Review responses:
Guest (1): I'm so glad you feel that way. I'm crying now too!
Bornkiller9: Here's the first half of it, I hope it delivers. And you never know, she still could. Yes, upon rewatching season 3 I see a bit of that too and I'm aware it gets worse as it goes on. I am planning on toning it down, we'll see if I succeed. Can't wait to for you to see how this story wraps up!
doubtedbus406: I love updating this story, I just wish I could do it more often, but support from reviewers such as yourself is a big motivation and help, so thank you! So glad to hear you're enjoying it, and you can expect another update next week too.
Guest (2): Fair enough, thanks for leaving your thoughts.
Here we go! Show time!
Chapter 42: The Ritual Begins
It was finally here. The time had come. And Leiah couldn't be happier for her brother. After centuries of preparation and searching, finally his moment had come. He'd be free of his curse and become what he was truly meant to be. A Hybrid. He'd finally be happy.
And when her brother was happy, Leiah was happy to. But she'd be even more happy when she got to experience the chaos that followed. The rise of the Hybrid race. A species which would tip the balance of power in the supernatural world, redefine the rules of nature. It was these moments in history, that Leiah had always looked back on fondly. The ones that brought about the most chaos and amusement for her. After all, what else was an immortal girl to do with her time?
"How are we all feeling then?" Leiah announced her presence, making her way down the hill to the ritual site. It was a clearing near a body of water, somewhere near a quarry, surrounded by trees and a cliff face opposite the lake. In the middle of the clearing, on their knees, were the doppelgänger and her aunt.
Leiah smiled happily over to them, but the doppelgänger only glare back. The aunt had other things on her mind, in the middle of clutching her head. "My head," she groaned from next to the doppelgänger. "What's wrong with me?"
"Don't worry, it won't last," said Leiah with a grin towards Greta. The witch was stood by a stone built alter, spell book in hand, while Leiah was off to the right, unfolding a portable sun lounger so that it was facing the centre of the clearing.
"Do you remember what happened?" the doppelgänger said quietly to Jenna, but not so quite that Leiah couldn't hear.
"You called me. You were so scared…" Then came the moment of realisation for the aunt as she groaned in frustration. "I should have realised that it wasn't you."
"I wouldn't beat yourself up too much," said Leiah, suddenly looming over the pair and making the aunt jump towards doppelgänger. The doppelgänger wrapped an arm around her aunt, but her disapproving eyes remained on Leiah. The Original simply grinned, admiring the defiance in the doppelgänger's eyes, knowing full well nothing else would come of it. She'd resigned herself to her fate, and to try and fight back now would only end badly for her and her loved ones. And she knew that.
"Katerina can be quite convincing when she wants to be."
"Katerina?" the aunt breathed, confused as she looked to the doppelgänger.
"Eh, Katherine's original name," the doppelgänger hastily explained, not giving the point much attention since it wouldn't matter once they were all dead.
Casually, Leiah then reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out a small crumpled up bag with red and white strips. "Go on," she said to the aunt as she unwrapped the top of the bag, reaching in to pull out a piece of popcorn. "You were telling her how you ended up here." Leiah herself of course knew this, but even so, a recap never hurt before the next episode.
She threw the piece of salted popcorn into her mouth, chewing as the two women on their knees stared up at her. One shocked, scared and confuse. The other, with that same annoyance mixed in with anger that wouldn't go beyond a glare.
"The…The second I walked out the house, someone grabbed me." The aunt then looked back up at Leiah. "You grabbed me."
Leiah waved her finger at the incorrect answer. "No, no, no. Klaus, my brother, he grabbed you."
"And he…" the aunt gasped in disgust as she remember.
"Go on. Say it," Leiah said mirthfully. The doppelgänger still glaring at her but not daring to speak up.
"He fed me his blood," the aunt answered shakily.
"And do you know what that means?"
"Stop it," the doppelgänger finally said in a quiet voice.
"It means I'm going to be become a vampire," the aunt said, tears pricking at her eyes.
"That's right," agreed Leiah as she bent down, eagerness on her lips.
"Stop it," the doppelgänger said, louder this time.
Leiah ignored her again, continuing on with her torturous words. "So, you've drank vampire blood." She raised one finger. "Then you died." She held up another. "Now your alive again." A third rose, and with it, so did Leiah's smile. "Which leaves only one step left."
"Stop it, leave her alone!" shouted the doppelgänger.
"Have you felt it yet?" continued Leiah, edging closer towards the aunt as she spoke in a hushed voice. "The hunger. That itch you just can't scratch. I imagine your throat's pretty dry about now. Your head aching… Just imagine what one sip would do for you. Just a drop, and it all gets so much better." By this point the aunt was entranced by her words, on the point of drooling as she stared almost hypnotically back at Leiah. The Original could tell she was getting to her, and she wasn't about to let some loud mouth doppelgänger ruin her fun.
"Stop!" the doppelgänger cried out, going to lunge for Leiah, before the petite blonde Original sent her flying back with a slap. The doppelgänger sailed through the air, landing a meter or so away as she crashed to the dirty ground painfully.
"Elena!" the aunt cried after her. But her gaze was then swiftly pulled back to Leiah, as the Original grabbed her chin and turned the aunt's eyes back towards her own.
"Soon it will over whelm you, you know," Leiah said, captivating the aunt as the doppelgänger struggled to get back up, winded from the blow. "Soon, you won't be able to fight it. You'll feed off anything with a pulse. You'll lose control and you'll kill them." Leiah then turned the aunt's chin towards Elena. Showing her her injured and defenceless niece as she climbed back up. "You'll kill her."
"No…"
Leiah turned her back around. "But I can help you. All you need to do, is feed."
"Jenna, no!" Elena shouted as she tried to run, only for a circle of fire to surround her, leaving her no where to go.
"Feed," continued Leiah, "and everything will be all right. You'll stop suffering, you won't hurt your niece. Everything will be better. You want that don't you?"
The aunt nodded, giving in to the hunger and Leiah's twisted words. The Original smiled, looking over to Greta and beckoning her with a nod of the head.
The witch then approached, smiling herself as she held out her wrist towards Leiah. Then, with care and delicate affection, Leiah bite into her wrist. Taking a little blood for herself before pulling away. Leaving the exposed and bleeding wrist for the aunt to see. That which she craved laid out before her, as Leiah pulled Greta's hand forward.
"Go on, Jenna. Give in," Lieah tempted her, watching as the aunt's eyes became hypnotised by the very sight of the blood. Unable to look away as she tried to fight it, pulling back and yet leaning in towards it at the same time. Her back arched inwards while her head craned towards that which she desperately wanted.
"Drink it. You know you want to," continued Leiah.
"Jenna, don't! Fight it!" cried out the doppelgänger from her prison.
"I can't," Jenna breathed. Slowly, she was leaning in, as if being pulled in by a rope she was still fighting against. But Leiah could see, she wouldn't hold out much longer. The inevitable would happen, and she'd complete her transition. Even so, it was fun to watch her squirm.
Her lips were now over Greta's wrist, the final leap there. All she had to do was bite down and let the blood enter her mouth. "No!" the doppelgänger cried out again, but it was futile. Proven so by the aunt herself as she finally collapsed under the pressure, and fell upon Greta's wrist. Bitting in and consuming the blood. The blood that had now solidified her transformation into a vampire.
"There we go, doesn't that feel better?" said Leiah soothingly as she stroked back the aunt's hair. Watching as the new vampire drank from her first meal. Unfortunately though, she couldn't let her kill Greta. Klaus still needed her, so once the aunt had had enough, she pulled her off and pushed her towards the next circle Greta had set up. With a raised hand, Greta then lit the flames around the aunt, just as she had with the doppelgänger.
"Welcome to team V," Leiah congratulated the aunt, as she looked up from where she'd been shoved. Blood now surrounding her green eyes.
While the doppelgänger then proceeded to reassure her aunt, Leiah bent down to pick up the bag of popcorn she'd dropped while dealing with the new vampire's transition. "Would you like a topping?" offered Greta, holding out her still bleeding wrist.
Leiah grinned. "You're too good to me." She then held out her bag beneath Greta's wrist, as the witch tilted until a thin stream of blood began to dribble down onto the popcorn.
Once she was done, a quick spell had her wrist healed and she returned to the alter to await Klaus. As for Leiah, she made herself comfy on the sun lounger, watching the aunt as she stared on towards her. The blood luring her vision no matter how much she tried to fight it. The doppelgänger kept trying to distract her, but Leiah knew what the aunt was going through all to well. Which made it all the more enjoyable for her as she slowly eat her bloody popcorn. Savouring the taste and smirking as the aunt stared on hungrily, and the doppelgänger glared daggers at her.
It was shaping up to be a good night.
Using an exposed rusted pipe, Scarlett smoothly lifted up her chin to the ceiling, before lowering her body back down. Her knees were bent, allowing her to keep her feet from the floor, as she closed her arms in on themselves to preform another chin up. There wasn't much else for her to do productive wise. So over the past few days, while in the old haunted witch house with Jeremy and Bonnie, she'd been working out so that she'd been ready for Klaus and Leiah.
"You feeling all right?" Jeremy asked from the floor next to Bonnie. The pair of them surrounded by open books with one in each hand.
Ever since Sarah had told them about Damon feeding Elena vampire blood that morning, they'd all been searching Bonnie's grimoires for a spell that might allow her to survive the ritual without turning into a vampire. So far, there'd been no such luck. And when Scarlett got frustrated, she worked out – and when it came to researching and rereading old boring books over and over again, she got frustrated a lot.
"Yeah… I'm good…" replied Scarlett in between chin ups.
"You sure?" Jeremy asked, a touch of familiar concern to his voice. "It's the full moon after all."
"I know, Jer," replied Scarlett, doing another two chin ups before dropping down to her feet. "But as long as I've got my necklace, I'm in complete control."
"So why all the pull ups?" Jeremy asked, gesturing with his hand to pipe she'd been using.
"Bored," Scarlett shrugged, watching as he smiled a little back at her.
It was the last thing she'd been expecting, but over the last few days, she and Jeremy had grown closer. For one thing they were now able to look each other in the eye again. Something which they hadn't been able to do when they first arrived to help protect Bonnie.
At first Scarlett had thought Damon mad for thinking that she and Jeremy could work things out, just because they were forced to stay together for a couple of nights. But in the end it had done something for them. Through pure exposure to one another, they'd gotten used to one another again. Plus her training sessions with Jeremy had forced them to put their feelings on hold so that he could learn a few tricks that might actually save his life. She'd gone through a few basics with him on fighting, where best to strike a vampire with a stake, the amount of force needed, how surprise would be his best – and pretty much only weapon. And despite the seriousness of it all…it had been nice. To connect with him again. And through those few hours she'd felt their relationship reform into something new. Not the same as they once had – she wouldn't even say it was better. But it was an improvement, which she'd been wanting ever since she'd told him about Mason. There was still a long road ahead, but it was one she'd happily walk down if it lead her back to Jeremy.
Although she'd never admit to Damon his plan had actually worked. That was an ego boost the blue eyed vampire did not need.
"Well, you could come and help us with this research?" offered Bonnie in response to Scarlett. Gesturing to the old dusty books scattered around her and Jeremy.
Scarlett scrunched up her nose, hands resting on her hips. "I'm not exactly good at the whole research thing, remember."
"Yeah, but the more eyes we have looking the better chance we have of finding something," argued Bonnie as she looked back down to her grimoire.
"She's right," agreed Jeremy, as he picked up a closed book and hurled it towards Scarlett. She caught it in between both hands, groaning to herself as she made her way over to join her friends. Dropping onto the floor in front of them, she folded her legs and opened up the grimoire – reminding herself that it was for Elena, Jeremy's sister – and got to reading. After all, with every second counting, she couldn't really say no. Besides, the more they could get through in the least amount of time, the better chance they had at saving Elena from becoming a vampire. She just had to keep reminding herself that she was doing it for Jeremy. And that in an hour or two she'd be done anyway. Because by then Klaus will have completed his ritual, and it would be time to strike.
They arrived in Alaric's car, parking near the road and a far enough away from the witch house as to avoid being followed. Once parked, Amelia exited from the back of the car along with her brother, Elijah. Alaric and Stefan did the same, before the vampire hunter grabbed a rucksack full of weapons from the trunk of his car. Amelia thought it better not to point out how useless the weapons would be. It was clearly more of a comfort thing for him personally.
Glancing up at the sky while she waited, Amelia took in the beautiful full moon. It was almost sad, that the sight would forever be tainted in her eyes after tonight – more so than it already was. She knew that once she and Elijah dealt with Klaus, nothing would be the same for them again. But they owed it to their family, and they had to get Leiah away from him, before she ended up like the rest. It was painful, she knew it always would be, and she hoped in the moment she wouldn't fail. Family had always been a weak spot for her, but she could no longer see Klaus as family, not after what he'd so cruelly done to her siblings. At one point she'd loved him as much as any of her other siblings, but now, he was merely the monster that had taken them all away from her. She just hoped that image stayed in her head when it came time to kill him once and for all.
They started their walk through the forest, and as they walked, Amelia and Elijah told their companions about the ritual. "The sacrifice is completed in stages as the full moon sets," Amelia said aloud as the four of them strode through the forest, her hands shoved in her raincoat pockets. "First the werewolf is killed, then the vampire, and finally the doppelgänger. Once Elena dies and Klaus has consumed her blood, the curse will be broken and he will become the hybrid."
"So when do we attack?" Alaric asked for the back, his bag of weapons slung over his shoulder.
Elijah answered, "Elena's death will activate his dormant werewolf side and force him to change beneath the full moon. He'll be vulnerable during this transformation. That's when Bonnie comes in."
"And you're sure Bonnie will survive this?" asked Stefan, a hint of skepticism which Amelia could understand. Just because Elena was trusting them didn't mean he automatically did. And she was fine with this, so long as he didn't hinder her and her brother's only chance to put things right.
"Yes," said Amelia confidently, with a glance back to show him her certain blue eyes. "All she has to do is hold him down and peel back the magic protecting him. Through his breaking of the curse, and his initial change from human to wolf, the magic that makes us Originals impossible to kill will be weakened. This will allow Bonnie to give us a chance to kill him. A chance were he will stay dead."
"What about Leiah?"
"It will only take one of us and Bonnie to kill Klaus," Elijah replied. "The other will stop Leiah from causing any trouble. Afterwards, we will take her away and see to her."
"And which one of you is doing what?" asked Alaric.
The two Originals shared an uneasy look which they managed to hide from those behind them. The fact was, they hadn't yet decided who was going to be doing what. As the oldest, Amelia thought it right that she should be the one to deliver the final blow to Klaus, and keep that burden from landing on Elijah's shoulders. That said, she also knew how hard it would be for her go through with it when the time came. Like Elijah she always strove to keep her word…but she and her siblings had made a vow, so very long ago. One that she wasn't sure she could break, even if Niklaus had. Her younger siblings had always left her a little blind to their faults. In someways, even now, she still saw Niklaus as she had when they were human. When he was that timid boy who loved to laugh and paint – despite what he'd now become.
"It's unimportant," decreed Elijah, both he and Amelia looking ahead as the continued on.
A response from those following them was fortunately cut off by Stefan's ringing phone. And after hearing what the caller, Damon, had to say, Stefan and Alaric weren't thinking about what the two Originals were going to do. They were both now panicking over the news that Klaus had Jenna and was planning to use her in the ritual, as his vampire sacrifice. And on top of that, while Damon was now back at the house, getting ready to join them, Sarah had disappeared after finding out about Jenna. Damon had tried to get a hold of her, but she wasn't answering her phone. A fact which Stefan confirmed as the spooky old witch house came into view up ahead.
Amelia could see things were starting to spiral out of control, just as she'd anticipated. It was the way of the world unfortunately, and there was nothing she or anyone else could do to prevent it. No matter what the plan was, there would always be something that went wrong. In this case, it was Jenna being taken, and now Sarah going rouge. And while Amelia was saddened by the news that Jenna would be dying, she was more than prepared to accept that loss, if it meant finally putting an end to Klaus. Her only concern, was that Sarah would try and intervene with Jenna's death and possible ruin the whole plan. She might have been willing to let Elena sacrifice herself, but Amelia doubted the girl would stand by and allow Jenna to be sacrificed unwillingly. Then again, there was a rather obvious solution to that whole problem. A solution that Stefan, it seemed, had already worked out himself.
"So, how are you feeling now that you're a fully fledged vampire?" asked Leiah, finishing off her bloody popcorn. She was once again up, standing on the other side of the flaming circle that surrounded the aunt, the doppelgänger in her own flaming circle on the other side.
"Jenna, don't listen to her," said the doppelgänger, going as close to flames as she dared. Her aunt was sat down in the middle of her own prison. Arms wrapped around her legs as she rocked herself back and forth, no doubt being driven crazy by her new found cravings.
"I feel… I feel like myself…only…"
"Better?" Leiah offered with a smirk.
The aunt shook her head. "No."
"How is it not better?" demanded Leiah, almost insulted by the aunt's whimpering of the situation. "Everything you were has just been upgraded. You can see, hear and feel things that you never could before. This fire, warmer than any before it. The night, so much more welcoming now that you can see through it. What's not to love?"
"I'm terrified!" cried out the aunt suddenly. To which Leiah responded with a screwed up face.
"Well, if you're going to be negative about it, fine," she pouted, turning away as she thought.
Then an idea struck her, and she turned back with a mirthful grin on her freckled face. "You know, I could help with that terror your feeling," offered Leiah.
"What?" asked the amazed aunt.
"Oh, yeah. See, for new vampires, their emotions are a bit…intense," explained Leiah, as the doppelgänger caught on to what she was doing.
"Jenna. Jenna, look at me, don't listen to her." But her aunt didn't turn around, once again focused on Leiah's words.
"That's why vampires have the switch. All you have to do is flick it, and all that terror goes away."
"How do I do that?" asked the quivering aunt.
"You just have to think about it, and focus. Just envision it all going away. Like flicking a switch," said Leiah, her voice dropping down as she spoke, and looking Jenna in the eye as she waited for her to go through with it. To shut off her humanity.
"Jenna, no. It'll turn you into a monster. You won't feel anything bad, but you also won't feel anything good either. You'd be completely emotionless, devoid of all your humanity and morals," explained the doppelgänger hurriedly, before her aunt could do as Leiah wished.
"But you'd be free," whispered Leiah, knowing the aunt could hear her with her now supernatural hearing. "Free from the pain of your emotions. Free from responsibility."
"No. Stop it!" the aunt shouted, covering her ears.
Leiah chuckled. "That won't work. You can still hear me and we both know it. But if it bothers you so much, try turning it off. Nothing will bother you ever again. Or at least for the rest of your short little life, because tonight you're gonna die. So all you need to ask yourself, is do you want to die afraid and in pain, or numb to it all?"
Then, like the angel opposing her devil, the doppelgänger spoke up. "Jenna, whatever she's saying to you, don't listen. I'm not going to let them use you in this ritual. I'll find away to save you." At that Leiah laughed, her voice raising back to normal levels as she addressed the doppelgänger.
"You can't save her."
"Why are you doing this to her?!" snapped the doppelgänger angrily, now that Leiah was talking to her and not her aunt.
Leiah shrugged back. "Because it's amusing. Because I'm bored. Either way does it really matter?"
"Just leave her alone. If you want to pick on someone for your own sick amusement then pick on me!"
Leiah grinned. "Tempting, Hon. But you're under my brother's protection."
"And what about Jenna?" asked the doppelgänger cautiously.
"She's just another vampire," shrugged Leiah. "You're the important part to this."
"But if she's not important, you can let her go," argued doppelgänger pleadingly.
"Nice try, but she still has her uses."
"But you could use another vampire instead of her."
"You're right," agreed Leiah as she grinned, the dancing light of the flames giving her more sinister look in that moment. "So who should we substitute for her? Your boyfriend? Your best friend? The blue eyed brother? Sarah?" At the mention of her friends the doppelgänger tensed, realising what she'd gotten herself into. "Or should I just grab some innocent soul and use them instead? Is that what you want?" The doppelgänger didn't answer, but her shameful glance down at her feet told Leiah all she needed to know. She might not say it out loud, but the truth was the brunette was thinking about Leiah's offer.
"Because if that's what you want, I'll consider it. But you have to tell me that's what you want first. That you want to trade someone else's life for your aunts–"
"I thought you said you had to leave her alone," the aunt spoke up. Still sat down on the ground, but with a sudden spark of fire in her eyes. As the shrunken woman glared up like a tiny child who'd suddenly learnt they could say no to things they didn't like. Leiah smiled down at her, finding it a little cute.
"You're right. So, given any more thought to flicking that pesky humanity switch?"
"I'm not doing it for your amusement," muttered the aunt as she turned away.
Leiah shrugged again. "Just keep it in mind when the time comes. Believe it or not, I'm only trying to help."
"I doubt it," snipped the doppelgänger with a glare after Leiah. But the short blonde chose to rise above her, smiling back sweetly, as she turned to walk away.
She was no more than a few steps away when they all heard the scream of pain from up the hill.
"Who's that?" asked the startled aunt.
"Our final guest," answered Leiah was a grin. Turning towards the hill in preparation of her brother's arrival with the last ingredient.
"It's the werewolf," said Elena, as from out of the shadows a woman stumbled forward. Her face hidden by her long hair. But from her jagged movements as she staggered down the hill, it was obvious that she had to be the werewolf. A werewolf in the middle of her transformation too. A none to pleased experience, Leiah assumed, judging by the snapping bones she could hear, even without her enhanced hearing.
Behind the woman, was Greta, shoving her until she collapsed onto the ground near the two flaming circles around aunt and the doppelgänger. "What's happening to me?" gasped the werewolf, curling up on the ground as she struggled to breath.
"I cast a spell to slow down your transformation. Your insides are trying to tear themselves free, to complete the transformation," explained Greta with a mirthful grin.
"Oh, you are good," cooed Leiah, stepping up to Greta and giving her quick kiss, before looking back down to the groaning werewolf. "I don't suppose there's anything you can do about the audio commentary?"
Greta grinned back, "Don't worry, you won't have to put up with it for much longer." With a flick of her wrist, another flaming circle formed. This time surrounding the werewolf. The crackling flames just loud enough to drown out the groans of the werewolf.
"Greta, witches are supposed to maintain the balance in nature. It's your duty to them to keep this curse sealed," pleaded doppelgänger, now trying to appeal to the witch stood alongside Leiah.
The Original exchanged a look with Greta, both smirking as they turned back to the doppelgänger. "My duty is to Klaus. And the new order," replied the committed Greta. And that was without the aid of compulsion. But then again, as Leiah and her brother knew, compulsion wasn't the only way to brainwash people. Though what they'd done to Maddox and Greta had taken more time than Leiah would have liked in total honesty. But there was no denying they'd proved their worth.
"Glad to know I still have a dance partner," came the voice of Klaus, who had appeared at the bottom of the hill, just a few meters away. All eyes going to him.
Leiah and Greta smirked in anticipation. The werewolf continued to groan in pain, looking up with painful eyes. The aunt, now a vampire, remained curled up on the ground also, fear in her eyes as she looked to the man who would kill her. And the doppelgänger, the only one standing, stared defiantly back. Just as she had with Leiah, and doing her best to keep up that brave look of her hers.
"Hello, my lovelies," Klaus greeted his sacrifices as he stepped forward. "Are we ready?"
"Not too sure you want to ask that question," said Leiah as if thinking aloud.
"Nonsense, I can see how keen they all are to get started. Just like myself," said Klaus with a grin to each of the trapped woman, before turning to his allies and nodding towards the stone alter. Obediently, Greta and Leiah followed him up, ingoing the continuing screams and moans from the werewolf, and the glare of the doppelgänger – who remained hopeful in spite of her dire situation.
"I trust you have the moonstone," said Greta as they gathered around the alter.
Retrieving it from his pocket, Klaus looked delicately down at the perfectly white stone in his hand. "I spent five hundred years looking for this. I hate to part with it," said Klaus, holding out the moonstone to Greta who very – very – carefully, took it from him. Knowing how precious it was to him.
Making sure she had it securely held in her hand, Greta then glanced up to the black sky above, as if checking the time. "The moon has passed its apex," she declared, looking back to Klaus as she smiled madly. "Remember everything you need to do?"
"I remember," Klaus assured her. How could he forget after all. He'd been preparing for this for over a thousand years.
Greta, knowing it was time to start, then threw the moonstone into the bowl she'd placed upon the alter. Leiah almost squealed when the stone then exploded in a flash of bright sparks, a fire spontaneously forming within the bowl as Greta chanted aloud those familiar witchy words.
"That would be your cue," Leiah said to Klaus, smirking along with him as he made his way towards the first of his sacrifices. She remained behind at the alter, watching out across the clearing as it began.
"Everything I did… I was just trying to help Tyler…and Scarlett," groaned the werewolf towards the doppelgänger, catching Leiah's attention at the mention of her latest crush.
"Are you Jules?" asked the doppelgänger, which probably meant something to her.
"I just... I just didn't want them to be alone," explained the werewolf, before she went back to her cries of pain. Klaus now stood at the edge of her flaming circle with an eager grin of his own.
"Shall we?" he asked, as the werewolf looked over her shoulder to her soon to be murderer.
The flaming circle then disappeared, and Leiah watched with an amused grin as the werewolf tried to stand up. She gave her points of trying, but it was futile. Klaus would be more powerful than her normally, but in this state, stuck between her transformation, the werewolf could barely stand let alone fight. Still, she tried to. Her eyes turning into their werewolf form. Those gold circles surrounded by black.
She ran at Klaus, using all the speed she had under the full moon.
Klaus was faster though. So fast, that the next thing everyone saw was Klaus holding the werewolf's heart in his hand.
Leiah cheered and applauded her brother, as he held up the werewolf's heart like a trophy. While from the flaming circles, the aunt gasped in horror, seeing what would soon befall her.
"Hey. Hey, I think I might have something," said Jeremy as his eyes skimmed over the line he'd just read.
Grateful for the distraction and glimmer of hope, Scarlett dropped her book and pushed herself up. She'd been lying chest down with her feet held up but had now rolled onto her side so that she could look over to Jeremy. Bonnie, who was sitting next to him, leaned over to get a look at what he was reading. Jeremy pointing to the book as he held it out to her.
"Which one's that?" asked Bonnie.
"It's Emily Bennett's, there's this whole section on spells made specifically for my ancestor, Johnathan Gilbert. Here it is, this one here. A resuscitation spell she was working on."
"Yeah, I saw that too. She just didn't explain what it did, exactly," Bonnie replied with a curious frown at the book.
"Well, maybe Johnathan wrote about it in his journals," Jeremy said as he began searching for his phone, now hidden amongst the scattered books. "I can have Stefan bring them."
"But what's a spell made for your ancestor going to do for Elena?" Scarlett asked.
"The type of spells she was working on related to blood. So in theory, since Elena is a descendent of Johnathan Gilbert and part of his bloodline, the spell could still be used on her. And even if not, it wouldn't take too much effort to adjust the spell I think. I just need to be sure it'll work before I start–" she stopped talking at the sound of the door above creaking.
Scarlett and Jeremy heard it too, all of them looking to the stairs that lead up to the house. "Someone's here," Bonnie whispered, to which Scarlett sniffed the air.
She almost instantly relaxed, as she rolled into a sitting up position. "Don't worry, it's only Alaric and the others," she assured them, as a light shone from the top of the stairs. A few seconds later, Alaric came in and looked straight to Jeremy. And from his heartbeat, Scarlett could tell something was seriously wrong.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Jeremy asked casually as Alaric approached them.
Instead of answering Jeremy though, he looked to Bonnie and Scarlett and said, "The Originals and Stefan are upstairs. You mind if I have a second with Jeremy?"
"Sure," Bonnie answered as she got up.
"Yeah," agreed Scarlett as she copied Bonnie's action. Though she looked down at Jeremy before following the witch out. She had a bad feeling about whatever Alaric was about to tell him. So when Bonnie went outside to meet with Stefan and the others, Scarlett remained at the top of the stairs to listen in and makes sure Jeremy was okay.
"What's the matter?" Jeremy asked Alaric.
"Jeremy… Something happened to Jenna," Alaric explained soberly, as Scarlett closed her eyes to silently curse.
"What–What happened?" Jeremy asked, trying to keep it all in check.
"Klaus took her…and he's turned her into a vampire… So that he can use her in his ritual." The rest after that didn't really matter. It was just Alaric promising he'd do everything he could to get her back and Jeremy saying he'd help before they argued about who was going and why they should. But no matter what, it wouldn't change the fact that Jenna was now a vampire. Then again, maybe that was why they were arguing about who was going, because it was easier to do that than think about what it meant beyond that. About what would happen afterwards if they got Jenna back safe and undead.
Scarlett wanted to go down and help, to somehow comfort Jeremy and make it all better. But they weren't there yet, and realistically nothing she said or did would make it better. She'd just have to settle for being with him in spirit, and when the time came, do what she could to help get Jenna back to Jeremy. Because from the way things were looking, Jeremy could lose his entire family tonight. And after everything Scarlett herself had put him through, she couldn't let that happen. Even if it killed her, she'd get Jeremy his family back.
"Why did he take Jenna?" asked Bonnie angrily, having just been told what Alaric had Jeremy.
"A punishment for meddling, I would imagine," suggested Elijah, but Amelia would assume there was something more to it. Some twisted logic in his head that would make Jenna the logical sacrifice in place of Elena's friends. But she couldn't be sure of that without knowing who the werewolf was, and since it obviously wasn't Scarlett, that left the choices for werewolves pretty low.
"Klaus was going to use to Tyler and Caroline," Stefan began to explain to Bonnie, catching her up. "But Damon and Sarah rescued them."
"Then we need to go, now. Before Jenna's been sacrificed," pressed Bonnie.
"If you go before the ritual is complete then we will be no help to you," Amelia cut in, before continuing on when she saw the betrayal in Bonnie's angry eyes. "That is to say, we won't be able to."
Elijah then went on to say, "If you try to strip the magic around him away now, it'll take everything you have. There would be no point in peeling it back enough to allow us to kill him, for you would still kill yourself. You might as well do the job yourself at that point."
"Then I'll do it," said the determined Bonnie.
"Bonnie," Stefan said carefully as he stepped towards her. "If you use that much power, you'll be dead. We've already been through this. It's not an option."
"Neither is letting Jenna die," argued Bonnie.
"Well, Stefan would agree with you," said Elijah, as he and his sister looked to Stefan.
After Alaric had gone inside, Stefan had spoken to the Originals about when the vampire would be sacrificed and how much time he would had. By their estimation, they'd have maybe an hour at most, which didn't leave them with a lot of time. But it was enough for Stefan to do what he suggested, if they acted fast.
"We're going to offer another vampire. One that he'll want more," Stefan began explaining to a confused Bonnie. "Me."
"Stefan–" Bonnie began to object.
"There's no time to argue about this. We haven't got time to come up with a clever way out of this – and I won't let you die either. This way we can save Jenna and continue with the plan."
"But you'll…"
Stefan nodded solemnly. "I know."
Bonnie squirmed for a moment, trying to quickly think up an alternative. "No offence, but why can't Damon do this?"
"We don't have the time," stated Elijah simply.
"He's right. He's on his way over but by then it might be too late. I have to go now if we're to stand a chance at saving Jenna," pressed Stefan as he pleaded with Bonnie. Which was when she realised there would only be one reason for him arguing with her about this, rather than doing it without telling her.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Preform the locator spell now," answered Amelia.
Bonnie was hesitant, but with Jenna's life in the balance, she didn't have the luxury of time. "Are you sure about this?" asked Bonnie, needing to see the conviction in Stefan's eyes and know that he was truly okay with this. Amelia did admire that about this group, their dedication to one another, their willingness to sacrifice themselves in order to try and save each other.
"Bonnie, you're life's just starting. I've had my time. Please, help me do this one last thing for Elena."
"What about Sarah and Damon though?"
At that, Amelia caught the first sign of fault in Stefan's determination. But after an exhale, he'd accepted what it meant. "They'll understand." But from what Amelia knew of the Salvatores, she very much doubted that. And even if they did understand, that didn't necessarily translate to being okay with it. But then, they'd all known there was going to be fallout from this night.
Returning inside, Bonnie preformed the appropriate spell to track Elena using Jeremy's blood. A few minutes later, they had the location of the ritual. "They're at Steven's Quarry," Elijah informed Stefan as he and Amelia made their way outside. During the spell Stefan had opted to remain outside, alone with his thoughts. Amelia and Elijah could understand that.
Stefan nodded. "I'll head over there first and you'll follow with Bonnie when it's time."
"Just as the moon hits its final phase," agreed Elijah.
"Remember, Klaus can't know that Bonnie is alive. If he found out he might just back out of the ritual and we'd lose everything," warned Amelia.
"Don't worry, I'm on vervain," Stefan assured them. "And I won't break, not with Elena's life on the line."
He turned then to walk away. To make his way over to the ritual sight on his own, and offer himself up as a substitute sacrifice for Jenna. A mission that would only end one way, with his death. It was suicidal. But extremely noble, just as Elijah said.
"You've very honourable."
But his words seemed to give Stefan pause, as he turned back around stare at both the Originals. "Are you?" he asked carefully. "Because this whole plan is, um…it's contingent upon your honour."
"We won't fail you," promised Elijah plainly.
"Klaus is your brother," Stefan replied. "I know I've wanted to kill my brother a thousand times. But I've never been able to go through with it."
"And what of your sister?" asked Amelia.
"Family's the most important thing to her," Stefan answered back.
"As it is to me. But my question is, has she ever tried to kill you or your brother? Has she ever thought she succeeded?" At that, Stefan only stared black in dedicated silence. Obviously reliving some memory he'd probably rather not in his final moments. But it seemed to have helped make the Original's point, as he looked away in recognition.
"If it helps put your mind at rest, Klaus was not our only brother," Elijah then said, seeing not harm in revealing such sensitive information to a dying man. "Myself and Amelia, we had many siblings. And parents. A long time ago we had a family. But over the centuries, Klaus took them all from us. One by one."
Amelia then took over with, an anger rising in her voice. "Some, like Leiah, sided with him. But when they failed him badly enough he did to them what he did to all the others. Now he's scattered those he's taken across the seas of the world, where their bodies can not be found."
"You want revenge," Stefan realised.
"Sometimes there's honour in revenge, Stefan," explained Elijah with an unsettling smile.
"We won't fail you," Amelia then promised again, the passion in her eyes enough to assure Stefan in these last moments.
"Make sure you end this," was his parting worlds, before he stalked off into the night. For what would most likely be the last time. And as Amelia watched him go, she felt sorry for the vampire. But for one such as him, it would only ever end one way. And this was how it was.
Standing with his hand outstretched over the alter, Klaus squeezed the last few drops of blood from the werewolf's heart, as the flames beneath flared. "Does that mean it's working?" asked Klaus, the flames reflecting in his excited eyes.
"It's working," assured Greta, as she continued to chant.
"Thank goodness for that," sighed Leiah before locking eyes with her brother. "I'd hate for this to be a giant waste of time."
It was down to his good mood that he laughed then, and Leiah was very much aware of that. But after all their time together, she knew when and how to take advantage of his good moods. And after this was all over, she imagined he'd be in a great mood, for a very long time.
"Now, cast the heart into the flames," ordered Greta.
Doing as told, Klaus threw the heart into the flames, watching them double in size as the werewolf heart all but vanished. All that remained was the blood that was splattered across the alter. At the sight Leiah cheered again, and Klaus laughed joyfully, feeling the curse wrapped around him beginning to peel away.
"Now what?" asked Leiah, eager to see what would come next.
"Now for the vampire," answered Greta, looking to Klaus as his grin grew.
"Leiah?" Klaus asked, holding out his blood soaked hand.
Obliging, Leiah reached back behind her and pulled out a wooden stake. "One sharpened stake, for your convince," Leiah said as she flipped the weapon over, holding the thick end out towards her brother. Taking it, Klaus then turned from the alter, making his way down towards the two remaining prisoners.
And while he did that, Leiah made her way over to her sun lounger. Getting herself comfy for the fight that would undoubtedly follow. After all, she'd heard the doppelgänger speaking to her aunt when she thought they weren't listening. About how she was stronger as a vampire, faster and could run away. What she failed to mention however, was that Originals were ten times as strong and fast as her. The aunt had no chance. But if she was as bold as Leiah assumed, she'd put up a fight. One that might even be entertaining since Klaus was in a good mood. And her brother did love to put on a show.
"Hello, Jenna," greeted Klaus with a smile. The aunt, who'd been crouched, stood up now, turning to fully face her death. But from the next ring of fire, the doppelgänger stood up too, ready to argue some more.
Leiah was already rolling her eyes. She did hate the comedians that came on stage before the main entertainment.
"Let her go," begged the doppelgänger. "I understand that I have to die but she doesn't." Approaching the edge of the ring around her, the flames suddenly rose up, making the doppelgänger stumble backwards as she shielded herself with raised arms.
"Careful, love," cautioned Klaus. Coming close to actual concern in his voice. Though like Leiah, he would know that Greta had specifically spelled the rings so that the doppelgänger would not die. That however, did not mean, she couldn't get singed by those very magical flames.
"Elena, don't," the aunt said, looking back to her niece and motioning her back from the edge.
"No, Jenna," protested the doppelgänger, as if the aunt somehow had a say in the matter. "We can't leave Jeremy without a family."
"Good thing he has that girlfriend of his!" called Leiah from the lounger. "Oh, wait…" she then added after a moment of dramatic thought, earning a glare from both aunt and doppelgänger. She didn't care though, she was getting her kicks, as was Klaus, as they smirked to one another.
"Please," the doppelgänger said as Klaus turned back, once again begging. Leiah let her head roll back as she quietly groaned. This opening dialogue was really starting to irritate her. "I followed your rules. I did everything that you asked. I didn't run. Please."
"Well, that's impressive timing," hummed Leiah, tilting her head to look up at the figure looming over the ritual sight from atop the cliff face. The one who'd just arrived and made his presence very much known upon his arrival. Which meant he was either a distraction, or he was alone and here to make an offer. Suspecting the former, Leiah pushed herself up on her lounger, readying herself to move should the need arise.
"I don't recall you being on the guest list," added Klaus, as he too looked up, having sensed the additional audience member. The aunt and the doppelgänger followed his gaze, the doppelgänger gasping as she recognised the man standing above them. Leiah and Klaus recognised him to, as Stefan Salvatore.
"I'm here to talk," said Stefan simply, staring down at them from his elevated position.
Glancing back to his sacrifices, Klaus smiled as he then turned to his sister. She nodded, a smile on her lips, but a seriousness to her eyes. She knew what he was silently telling her. To keep an eye out for any ill-conceived attempts at rescue. And she was ready. Nothing was going to get in there way, not now, when they were finally enacting the ritual.
Confident that his sister had the sacrifices well guarded, Klaus then said aloud, "Very well, then," before suddenly he was up on the cliff next to Stefan. Striding towards him as casually as if they were old friends. "What can I do for you, Mr. Salvatore?"
"I want you to release, Jenna," Stefan said, turning to face Klaus as he stood firm.
Klaus chuckled. "As I'm sure you're aware, I need her for my ritual," pointed out Klaus as he pointed his stake down towards the ritual grounds.
"You don't need to kill Jenna. I'll take her place," Stefan declared boldly, making Leiah grin from down on her lounger. Now this was the more preferable of his reasons for being her. To save the aunt rather than the doppelgänger. To try and argue for a spot in this, oh so history sacrifice, rather than put a stop to it. But as Leiah knew full well, just because you want to be a part of something, doesn't mean you got to be.
"Oh, I don't know," said Klaus as if uninterested by Stefan's offer. "I rather appreciate the symmetry of three women." He began to walk around to Stefan's other side, all while the young vampire remained still, holding his ground both metaphorically and physically. "Three goddesses. Sacrificed at nature's altar."
Seeing his jaw tighten, Leiah wished she'd brought more popcorn with her, as she watched Stefan turn around, trying to seem as lax as possible in spite of the situation. "Don't play games with me. You'll get what you want either way."
"Oh, but, Stefan, it's all about the games for us," Leiah giggled from her chair, watching as Stefan turned sharply to look down at her, as if just remember she was there. But he'd obviously been listening out, otherwise he wouldn't have heard. "So, really, it's just a question of if you want to play."
Jaw going firm again, Stefan once again looked back to Klaus. "All right fine, I'll play along if that's what you want. I'll let you torture me, I'll put up a fight. I'll even let you drain me of vervain so you can compel me, but let Jenna go," he pleaded in such a heroic manner. It really was beginning to feel like a movie for Leiah. With a hero's sacrifice and all.
"And what if I refuse?" asked Klaus curiously, stepping towards Stefan and lifting the stake towards his heart.
"Then I'll fight you," Stefan declared, meeting Klaus' eye without missing a beat. "And you'll kill me. At which point you might as well use me in your sacrifice anyway and let Jenna go."
"I would say it's a bad idea to announce your plan, but then again, it's a pretty stupid plan anyway," mocked Leiah, but Stefan chose to ignore her, his eyes remaining on Klaus as the Original smirked.
"You're quite the hero, aren't you?" teased Klaus, obviously thinking in a similar fashion to his sister.
"Just make the trade. Me for Jenna."
Klaus considered it for a moment, looking down to see the doppelgänger freaking out now. Like Leiah, he'd been fully aware that the aunt had begun using her new vampire powers to listen in on them all, and had conveyed the just of their conversation to her niece. Now Leiah knew he'd wouldn't be changing his mind. After all, there was more going on the Stefan realised, but there was no reason not to string him along for now.
Holding out his arm towards the slope that lead down the cliff, Klaus said, "After you."
With a seemingly grateful nod, Stefan turned to lead the way down, as Klaus followed him. And as Leiah watched them descend, she couldn't help but think about the old times, as familiar scenes flashed before her eyes.
One thing was for sure, even once the ritual was done, Klaus and Leiah wouldn't be finished with the Salvatore Siblings.