Elijah as he and his sister looked to Elena and Sarah.

"It was before your friends killed us," pointed out Amelia casually, no hint of bitterness to her voice.

"Twice," Elijah then added, bitterness – even if only a half measure – still clear in his voice.

"Now if you'll excuse us–" Amelia said, herself and her brother moving to follow Carol Lockwood before a buzzing emitted from Elijah. As he ascended the first few steps he pulled out Sarah's phone, glancing over it before turning back around to address his companions from his elevated level.

"It would appear Jenna is trying to call you."

At her name both Sarah and Elena perked up, the pair sharing a look before Sarah stepped forward to plea. "Could I answer it please. Last time I talked to her things didn't end all that well, and if she's calling me I can only imagine it's for something important."

"Something else we missed while lying in your basement," Elijah said curtly, though held out the phone all the same. But as Sarah took it, he added, "We'll of course be listening in, just to be certain." Sarah nodded, accepting this without argument as she answered the phone.

"Jenna?" Sarah said nervously into the phone, unsure of what she was about to get into with her friend – if they even still were friends.

"Hey," Jenna replied, voice even more bitter than Elijah's. In fact, Jenna's tone actually revealed to Sarah how tame Elijah's bitterness had been. "I'm looking for Elena and Jeremy," she continued, getting straight to the point. "I've tried calling them both but neither are answering their phones."

Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah caught Amelia taking out Elena's phone and turning it on to confirm this. She must have had at least one missed call from Jenna, because without a word of intervention, Amelia slid the phone back into her pocket.

"Sorry, I don't know where either of them are," apologised Sarah as she looked to Elena who nodded in agreement with what she was saying. If it wasn't life threatening, then it could wait until they'd won back the Original's trust.

"You sure you're not lying to me again," Jenna bit back, making Sarah wince.

"Jenna–" Sarah tried to apologise, only for her friend to cut her off.

"Save it. I was only calling in case you knew where they were. Or in case you could decipher the weird messages they've been leaving."

Sarah looked to Elena and frowned, although it did little more than confuse Elena herself since she couldn't hear Jenna's half of the conversation. "What messages?"

"Some nonsense about staying away from Ric and that he's dangerous. Any idea what she's talking about?" came the voice of a clearly suspicious woman. One who frankly had every right to be suspicious.

"It's kinda hard for me to explain over the phone, Jenna," Sarah said sheepishly, wincing even more now under the press of her friend's voice. She could only imagine what her gaze would be doing to her right now. It probably would have been enough to break her down and have her telling Jenna everything.

"Well, I'm home so if you have to tell me in person, you can."

At this Sarah shifted gears entirely. "You're home?!" Sarah exclaimed with wide eyes as she looked to Elena once more, the brunette mirroring her alarmed expression.

"Yeah. I came back so I could get to the bottom of all this. Although, as I'm saying this, I realise it might all have been a clever ruse by you all to get me back," Jenna muttered spitefully down the line. "Anyway, I'll be going out soon to meet Ric for lunch, so if you want to talk–"

"Jenna, listen to me," Sarah said over her, cutting her off with the seriousness of her voice. "Don't leave the house, don't go and meet Ric, and if he shows up don't let him in. Understand me, do not let him in!" stressed Sarah into the phone.

"All right, what is going on?" demanded Jenna just as firmly back down the phone.

Back to wincing, Sarah replied, "I told you, I can't exactly explain that over the phone."

"Well, either you come here and explain it, or I go and meet Ric and have him explain it to me instead."

Sarah turned around to face the Originals, a pleading look on her face as she covered the speaker of the phone with her hand. "Please, I have to go and talk to her. She's in danger and she still has no idea what's going on," Sarah begged, her eyes switching between the Originals as she waited for them to respond. Elijah's face was stern, not looking as if he was about to yield, and Amelia's was impossible to read.

"I'll stay with you, but let Sarah go and help Jenna, please. She's my family," Elena added, stepping up to Sarah's side with the same pleading look in her eye.

Seeing Amelia waver for a split second, Sarah focused on her as she spoke once more. "I know you don't completely trust us and again, I'm sorry for what happened to you. But Jenna's in this situation because of me. Because I was a bad friend to her. I need to protect her and make that right. I'll do whatever you want. I'll stay away until you say, I'll come straight back with her if that's what you want, whatever. But I need to talk to her right now. You heard her, if I don't she's going to go and meet Klaus and that's not good for any–"

"You may go," Amelia said suddenly, her slick voice slicing Sarah's voice off and leaving an astonished and thankful look upon her face.

"Thank you," Sarah said as she began to run for the door, lifting the phone back up. "Jenna, I'm coming over right now to explain everything to you. The whole truth and anything else you want to know. Just don't let Alaric in until I get there." She hung up before Jenna could reply, as she pulled open the front door.

"Sarah," Elijah called down to her, giving her pause as she looked back at his steel like gaze. "Tell anyone of where we are and you and Elena will lose the little trust you've both earn back so far."

"I understand. I'll stay way unless you call me," she added, raising her phone and nodding towards Amelia, who had Elena's phone with her number in it. Acknowledging, the two Original nodded back, before Sarah looked to Elena. "I won't let anything happen to her, I promise."

"I know," Elena said, full of belief as she nodded for Sarah to leave, before the vampire sped out the door in a blur.

Once she was a fair distance away from the Lockwood's, she then called Stefan, telling him about Jenna and to meet her there with Damon. However, apparently Damon wasn't in much of a helping mood, so when Sarah arrived it was only Stefan who met her as he climbed out of his car. "What's Damon's problem this time?" Sarah asked as they made their way up onto the Gilbert porch.

"Same as always," grumbled Stefan as he knocked on the door. "He's annoyed he's not getting his way."

The front door then opened, and Sarah would have thrown her arms around Jenna, had it not been for the displeased scowl on her face. She probably should have been expecting that, and even while it hurt to see such an angry look aimed at her, Sarah was still glad Jenna was back and safe for now. "Hi, Jenna," Sarah said awkwardly.

"Hey," Jenna replied tightly, folding her arms as she stared back at the liar.

"Can we come in and talk?" Stefan asked in a more diplomatic manner. Jenna considered this for a moment, eyeing Sarah spitefully the whole time, before then opening the door the rest of the way and stepping back. "Thank you," Stefan said as he and Sarah stepped in, following Jenna as she lead them down the hallway and into towards the kitchen.

"Jenna, I know I've already said this, but I really am sorry for everything. And I'll answer any question you have but first I have to tell you–" Sarah stopped as she and Stefan entered the kitchen. Her eyes widening as she saw Alaric – Klaus, chopping carrots at the kitchen island with a knife. And never in Sarah's time as a vampire had she been more scared of an ordinary kitchen knife.

"Hey, Stefan, Sarah," Klaus greeted with a thin and knowing smile. But before anything more could be said, Sarah had grabbed a hold of Jenna and had pulled her behind her. Her eyes scanning the room for Leiah in case she'd come too.

"Sarah, what the hell?!" Jenna snapped from behind, but Sarah's eyes were back on Klaus.

"Yes, is everything all right, Sarah?" asked Klaus, lifting the chopping knife as he made his way partially around the island.

"Don't come near us," snarled Sarah. She didn't care how powerful he was, while in Alaric's body, he was human. But if he had Leiah with him, then they'd be in for a fight Sarah wasn't sure they could win. At least not her and Stefan on their own.

From behind, she felt Jenna try to get around her. She quickly pushed her back, inching towards the hallway as she did, so that Jenna couldn't get around her as easily again. She'd made a promise to Elena to protect her aunt, but more than that, Sarah was going to protect her friend. After everything she'd put her through she wasn't going to let her die while she still hated her guts. She still had to tell Jenna everything, and then let her decide how much their friendship meant to her. If Sarah being a vampire was enough to ruin it forever. And the thought made Sarah's stomach turn more than she thought. She didn't want to loose Jenna. Not like Ronnie had lost her, or like she'd lost Lexi. But one problem at a time, and right now, the problem in front of her was a big one.

"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?!"

After finding suitable clothing, Elijah had dismissed Carol Lockwood and he and Amelia joined Elena in one of the sitting rooms for tea. The two of them occupied one couch while Elena sat opposite in one of the lone armchairs. She wasn't in the mood for tea apparently, having taken only a sip, but Amelia had gone through half her cup already. Taking in the delectable warm substance with delight. A good drink or meal was always the best thing to calm her down after being killed at the hands of the dagger – that was after she'd had some blood, an unfortunate itch that if left unscratched would lead to a very sour Original. No matter how good the tea was.

Letting out a soothing breath, Amelia rested the remainder of her tea down on the provided saucer, deciding it best they get back to business. Elena was looking rather on edge after all, although Amelia presumed that was because of Klaus going after her aunt, rather than the fact she was now, once again, alone with the two Originals. Resuming the conversation would probably do her some good, give her mind something else to focus on, rather than the thing that was out of her control.

"May I ask, Elena," Amelia began, apparently snapping Elena out of whatever she'd been thinking about. "What has become of the Martin witches?"

The grimace across Elena's face gave it away before she said anything. "I'm sorry. After what happened with the two of you…"

"They retaliated," Elijah finished for her, to which Elena nodded. "I'm not surprised. Jonas was desperate after all," Elijah thought aloud, before taking another sip of his tea.

Amelia hadn't thought of Jonas as that unhinged, but she knew he'd thought they were his best and only chance of getting his daughter back. And past experience was enough to tell Amelia that when it came to family, people could very easily become unhinged. Herself included.

"We didn't want to kill them," Elena said quietly.

"But they left you no choice, we completely understand," Elijah said dryly, earning himself a sideways glare from his sister. Although she said nothing before looking back to the ashamed Elena.

"I'm sorry," Elena said again.

"At least you're being honest," Amelia simply replied, before picking up her own tea for another sip. She was going to need some more soon if this kept up. It was rather good she had to admit.

"And what of Katerina?" Elijah then asked, almost prompting Amelia to spit at the name. She'd forgotten about that wretched woman, rather happily. He was right to ask though, for when she was daggered the first time, her compulsion would have been broken. Meaning that particular doppelgänger was back out in the wind, however much it irritated her.

"Klaus took her. We think that she may be dead," Elena answered with almost a hint of sorrow.

"I wouldn't worry about that," Amelia said, smile on her lips as she set her tea back down. Her sullen mood gone with the new news. "You can rest assure that Katerina will be suffering at Klaus' hands. He won't kill her, not yet anyway."

"How can you be so sure?" asked Elena.

"Because we know him better than anyone," Elijah assured her.

"How so?"

"Because he's our brother," answered Amelia, watching with a touch of satisfaction as Elena's jaw dropped.

"Yes, Klaus is our brother and Leiah is also our sister," added Elijah with a thin grin of his own.

"I heard that… I'm just…I'm still processing," said Elena, brow and jaw moving up and down in minor ways as the gears in her head rotated around. Trying to piece it all together, only to then see that it did in a way make sense.

"Yes, me and my sister are a little behind on the times. But I believe the term you're searching for is, 'O.M.G,'" Elijah then said, before hiding his smirk behind another sip of tea.

"So…" Elena began after a moment, thinking over her words before she said them out loud. "There's a whole family of Originals?"

"Our father was a wealthy land owner in a village in Eastern Europe. Our mother bore a total of ten children," Elijah said, giving the doppelgänger a glimpse into their past – something very few knew a lot about.

"Ten?" Elena exclaimed in shock. The idea of ten Original vampires running around might have been a scary though, but to think that they were all born from the same mother was rather insane. Then again, she had no reason not to believe it either, knowing that in the past, and even in some countries today, parents could have up to as many as ten children – even if the risk increased with each birth.

"Our mother was a very special woman," Amelia continued, as if picking up on Elena's thoughts and concerns.

"Was she a vampire?" Elena asked slowly, wondering if that was how the woman had been able to endure all that pain.

"No. None of us were at first," admitted Amelia, looking of into what could only be described as the distant past. Many, many lifetimes ago. "We were born human." Something like longing briefly passing through those old blue eyes before Elijah then spoke up again.

"Our origin as vampires is a very long story, Elena. Just know, we are the oldest vampires in the world. We are the Original family, and from us all vampires were created."

"But…if Klaus is your brother, why do you want him dead? And what about Leiah, and your other siblings?" asked Elena slowly. To which both Originals abruptly rose.

"I could use some air. I still feel a tad…dead," said Elijah as he fastened his jacket. "What of you, Amelia?"

"Some air sounds good," she agreed, as they began to walk. "Coming, Elena?" she asked over her shoulder, though they all knew it wasn't really a question.

Quickly grabbing her own jacket and pulling it on, Elena followed as they made their way outside and began their casual walk around the Lockwood's rather massive back garden. "As you've seen," Elijah lectured as they walked across the lawn. "Nothing can kill an Original. Not Sun, not fire, not even a werewolf bite. Only the wood from one tree. A tree our family made sure burned."

"That's where the white ash for the dagger comes from," said Elena. Amelia nodded at her, impressed with how quickly she'd pieced those two particular pieces together.

"Correct, Elena. You see, nature won't allow anything to be truly immortal. There must be a balance, and every creature needs a weakness in order to maintain that balance," Amelia explained.

"But if the sun can't kill an Original, then why is Klaus so obsessed with breaking the Sun and Moon curse?"

"Ah, the curse of the Sun and the Moon," Elijah sighed with a knowing grin as he looked back to Elena, coming to a stop along with his sister. "It's all so…biblical sounding, don't you think?" Elena frowned, looking back between the two knowing Originals, with equally knowing grins.

"What's so funny?" she asked, not getting the hint Elijah had laid out for her.

The two Originals shared a look before turning back to Elena. "Let me ask you something, Elena. How long did you have to look before finding out about the Sun and the Moon curse?" Amelia asked, leading her much as Elijah had.

Elena thought about for a second. "Not very long actually. Alaric found it after one trip to Duke."

"Rather convenient, don't you think?" Amelia continued with her grin still in place. "How if you look just beneath the surface you'll find it. One might even say that if any supernatural went looking for it they'd stumble across it sooner or later."

"I don't understand."

Another look between the two Original siblings before Elijah took over. "How about a little brotherly insight into Klaus then, perhaps that might help to clear things up." Elena's frown deepened, clearly having no idea what was happening. "For instance, it might interest you to know, that Klaus is quite the artist.

"And for someone of our age, there comes a point, in between the centuries, when you look for a way to pass the time. For Klaus, it was his art. He's dipped his brush – as it were – into many styles and cultures throughout the ages. He did a few Roman parchments, a couple of African carvings, and even a few Aztec drawings…" And as he trailed off, it finally clicked for Elena.

"So, you're saying…that Klaus drew the Aztec sketches about the curse?"

"Quite so," answered Elijah.

"And not just the Aztecs. We planted the legend of the curse into many other cultures from all around the world," added Amelia.

"But why?"

Elijah shrugged as if it were obvious. "Easiest way to discover the existence of a doppelgänger or to get your hands on some long, lost moonstone is to have every single member of two warring species on the lookout."

"So it's not Aztec at all?" Elena asked, only just feeling like she was keeping up.

"It's not from any culture," answered Elijah.

Thankfully for Elena, Amelia took it from there and elaborated. "The curse of the Sun and the Moon…is fake, Elena." And for the second time they watched Elena's jaw drop in disbelief. "It doesn't exist," she added to ram the point home, before she and Elijah turned to continue walking.

From behind, Elena stood still for a moment. The gap between them growing as she simple stood and took in the fact that this curse she'd heard so much about, and that so many people had died over…was a lie.