"How long do we have?" asked Damon, looking over at Thea.

They were driving to the ritual site.

"We have some time," said Thea, eyeing the sky. "The moon needs to be at a certain point for the ritual to happen. It can take place at any point after that until it sinks again, but I'm sure Klaus and Greta will want to do it as soon as possible."

Damon nodded.

Thea frowned, taking in Damon's slightly weary expression. "You okay? You look... more dead than normal."

"I'm fine," said Damon, straightening. "Let's just get there. I want to watch you kill the son of a bitch."

Thea nodded. "The sacrifice is completed in stages as the full moon sets. First Klaus will kill the werewolf, then the vampire, then the doppelganger. Once Elena is dead, however temporarily, the curse is broken and Klaus will become a true hybrid."

"Then Stefan will get Elena out of there and you'll fry his ass," smirked Damon.

"Yes," agreed Thea. "Breaking the curse activates his dormant werewolf side. He'll be forced to turn. Just this once. He'll be vulnerable during the transformation. It'll be tricky, but I should be able to undo the magic that keeps him alive."

"Should?" Damon repeated, frowning.

Thea shrugged. "Nothing like this has ever been attempted before. The spell that created vampires is ancient, powerful. Killing an original is supposed to be impossible."

"But with the power of a hundred dead witches..."

Thea nodded. "Let's hope it's enough."

She bit her lip, not wanting to share her uneasiness about the whole thing with Damon. Klaus was evil, but learning he hadn't actually killed his family had changed her feelings somewhat. She knew why- Elijah. He would never agree to kill Klaus if he knew that Klaus hadn't actually dumped his siblings in the ocean.

Which was the other problem. Klaus was planning to sacrifice Katherine as the vampire, but how could Thea let that happen, when Katherine was the only one who knew where Elijah was? Thea missed Elijah desperately. What would he do in her place?

o – o – o

"Where are we going?" asked Elena, trying not to stumble along the dark path.

"This way," said the small witch.

Elena frowned. "You're Thea's sister, Greta, aren't you? I heard about you. Your family is looking for you."

"They're wasting their time. I told them to leave."

Elena grimaced as she stumbled. "God, I can't see anything."

Greta abruptly stopped and casually waved her hand. Fire erupted from several places along the path and Elena tried not to startle. She saw that they were at the edge of the old quarry.

She was surprised to see a familiar face lying there.

"Katherine?"

Greta smiled. "She'll be the vampire that Klaus sacrifices tonight."

Katherine groaned. She tried to get up, but Greta raised her hand and Katherine screamed, grabbing her head in pain. Then Greta lifted her hand and a ring of fire encircled Katherine.

Katherine ran to the edge of the circle, but slammed into an invisible barrier.

"Let me out!" she demanded.

Greta ignored her and Elena felt herself being dragged back several feet. Elena could only watch as a ring of fire encircled her as well.

Katherine slammed into the barrier again. "Fuck!"

Elena rolled her eyes, not feeling the least bit sorry for her doppelganger. She had tried to kill practically everyone Elena cared about, more than once.

Greta walked away.

"Stupid bitch," growled Katherine, knocking against the barrier one last time. She looked over at Elena. "What are you so sad about? You're going to survive this."

"Maybe," said Elena. Her voice lowered. "At least I know he won't."

Katherine snarled. "Like I care." Her head lifted. "Someone's coming."

"Is it Klaus?"

Katherine listened. "I don't think so."

o – o – o

"Hey Stefan," said Thea, hopping out of the car. "Where's Luka?"

Stefan shrugged. "I haven't seen him."

"We don't need him," said Damon, slamming the passenger side door. "I can take care of the evil witch."

Thea huffed. "Greta may be shacking up with Klaus, but she's still my sister, Damon. I don't want you to 'take care of her'."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Seems like your brother doesn't agree."

"He'll be here," said Stefan, looking at her with kind, if nervous eyes.

"I know," said Thea, confidently. "Where's everyone else?"

"At home," said Stefan. "We all agreed it was best if it was just us tonight."

Thea breathed a sigh of relief, glad most of the Mystic Falls gang was sitting this one out. Looking out for Alaric, Bonnie and the rest of them would just be a distraction.

"Are you ready?" asked Stefan.

Thea nodded.

"Are you sure?" he pressed. "Because this whole plan is contingent on you."

Thea frowned. "What does that mean?"

"He has your sister and your boyfriend," drawled Damon. "Just keep your eyes on the prize."

"We'll find Elijah," snapped Thea. "Once Klaus is dead, Greta will have no choice. She can stay or go. It doesn't matter."

Stefan opened his mouth to say something, but just then another car pulled up. Thea breathed a sigh of relief when she realized in was Luka's.

"Finally," sighed Thea, grateful for the distraction from the Salvatores' narrowed gazes.

Luka smiled as he emerged from the car. "Look who I found."

Thea gasped when she saw Jonas get out of the passenger side.

"Dad?" She ran up to him. "Where the hell have you been?"

"I needed some time to think," grumbled Jonas.

His tone clearly conveyed his previous whereabouts weren't up for discussion.

Thea looked at Luka, who shrugged. He clearly didn't know where Jonas had been either.

Thea sighed. "Well you're here now. You can help Luka control Greta after the ritual." She turned to look at Luka. "You know what to do, right?"

Luka nodded. "I've been practicing the sleeping spell all day."

"Good." She hesitated. "Can I talk to you guys for a minute?" She threw a glance at the Salvatores. "In private?"

Jonas looked uncomfortable, but nodded along with Luka. The Salvatores just shrugged, figuring Thea was going to grill Jonas on where he had been.

"Don't be long," said Damon.

"The quarry is just over this hill, Damon," said Stefan. He looked up at the moon. "We still have time." Then he looked at Thea. "We'll be back in a few minutes. We should make a few stakes. Just in case."

Damon just growled angrily, but disappeared with Stefan.

Content they were alone, Thea quickly muttered a privacy spell so they wouldn't be overheard.

"Thea..." Jonas began.

"I'm not going to bug you or lecture you about where you were," said Thea. "I can't even imagine how hard this has been for you."

Jonas looked surprised, but tilted his head in gratitude.

"Just make sure if you're here, you're in control and able to help," she said.

"I'm fine," said Jonas. "And in control of my emotions."

Thea looked hard at him. "I hope so, because I have a huge favor to ask." She looked at Luka. "Of both of you."

o – o – o

"Thea," gasped Elena, watching Thea walk up to her and Katherine. "What are you doing here?"

Thea eyed Katherine. "We have unfinished business."

Katherine smirked. "Came to save your white knight?"

"Greta could see," said Elena, looking around the clearing nervously. "Where is Klaus?"

"Preparing," said Thea. "There are few things he needs to do to get ready for the ritual." Her eyes snapped to Katherine. "We don't have much time. Luka is distracting Greta. Where is Elijah?"

"Let me out and I'll tell you," said Katherine, crossing her arms.

"No, Thea," said Elena. "You can't trust her. She'd say anything to save herself."

"Shut up," snapped Katherine, looking at Elena with angry eyes before turning back to Thea. "Are you willing to risk never seeing him again?

Thea bit her lip, considering. It was a risk. There was no knowing if Katherine was even telling the truth. She closed her eyes, her mind filled with Elijah. What if she couldn't find him? What if she killed Klaus and he was left to rot somewhere, daggered forever?

"He's not far," said Katherine, pressing her further. "Klaus is keeping him close. You could have him back by tomorrow."

"Don't do this," urged Elena. "If you let her out, Klaus will know. All of this will be for nothing."

Katherine scoffed. "He'll just think I got some witch friend to let me out. He'll find some other vampire to sacrifice." She tilted her head, listening. "Your family's still talking, but won't be for long. Come on. Let me go. For Elijah."

Thea sighed, picturing Elijah's handsome face. "Fine. Be ready to go when I say. The barrier will only be down for a second."

"Thea, no," said Elena. "Don't."

Thea just ignored her and called forth her magic. Normally, disrupting a boundary spell took time, but with all the magic she was channeling, it wasn't difficult. She pressed her hands against the circle that encased Katherine and pushed her magic out, feeling the barrier fall down.

"Now," breathed Thea.

Katherine zoomed out of the circle. "Thanks."

"Where is Elijah?" demanded Thea.

A loud scream pierced the night.

"Oh god," hissed Thea, turning around to see if she could find the source of the scream.

When she turned back, Katherine was nothing but a blurry streak, running away at top speed.

o – o – o

"What are you doing here?" asked Greta, eyes narrowed at Luka and Jonas. "How did you find me?"

"You didn't cloak Elena," said Luka. He looked at the groaning man that Greta was pulling forward. "Who is he?"

"He's the werewolf," said Greta. "Brady something... Leave. Now."

"Don't do this, Greta," said Jonas. "Goddamnit I raised you better than this."

Greta scoffed. "You didn't raise me at all, Dad. Between your practice and your grimoire obsession, you were never around. So don't you lecture me on my choices! You don't have the right."

Jonas looked angry. "I'm your father! Your loyalty should be to your family. To the witches. Not to some megalomaniac intent on building some freakshow army!"

Greta looked furious. "Don't you dare talk about Klaus like that! He showed me things you never did. He listens to me. He cares about me."

"He's using you!" growled Jonas. "He manipulated you to buy Thea's silence. To ensure she wouldn't betray his secrets."

"What?"

"Thea used to work for him," said Luka, looking at Greta with pity. "Before you did. She quit when she found out what he really wanted."

"You're lying!" accused Greta. "You just want me to leave. Turn against him."

"It's the truth!" shouted Jonas, clearly trying to control his anger. "He's using you. You were never his first choice."

"Shut up!" shouted Greta. "Shut up!"

She held up her hand and Jonas groaned, holding his hands to his head, in obvious pain.

"Stop it, Greta!" exclaimed Luka. "You're hurting him!"

"I don't care," said Greta. "Get out of here! I warned you!"

Luka ran over to Greta and shook her. It was enough to break her concentration and release Jonas from the spell.

Luka looked over to Jonas and had never seen his father so angry.

"I'd rather see you dead than a traitor to your own family!" shouted Jonas.

Then he stormed forward, circling Greta's throat. Her scream was abruptly cut off when Jonas pressed tighter.

"Dad!" exclaimed Luka. "Stop!"

He lifted his hand and pushed his magic out, giving Jonas a decent-sized aneurysm. Jonas immediately dropped Greta.

Greta pushed him away and raised her hand, quickly snapping his neck. She turned her cold eyes to Luka.

"Get out of here," she snarled. "You're lucky I don't kill you both."

She picked up the groaning werewolf and started walking towards the clearing. Luka hoped that Thea had spoken to Katherine and was gone.

He looked down at his father's body and sighed before dragging him away, slowly making his way back to where they'd all parked their cars.

o – o – o

Damon frowned as he used the knife to fasten a makeshift stake.

"Why are we making these again?" he asked Stefan. "Klaus can't be killed using these."

Stefan sighed. "We don't know if he has any extra people running around tonight. He knows he'll be vulnerable after the ritual."

Damon nodded. "I wouldn't put it past him to have more minions lurking. I-"

His next sentence was cut off by a loud scream in the direction of the clearing. He moved without thinking, but when he covered the distance in an instant, he was shocked to see Katherine sprinting away from the clearing.

He saw Stefan move in front of her, using the element of surprise to stop her for a second.

"Katherine."

Damon looked up and saw Thea looking angry, running towards them. She held out her hand and Katherine flew back a hundred feet, landing at Thea's feet.

"Where is Elijah?" Thea demanded. "Tell me now!"

Katherine moaned. It was obvious Thea was doing something to inflict pain.

"There's a warehouse," said Katherine, gasping. "Corner of Blake and Turner."

Thea smiled. "Thank you."

"Let me go," said Katherine.

Thea narrowed her eyes. "You tried to run. You broke the deal." It was clear she was furious. "Get back in your cage!"

She held her hand up and Katherine flew back into the circle of fire.

"No!" screamed Katherine, banging on the barrier.

Thea just stomped away. She quickly covered the distance between her and the Salvatores.

"What the hell?" exclaimed Damon. "Why didn't you let her go? We could have postponed the ritual."

Thea looked at him with furious eyes. "I told you before that wasn't my goal. She tried to betray me. I don't owe her a goddamn thing. She killed my father." She looked from Damon to Stefan. "Let's go. Klaus will probably be here soon."

Damon looked at Stefan with an angry expression, but Stefan just shook his head and followed Thea. Soon the three of them were back in the woods, out of sight.

o – o – o

"How did it go?" asked Luka, looking up to see Thea, Stefan and Damon walking up to the area where they'd parked their cars.

Thea smiled. "Got the location." She looked down at Luka's feet where Jonas was lying. "What happened to him?"

Luka sighed. "He and Greta didn't see eye to eye." He paused. "He kind of attacked Greta."

Thea's mouth dropped open. "What?"

"I don't think he meant it," said Luka quickly. "She's still alive."

Thea nodded. "He would never kill anyone."

Damon scoffed softly.

Thea whipped around. "You have a comment, Damon?"

"Nope," he responded.

Thea narrowed her eyes. "Tell the truth."

She started to raise her hand.

"Hey!" exclaimed Damon, holding up his hands. "We're on the same side remember."

Thea breathed deep, trying to control her anger. "Spill, Damon. Now!"

There must have been something in her eyes that compelled him because the next second he was telling them all about his and Jonas' encounter in the alley, how he'd tried to get Jonas to drink some fresh blood, but that Jonas had lost control and ended up killing the girl.

"What is wrong with you, Damon?" asked Stefan, exasperated.

"I was just trying to get the old man to loosen up," shrugged Damon. "I didn't think he'd bleed her dry."

"You know how new vampires can be," grumbled Stefan. "How we both were."

Damon rolled his eyes. "You're the one with control issues, Brother, not me."

"Just shut up!" exclaimed Thea. "Both of you." She glared at Damon. "I can't even look at you! No wonder he took off! We're lucky he didn't watch the sunrise without his daylight ring."

"I should have," came Jonas' low voice.

"Dad!" exclaimed Luka, helping Jonas up.

"It's fine," said Thea. "It happens to every vampire." She gave Damon an unfriendly glance. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again."

Jonas sighed. "I can't do this, Thea. I came back for Greta."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "How'd that work out for you?"

Jonas growled. "She's lost to us. I think she's in love with that monster."

Thea sighed and rubbed her head. "We can't think about that right now. We have to concentrate." She turned to Jonas. "I need another favor, Dad."

She quickly told him about her encounter with Katherine and that she knew where Elijah was.

"Can you go undagger him?" asked Thea. "He'll need some blood."

Jonas looked like he was going to argue, but Thea put a hand on his arm. "This isn't the place for you. You're a new vampire and Greta is..." she trailed off.

Jonas was silent for a few seconds, but then he nodded. "Do what you can. Kill him, Thea. If we can't get her back, at least we can get revenge."

Thea nodded and watched as he took off in vampire speed into the woods.

o – o – o

Thea winced as she watched Klaus rip Brady's heart out from the cover of the trees that were beside the clearing where the ritual was taking place.

"Ouch," drawled Damon, who was standing beside her. "That had to hurt."

"Show a little respect, Damon," said Stefan, shaking his head. He looked over at Thea. "Are you sure he can't see us?"

Thea looked back at Stefan, happy to have something else to focus on than Klaus sacrificing three people.

"None of the witches I knew could do this," said Stefan, looking around at the small circle Thea had drawn on the ground to indicate where they were safe from prying eyes.

Thea tilted her head. "That's because I've cast several spells at once. A privacy spell, a glamour, a confounding spell... Normally doing one would take a witch's full power.

"But since you're super witch, it's no problem," smirked Damon. "Pretty useful, all that power. Imagine the party tricks."

Thea smiled a little, but Stefan just frowned.

"It can't be healthy," said Stefan. "Channeling all that power."

Thea sighed. "Nature has a way of finding a balance."

"What kind of balance?" pressed Stefan.

"I can't keep it forever," said Thea. "And I have to be careful about how I use it. It could kill me... or worse."

Damon frowned. "What's worse?"

Thea bit her lip.

"Witches have gone crazy by channeling too much power," supplied Luka. "Or they get too... strong."

Damon smirked. "Power corrupts."

"I've been fine so far," said Thea, shrugging.

"Like when you tossed Katherine back in the ring of fire without a second glance?" asked Stefan.

Thea looked at him. "You think she didn't deserve it?"

Stefan didn't reply, just looked out on the ritual site.

"She's about to get what she deserves," said Damon.

They all watched as the ring of fire around Katherine was lowered. She tried to run, but Klaus caught her easily. He whispered something in her ear before taking a wooden stake and shoving it into her heart.

No one said a word as Katherine turned gray and veiny, slumped on the ground. Thea turned away, unable to watch anymore. Had she made the right choice?

She looked at Stefan, who stood there, frozen on the spot, staring at the ritual site. Then he closed his eyes and turned around.

"I can't watch this."

Thea looked on and saw that Klaus had set his sights on Elena. She kept a close on the Salvatore brothers, watching to see if either would try to intervene, despite the fact that Elena herself had asked them not to.

She needn't have worried. Though both were obviously agitated, they didn't interfere as Klaus drained Elena and dropped her to the ground.

Thea watched as Greta completed the ritual and she turned to Luka, Damon and Stefan.

"It's time."

o – o – o

Luka followed Thea and the Salvatores as they made their way towards the ritual site. The fires were nearly out now, all the victims sacrificed.

Luka cringed when he saw Katherine and Brady lying dead. Stefan and Damon immediately crouched next to Elena's body and Luka turned his attention to Greta.

He lifted his hand and started muttering the words to the sleeping spell. He came at Greta from behind, while his sister was distracted with watching Klaus walk away, starting to turn into a wolf.

He could see Thea out of the corner of his eye and heard Klaus' pained scream as Thea started to use her magic against him.

Luka breathed deep and focused on the task at hand. He smiled when Greta started to sway, clearly falling under the sleeping spell. Her head whipped around and spotted him, an angry expression marring her face.

She fell to her knees, but managed to send her hand out and Luka flailed backwards and fell against a tree. Pain caused his eyes to water and his head throbbed.

He struggled to get up, but Greta had already turned her attention to Thea and Klaus. She grabbed a knife from her pocket and advanced toward the pair, clearly intent on saving Klaus.

A blur distracted him and he saw Damon appear behind Greta. Another second and his hands reached for her neck. With a deft twist of his wrists, Greta's neck snapped and she crumpled on the ground, dead.

"No!" cried Luka, though his voice was faint as he pulled himself to a standing position.

He stumbled to his sister's body, tears pouring down his cheeks. He knelt beside her, feeling for a pulse, even though he knew he wouldn't find one.

"Couldn't let her interfere," said Damon.

Luka just looked at him angrily, but didn't reply, knowing he wasn't wrong. He just grabbed Greta's hand and looked down into her face.

"I'm sorry," he said, tears still streaming down his cheeks. "I failed you."

o – o – o

Thea breathed deep as her total focus became one with her magic. She could feel it growing within her as she walked, filling every nook and cranny and then, spilling over. It was intoxicating. Before there was always a limit, a point where she kept calling and nothing came forth. Now, it seemed, there was no limit.

She saw Klaus walking unsteadily, clearly the change was happening. His werewolf side had been unbound and the full moon was in force, causing his bones to begin breaking in preparation for the transformation to wolf form.

She quickly pushed her magic out, toppling from his feet and casting a spell to slow the transformation. Once he was in wolf form, there would be no way to kill him through magic.

He let out a pained cry that had nothing to do with becoming a hybrid. Thea could feel Greta's eyes on her, but knew that Luka was there, ready to subdue Greta.

She approached Klaus, muttering incantations that would unbind his body of all magic, leaving him in the state he was when he died- a dead werewolf.

"No!" he cried, looking over at her. "How..."

She tore her gaze away from the look of pain on his face and concentrated on the magic flowing through her. She siphoned the magic away from his body, the pull getting stronger the closer she approached, until the magic was draining from him and she was right next to him.

She knelt beside him as he lay helpless on the ground, putting a hand on his chest. The physical contact strengthened the connection, the magic coming in waves now.

"So this is the end?" coughed Klaus, mouth sputtering blood. "You've come to kill me. After I spared you."

Thea concentration faltered at his words and the flow of magic slowed. "You've killed countless others. And will kill countless more. I can't... I'm a servant of nature. It has to be this way. I'm sorry, Klaus."

And she really was. The pain in Klaus' eyes was so real. She tried to suppress the memories of their once-close friendship. She didn't have a choice.

"And what of Elijah?" he said in a whisper.

"I know where he is," answered Thea.

Klaus coughed again. "And the rest of my family?" His voice was so quiet now. "What will Elijah think when you've killed his only means of finding them?"

"Finish him!" came Damon's voice from behind her.

Thea ignored him.

All her earlier thoughts came flooding back. Elijah would never agree to kill Klaus if he'd known that his families' bodies were safely daggered somewhere.

But really, it shouldn't matter. She was a witch first. The balance had to be maintained. And she was a daughter, a sister. Klaus had ripped her family apart, seduced her sister, and, however indirectly, caused her father to be turned into a vampire.

But she was also a woman. A woman who didn't want to see the man she cared for hurt. A woman who knew what it was like to feel lonely, betrayed by those who were closest to you. Staring into Klaus' eyes she couldn't help feel pity.

Her hesitation lasted too long, her confused thoughts just a fraction too distracting. Before she knew what was happening, Klaus had grabbed her and sunk his fangs into her neck.

"No!" came Damon's voice.

She was brutally ripped away from Klaus and she stumbled to the ground. She lay there, on her side, clutching her bleeding neck as she watched Damon face Klaus.

Klaus was on his feet in an instant, her blood apparently giving him the jolt he needed. Damon tackled him, but got thrown away.

Without Thea's magic breaking his body down, he resumed his transformation. The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness were his pained cries as he slowly became a wolf.

o – o – o

Thea blinked her eyes. Sunlight flooding through the window of her room. She groaned against the brightness, shielding her eyes from the light.

"What..." she breathed, trying to lock down her thoughts.

"Relax," came a familiar voice. "You are well. You suffered no lasting damage."

Thea looked to the side of the bed and smiled widely at a smiling Elijah.

"Elijah!" she exclaimed, sitting up quickly. "You're awake."

"I am," he confirmed.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and flung her arms around him.

"I'm so glad you're here," she whispered into his chest, happy when his arms encircled her as well.

"As am I," he whispered back. "There is something you should know..."

"Wait!" exclaimed Thea, pulling back to look into his face. "Before you say anything. Give me whatever bad news, I've been dying to do this again."

And then she kiss him. He responded immediately, wrapping his arms tighter around her and crushing his lips to hers.

Thea sighed contentedly, not wanting to think about the future, just enjoying being in Elijah's arms once again.

A/N: Well there ya go! Klaus made it, but Elijah is back! I hope this seemed realistic- since Thea is a much more experienced witch, I thought it was reasonable that she can do a lot more with the power than Bonnie could.

And poor Katherine. I really do like her as a character, but it felt right that Klaus would sacrifice her and Thea wouldn't have much pity for her.

Next chapter we'll have a true Thea/Elijah reunion and the fall out from the day of the ritual...