Thea woke to someone tapping her on the shoulder. She immediately called forth her magic, but stopped when she realized it was Luka hovering over her.
"Hey," she said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Is it my turn?"
After Thea had fed Jonas the blood she'd collected from Stefan, she and Luka had decided to take turns sleeping in shifts, just in case the Salvatores came to call in Jonas' hospital room.
Jonas was markedly better after the vampire blood, the third degree burns were nearly gone, but he was still weak and moving him from the hospital didn't seem like a good idea just yet.
"Elijah's here," Luka answered in a quiet voice.
Thea blinked again and saw Elijah standing at the foot of Jonas' hospital bed. She glanced over at her father and was relieved to see he was still fast asleep.
Thea tiptoed past Jonas' bed and she and Elijah went out into the hallway, so as not to wake Jonas. She frowned when she saw Elijah's clothes were torn, dirty and burned, as if he'd come directly from where he'd woken up.
"How are you feeling?" asked Thea, dragging her eyes away from the smooth skin his torn clothes revealed.
"None the worse for wear," said Elijah, dismissively. "I had my fill of blood bags here at the hospital."
He looked her up and down as if checking her for injuries.
"How are you?" he asked. "I went to your apartment. One of your neighbors informed me an ambulance came earlier tonight?"
Thea nodded and relayed the entire story of the night. How the Salvatores had tried to form an alliance with the Martins, but that Jonas and Thea had decided to try and find Elijah instead. Jonas' burning, Damon's attack, etc.
Elijah looked angrier and angrier as the story went on. "He tried to turn you?"
Thea nodded. "Said he couldn't kill me because I was the only one who knew where the moonstone was."
"I am not generally a violent man, but I do think I will very much enjoy killing Damon Salvatore."
Thea sighed. "Not that I wouldn't love to drive a stake through Damon's heart, but I think he knows where the witch burial site is."
"Do go on."
Thea shrugged. "Just a feeling. Stefan mentioned something about having access to archives the Historical Society doesn't have. I think one of the Salvatores knows. Maybe Katherine Pierce."
Elijah looked unhappy. "Then I suppose only two things occupy my to-do list tonight."
"Two?" asked Thea, raising an eyebrow. "I hope one of them is getting a change of clothes."
Elijah smiled slightly at her teasing. "Three then. Acquire the dagger and a new suit. Find Elena."
Thea frowned. "You're not still thinking of taking her away somewhere?"
"I must do what is needed to ensure the ritual goes forward as scheduled."
"You being awake should ensure that," argued Thea. "She's not leaving town, she's not going to turn herself. Taking her is just going to upset her band of merry men and then we'll be focused on fighting them off, rather than making sure we're prepared for when Klaus comes."
Elijah was practically scowling. "I warned them..."
"Yeah and they stabbed you in the back anyway," said Thea. "They will do whatever it takes to keep Elena safe. Crazy, stupid, reckless things. We don't want to fight them and Klaus."
Elijah was silent, clearly thinking.
"I know you want revenge," said Thea, speaking softly. "I don't blame you. Damon tried to kill me, sort of. I'm mad too, but we have to be smart about this. I haven't found anything that will trap Klaus permanently or kill him before the ritual. So, the ritual is going to happen. We should be focused on making sure Klaus doesn't survive after that."
She dug in her purse and took out the dagger. "I trust that you're more level-headed than your brother."
She placed the dagger in his hands and was relieved when he smiled at her.
"Thank you, Thea," he said, staring intensely into her eyes. "I will refrain from absconding with Elena... for now. I'll let you get some rest."
Thea smiled sadly. "I think I'm gonna let Luka get some shut-eye first." At Elijah's confused expression, she continued. "We're sleeping in shifts. I feel a little exposed. No invitation barrier in a hospital room."
Elijah nodded. "I will return. Once I'm more presentable, I'll watch over your father."
Thea tilted her head. "Don't you need to sleep too?"
"My sleep needs are minimal compared to yours. You must be tired," he said, almost tenderly. Then he straightened, as if he'd just heard the tone of voice. "We'll need a fully rested witch now that your father is out of commission."
Thea nodded. "It'll be a while before he's back to his full self. Probably not in time to take on Klaus though."
Elijah just nodded sadly and disappeared.
Thea went back into the room and told Luka that Elijah would be back to keep watch.
"He offered to watch over us while we sleep?" asked Luka, clearly surprised.
Thea shrugged. "He just wants to make sure we're at our best. Klaus will be here soon."
"Right," said Luka, nodding as if he didn't believe her.
"What?" asked Thea, settling herself in the chair beside her father's bed.
"Nothing," said Luka, shaking her head. "I suppose Elijah is better than Klaus. Greta always did have the worst taste in guys."
Thea frowned slightly. The closer they got to the full moon, the more nervous she was about potentially facing Klaus. Now that Jonas could no longer act as the head witch of Team Elijah, that responsibility naturally fell to her.
She hated the way things had ended with Klaus. They had been truly friends. And they'd had a lot of fun together. But it was hard to reconcile the sarcastic guy who loved painting and jazz, with the egomaniac who wanted global domination.
Thea sighed and stretched in the chair, willing sleep to come quickly.
o – o – o
Thea awoke to the smells of coffee. She blinked rapidly and saw the light coming through the windows of her father's hospital room.
She glanced over and saw Jonas was awake and Elijah was standing beside him, bleeding into a plastic cup.
"Good morning," said Thea. "Breakfast of champions?"
Jonas sighed. "Elijah thought it might help speed my healing."
Thea had to force herself not to roll her eyes, remembering her father's irrational fear of hospitals.
"As long as you still remember to take it easy," said Thea, standing up. "Those burns were no joke. Being attacked while on the astral plane..."
"I'll be fine," said Jonas, dismissively. "I've asked Elijah to compel my doctors for an early discharge."
"Dad!" exclaimed Thea.
"It's not safe," said Jonas. "Staying in the hospital. I won't risk you and Luka watching me all night. I'll be fine at home."
Thea cast a glance over Jonas' exposed skin and saw that there weren't really any burns left.
"I guess we can take care of you at home," said Thea, grumpily. "Thanks, Elijah." She looked around. "Where's Luka?"
"In the bathroom," answered Jonas, sipping the cup of Elijah's blood.
"I brought you breakfast as well," said Elijah, gesturing to a box of donuts and a cup of steaming coffee.
"Oh my god, I love you!" gasped Thea, taking a chocolate-glazed donut and the coffee.
"Your endearments are unnecessary," said Elijah, though he smiled slightly at her enthusiasm.
Thea just sipped the coffee slowly, inhaling its scent.
"I have a few errands to run," said Elijah. "I'll make sure to compel your physician and nurse before I leave." He turned to Thea. "I'll speak to you later. Dinner, perhaps?"
Thea smiled and nodded. "Since ours got ruined."
Elijah bid farewell to Jonas and left the room.
"You're having dinner with Elijah?" asked Jonas, downing the rest of the cup of blood.
"And?" challenged Thea.
"Is there something I should know about?"
"No. Maybe. I don't think so," said Thea, feeling confused. "Elijah's nice, but he's really reserved. I have no idea what he's thinking."
Jonas sighed. "Just be careful, Thea. Men like Elijah... they don't love lightly. He's old-school. My guess is he doesn't do anything half-speed."
Thea nodded and sipped her coffee, turning the topic to other things.
o – o – o
"Nice house," said Katherine, vampiric face showing as she circled Isobel's neck with her hand.
Isobel smirked. "Nicest foreclosure in town." Isobel laughed and wrapped her arms around Katherine. "Come here."
Katherine returned her smile and hugged Isobel back. Finally, someone in Mystic Falls who wasn't a fucking idiot, do-gooder. Katherine released Isobel and looked around the house.
"It's good to see you, Katherine," said Isobel, smiling.
"I hear you've been busy," returned Katherine.
"Yes, I have," said Isobel, clasping her hands together. "I have been busy making a deal with Klaus to save your life."
Katherine smiled. "Do tell."
"You hungry?" asked Isobel, swiping a bottle off a nearby table. "Here, a vintner I knew in Avignon."
Katherine swiped a finger across the neck of the bottle. "He's tasty." She followed Isobel over to a set of couches. "So what was with the surprise visit to the Gilbert House?"
Katherine liked Isobel, but she wasn't an idiot. She couldn't figure out why Isobel had bothered to show up at the Gilbert's, unless she was really looking out for Elena and not Katherine.
Isobel rolled her eyes. "John told me Ric was dating Auntie Vanilla... I got jealous."
That made sense. Katherine found Jenna to be the worst type of human- so unbelievably boring. Just like Elena.
"You've obviously got John wrapped around your finger if he invited you into the house," remarked Katherine.
She poured a glass and handed it to Isobel, before pouring herself some and sitting down.
"He thinks I'm helping him protect Elena, so he's been very useful in keeping me informed on everything that's been going on."
"So tell me what you know," said Katherine.
"You were right. I couldn't get anywhere near Klaus, but I found my way to someone in his trusted circle." Isobel leaned forward. "One of his witches."
Katherine scoffed. "Klaus and his witches."
"He said that Klaus is willing to grant you your freedom if we deliver the moonstone and the doppelganger."
Katherine frowned. "That's not going to be easy. Rumor has it, a witch has the moonstone."
"What witch?" asked Isobel.
"One of Elijah's," said Katherine, taking a sip.
"I thought Elijah was daggered," said Isobel, looking a little frightened.
"If only," said Katherine, rolling her eyes. "That same witch undaggered him last night. He's probably roaming the streets of Mystic Falls as we speak."
"Who is this witch?"
"Thea Martin. Damon put her dad in the hospital last night, but all he managed to do was piss her off. She stormed the Salvatores' house, broke my neck and undaggered Elijah."
"What does Elijah want?" asked Isobel.
"He says he wants Klaus dead."
"You don't believe him?"
Katherine shrugged. "They're brothers. Why would he want Klaus dead?"
Isobel looked nervous. "I heard they had a falling out."
"Being mad at someone you used to love doesn't mean you want them dead," said Katherine, shaking her head. "I should know."
Isobel just nodded. "Let's just find the moonstone and deliver the doppelganger."
Katherine smirked.
"You have an idea then?" asked Isobel.
"Remember I told you how pissed this witch got when Damon hurt her dad?"
o – o – o
"Come on!" grumbled Thea, splaying her hand against the clear glass of the vending machine. "That's a perfectly fine dollar!"
She knocked her head against the glass and closed her eyes, willing her frustration under control. It wasn't the machine's fault it was broken and not accepting her dollar. She briefly considering using magic to pluck the granola bar from its place, but managed to restrain herself. Magic shouldn't be used for stealing.
She sighed and decided to follow the signs to the cafeteria. Luka was in the hospital room with Jonas and it was three in the afternoon. If the Salvatores were planning some great killing spree for revenge, no doubt they would have done so last night, under the cover of darkness.
She made her way down to the basement, where the cafeteria was. It was completely empty, which Thea thought was odd, but not entirely surprising as it was a small hospital and in-between mealtimes.
She walked up to the counter and noticed no one was behind the grill. Weird.
She turned around and saw Katherine Pierce standing a few feet away from her. With her hands wrapped around Jonas' neck.
Before Thea could call forth her magic, another vampire appeared beside her. One she'd never seen before.
"Thea Martin?" asked the unknown. "Isobel Flemming. Nice to meet you."
"Wish I could say the same," said Thea, angrily.
Jonas' eyes were blurry. His neck was bleeding and it was clear Katherine had been feeding from him. That, combined with his accident, and he was in no shape to do magic.
Thea couldn't take on two vampires at once, not when she was still wiped from all the magic she'd done the day before. Especially not when one was as old as Katherine. She wondered how old Isobel was.
Thea didn't doubt that they had tinkered with the vending machine. And had ensured the cafeteria was deserted. This smelled like a trap.
"Where is the moonstone?" asked Isobel.
Thea didn't say anything.
Katherine just smiled evilly at her and sank her fangs into Jonas' neck again.
"Stop!" Thea shouted.
"Give us the moonstone and Katherine will release your father," said Isobel. "If you refuse, she'll kill him and your brother will be next."
At least Luka was still alive.
"Don't give it to them," said Jonas, even as Katherine's fangs sank in deeper.
Thea could only take a few seconds of watching Jonas die before her eyes.
"Wait!" Thea exclaimed.
"Thea, no," said Jonas, weakly. "Greta..."
"Be quiet," snarled Katherine. Then she looked up at Thea. "The moonstone?"
Thea hesitated a second longer, seeing the determined look on Jonas' face. Apparently that was one second too long because then Katherine did the unthinkable.
She flicked her wrist, snapping Jonas' neck before Thea could blink. She could only watch as he collapsed to the floor.
"What the fuck?" screamed Thea.
Katherine immediately fell to the ground, head burning from Thea's magic. She tried to extend the spell to Isobel, but she didn't have the strength. She really needed some healing herbs.
Isobel smiled menacingly. "Give us the moonstone or your brother will join him."
With trembling hands, Thea reached into her purse, pulling out the moonstone. She'd gotten it a few days ago from where she'd hidden it, as the full moon was fast approaching.
Isobel snatched the moonstone from Thea's hand.
Then they were both gone. Thea knelt to the floor, where Jonas' body lay, trying to contain her tears.
She pulled out her phone and dialed quickly.
"Elijah?" she said, trying to contain her sobs. "I need your help."
o – o – o
After Jonas awoke, he asked to be left alone, slamming the door in Luka and Thea's face.
"He still has 24 hours to complete the transition," said Elijah, as Luka and Thea walked back into the living room of Jonas' apartment. "If he so chooses."
Thea just nodded, feeling numb. She didn't know what to think. She was grateful that Jonas had vampire blood in his system when Katherine killed him, but she didn't know if Jonas himself was grateful.
Being a witch was such an integral part of Jonas' identity, Thea didn't know if he would complete the transition or not, perhaps preferring to just die.
For Luka's sake, Thea hoped he transitioned. Luka was still 17 and in high school. Jonas was the only parent he had.
"Do you think he will?" asked Luka, shaking Thea out of her thoughts.
"I don't know," said Thea, sadly. "Here." She grabbed a knife and cut her arm, letting the blood drip into the cup. "Maybe try to offer it to him in a little while?"
"Where are you going?" asked Luka.
Thea looked at Elijah.
"We're going to make sure Dad didn't die for nothing," said Thea.
o – o – o
Thea and Elijah drove to the Boarding House quickly. Thea watched the houses roll by, her thoughts going a mile a minute.
"There's no shame in not completing the transition," said Elijah. "Not everyone is well-suited to being a vampire."
Thea tilted her head, looking at him. "Did you get a choice? I'm not really clear on how the Originals were made. Beyond the rumors of course."
Elijah's face darkened. "We had the immortality spell cast upon us, my siblings and I, and then we were forced to drink blood to complete the transition."
"So, no choice, then?"
Elijah shook his head. "I used to ponder whether or not I would have, had the choice been presented to me."
"And?"
"I'm unsure. That is, unfortunately, the problem with hypotheticals."
Thea nodded. "I don't know what choice I would make. I never thought vampires were evil. But losing my magic... I don't how to be anything but a witch. I do hope Dad transitions though. For Luka's sake."
"He is just a boy," remarked Elijah. "Though I am sure you are quite capable of caring for him."
Thea chuckled nervously. "I'm not exactly the maternal type. With me as his guardian, he'd probably go all dark witch and start sacrificing goats and things."
Elijah raised an eyebrow. "You sound as though you're speaking from experience."
Thea laughed at that. "When I was about Luka's age, I started hanging out with this group of witches that used magic in not-so-nice ways. It was mostly stupid stuff- causing bad acne or messing with someone's concentration during a test, but one of the girls tried to get us to do this insanity hex. Basically, make someone go crazy until they killed themselves. The rest of us refused to do it and I stopped hanging out with them after that."
"I can imagine that being somewhat of a slippery slope," Elijah commented.
Thea nodded. "Magic is just like any other form of power. It's easy to abuse if you're not careful."
When he stopped the car outside the Boarding House, Thea turned to him.
"If we succeed, I need you to promise me something," said Thea.
Elijah frowned, as if he could tell what she was asking.
"I should be able to handle this," said Thea. "But if something goes wrong, you need to promise that you will put me down. And if you have to kill me, then that's what you have to do."
Elijah's eyes searched her face. "There are alternatives..."
"I know," she said, hastily. "I understand that. But I don't want to hurt people, except Klaus of course. So if it comes down to it, I need to know that you're willing to kill me."
Elijah was silent for a long moment, before he nodded slightly. "Alright."
Thea smiled. "Thank you, Elijah. It shouldn't come to that. I've just never done this before."
o – o – o
"So, let me get this straight," drawled Damon. "You want us to tell you where the witch burial site is. And in exchange..."
"I don't kill you," finished Elijah.
Damon cocked his head. "Too bad I don't know where it is."
Thea narrowed her eyes, pushing her magic out. He immediately grabbed his head as aneurysm after aneurysm erupted in his brain.
"I can do this all day," said Thea casually, glad Damon wasn't a particularly old vampire.
"If you prefer, I can drain you of your vervain and then compel you," offered Elijah.
Thea just cocked her head, not letting up for a second. Damon continued to groan, giving Thea a little sliver of satisfaction, considering everything the elder Salvatore had done.
"Or, maybe we should try Stefan?" mused Thea. "Wonder how long he can stand getting his brain fried?"
Inwardly, Thea wondered if they were going to have to drain him and compel him. Maybe Damon was telling the truth- he didn't know where the witch burial site was.
"Stop! Stop!" exclaimed Damon.
Thea paused her spell and let him catch his breath.
"Let's suppose, hypothetically, I could figure out where this place was," said Damon, breathing heavily. "What's the plan? Juice up the old man?"
Thea blinked back tears at the mention of her father. "No. Me."
"Bonnie..." started Damon.
"She's a 17-year-old witch who's only been practicing for a year," said Thea with a roll of her eyes. "She's not getting her powers back until I trust she's not going to work against us."
With Jonas' no longer being a witch, Thea was the only one who could restore Bonnie's powers now.
"Can you guarantee that Elena will live?" asked Damon.
"Yes," said Thea. "There are many ways to protect someone from death. With all this power, I'll find a way to make sure she doesn't die in the ritual."
Damon was silent for a long time before he spoke. "Let me get a map."
o – o – o
"Are you sure you are alright?" asked Elijah as he and Thea walked back to the car.
Finding the burial site had been relatively easy with Damon's map. The channeling ritual was fairly straightforward, if not incredibly painful.
But Thea could feel the power of the dead spirits flowing through her. She'd never felt so alive. So powerful. It was a little scary, actually.
"I'm fine," said Thea, smiling to hide her doubts. "Better than fine. I feel like I could take on a whole army."
"Let us hope it does not come to that," said Elijah, peering into her eyes as if he could sense her doubt, even though he didn't mention it.
Thea just tilted her head and cleared her throat. "I'm going to have to take a raincheck on dinner."
Were they ever going to have their maybe-date? She sighed, wondering if her father had completed his transition or not.
"Understandable," said Elijah.
"Maybe tomorrow?" asked Thea. "Depending on Dad and everything."
Elijah nodded. "Do call me if you need anything."
"Of course. It's just a waiting game now. Until Klaus shows up."
o – o – o
Thea was climbing the stairs to Jonas' apartment when she got a phone call. From an unlisted number.
Frowning, she paused on the stairs and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Thea."
Thea could hardly breathe. It was Greta.
"Oh my god, Greta! How are you? Where are you? Are you with Klaus?"
"I'm calling because I have a message," said Greta, not answering any of Thea's questions.
Thea frowned at Greta's formal, distant tone. "What message?"
"Leave Mystic Falls," said Greta. "He knows you're there."
Thea sighed, not needing to ask who 'he' was.
"We're not going anywhere Greta."
"Take Dad and Luka and get out," said Greta, this time with a slight pleading tone.
"Don't do this, Greta," said Thea, knowing she had her own pleading tone. "You're our family. You know we were never going to give up on you."
"I thought you would have gotten the message when I stopped returning your calls," said Greta, a little coldly.
Thea closed her eyes. The confirmation of what she'd suspected all along hurt more than she wanted to admit- Greta had willingly abandoned her family.
"Please, Sis," said Thea. "How can you help him do this? You're a witch! We're supposed to protect the balance."
"Klaus opened my eyes to new possibilities. Things I never thought magic could do. He shares everything with me."
Thea clenched her jaw. "He's using you."
"He cares about me!" exclaimed Greta, defensively. "And I care about him. He deserves this."
Thea sighed, guessing that Greta and Klaus' relationship had ventured into non-platonic territory.
"Breaking that curse is dangerous," said Thea. "We can't just let a hybrid loose..."
"If you're working to stop the ritual or harm Klaus in anyway, then you're an enemy," snarled Greta. "I can't be held responsible for what happens to any of you."
Thea sucked in a breath, never thinking she'd hear such nasty threats from her little sister.
"If that's the way it has to be," said Thea, sadly. "Then that's the way it has to be." She paused. "Tell your boss I said that too."
Then she hung up. She leaned against the rail of the stairs, blinking back tears. How had it come to this? Sister against sister? Brother against brother?
Thea took a deep breath and continued her trudge up the stairs, trying not to think about how all this would end.