Day One
Morning - Woods
Stefan was in the woods, doing pushups, talking to someone on the phone over speaker phone.
Elizabeth's voice was on the other line. "What do you mean, you're not coming?" She was in the boarding house, in Emma's room, having her phone on speaker. Emma was working out, using the bar over her bed as a pullup bar. "I don't need to remind you that your Miss Mystic Falls attendance record sucks. You attacked Amber and prevented her from running. Besides, we're Founding Family members. By definition, we have to be there."
"Elena and I broke up." Stefan told them. "By definition, I don't need to be anywhere."
Elizabeth looked at Emma. "Did that sound as depressing to you as it did to me?"
"A little bit, yeah." Emma answered.
"Oh, I'm not depressed." Stefan told them. "I just want to rip into someone's artery and feed until I can't breathe anymore."
Stefan lied on the ground, looking up at the sky.
"Well, you can't." Emma told him. She let herself off of the bar above her head, turning to face Elizabeth, speaking to Stefan. "As your sober sponsor, I am not going to let that happen. Try and sublimate. If Elizabeth is dragging me to the pageant like she did last year, you are going to be there, too."
Stefan looked up at the sky in silence for a moment. "She said she has feelings for Damon."
"And this is news to anyone?" Elizabeth asked.
"Elena's right." Stefan told them. "Being a vampire really has changed her. Just like being a vampire really had changed Morgana."
"All the more reason you need to Cure them." Elizabeth told him. "Look, we got to go. Be careful."
"And remember, there is sublimating and then there is insanity." Emma told him.
"I'll be fine." Stefan told them. "Bye."
Stefan hung up.
Elizabeth hung up, looking at Emma.
Emma sighed.
Stefan stood.
Klaus rushed up behind Stefan, grabbing him in a chokehold. "In what world do the words 'Tell no one' mean tell your brother, your sister, Elisaveta, and every teenage sycophant in town?"
"The secret's safe." Stefan told him. "No one who knows about the Cure will endanger us. Trust me, you know I want to find it more than anyone else."
"Well, then, I suggest you find some more vampires for Jeremy to kill before I'm tempted to offer you up as a victim." Klaus told him, releasing him. Stefan stepped away, turning to face Klaus. "And try to keep this one to yourself, would you?"
...
Mystic Grill - Outside - Alley
Morgana pushed a man against the brick wall, feeding off of him hungrily.
Rosie walked up behind her. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, okay, stop." She pulled Morgana away from the guy. "Remember the last time someone got like this? They crashed at my place for months and pretended to be an emotionless bitch." Morgana didn't answer, sighing, wiping the blood from her mouth and chin, breathing deeply. Rosie tilted her head at her. "What's wrong with you?"
"Stefan broke up with Elena because she's falling in love with Damon." Morgana answered.
Rosie raised her eyebrows. "They say those exact words?"
"No." Morgana answered. "But the sub-text was pretty clear."
Rosie sighed, turning her head to look at the guy Morgana compelled, looking at Morgana. "So, what are you gonna do, Morgana?"
"Hmm." Morgana hummed. "And you're a hybrid sired to the hybrid dick called my brother, without a way out of it, keeping me back from becoming a Ripper again. So, I'm guessing you're going to the pageant."
Rosie tilted her head. "It's at my house. My rules. Everyone that is turning their backs on me are coming to my house because of some lame-ass pageant that my aunt is making me go to. So, if they see me, it's their fault. You should come, too, to make it a little less depressing." Morgana gave her a look, tilting her head. Rosie gestured to the guy. "Unless you wanna keep doing stuff like that."
Morgana hesitated, nodding. "Yeah, okay." She looked at the guy standing behind her, compelling him. "It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you. You can trust me."
"What are you doing?" Rosie asked.
Morgana held up her hand to stop her from intervening, not looking at her. "If I do this, I won't kill him."
"What makes you think that?" Rosie asked.
"I'd never hurt someone I love or who trusts me." Morgana replied.
"Okay." Rosie answered.
"Then shut up." Morgana told her. Rosie smirked. Morgana turned her attention to the guy she compelled, biting her wrist, putting it up to his lips. "Drink. It'll heal you." The guy drank. Rosie tilted her head, in curiosity. The guy healed. Morgana pulled her wrist away, compelling him. "Go home and forget this ever happened." The guy nodded, walking away to do as told. Morgana turned to face Rosie, smiling a small smile, proud of herself, sighing. Rosie gave her a look. Morgana looked to the side, back to Rosie. "What?"
"Just impressed." Rosie answered. Morgana smiled a wider smile. "Get a dress."
Morgana scoffed, smiling, pushing Rosie away teasingly.
Rosie smiled, walking away.
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Foyer
Stefan walked into the foyer with a bag over his shoulder.
Emma walked closer, wearing a hoodie over her workout clothes. "Where you going?"
"Ah, you know, out." Stefan told her, walking toward the door.
Isabella and Elizabeth stepped in his way of the door. "Okay, I see shady Stefan is back." Damon walked into the room. "Please don't tell me that you're still working with Klaus."
"Please don't tell me that you're still planning on going on a date with Klaus." Stefan replied.
Elizabeth rolled her head toward Isabella, knowing she had told Stefan.
Isabella shrugged.
"What's going on?" Damon asked.
Stefan looked at Damon. "Sorry. You obviously haven't heard. Elena and I broke up."
Isabella sighed, tilting her head.
Emma raised her eyebrows.
Damon stayed silent for a moment with a blank, expressionless face. "Oh. Got it. Uh, well, I'll be quick, then. So, apparently, if we want to find the Cure, we have to find a vampire Hunter who can kill enough vampires to reveal the map on the Hunter's Mark." He gave Emma a look. Emma gave him a sarcastic look in return. "Now, unless we want Jeremy to go all Connor 2.0, I suggest we find a different Hunter."
"Preferably not me." Emma told them.
Stefan looked between them in confusion. "Excuse me?"
"You obviously haven't heard." Emma told him, using his words against him. "Apparently, I'm the only one that can see the new tattoo that Jeremy's sporting."
"So then that means, you're a Hunter." Stefan told her.
"Potential." Emma corrected. "If it means I'm gonna go crazy like Connor did, I don't want to activate it. Ever."
"Okay, noted, never gonna let it happen." Stefan told her. "Especially not since you're just recovering from your sickness and from your surgery. If anything happened to effect its outcome..."
"I could die." Emma finished. "So, let's just keep it at 'Not gonna kill a vampire anytime soon' selection."
"Well, I was gonna ask Professor Shane about it, but turns out, he's shadier than you are." Isabella told them. "Evelyn connected him and the Pastor through phone records. Apparently, the two were very chatty the day that the Pastor blew up the Council."
"Ah, so you're gonna confront Shane, threaten him, possibly kill him, that sort of thing." Emma told them.
"Yeah, unless he tells me what he's up to." Damon answered. He patted Stefan and Isabella on the shoulders. "What do you say? Should we triple tag team this?"
"Nah, I'd say you're on your own." Stefan told him.
Isabella scoffed. "Speak for yourself." She looked at Damon. "I'll help you." Stefan tried to step around her toward the door. Isabella stepped in his way. "Or we could just blow it off and got get drunk. Family bond over some bourbon. If you-you know-want some quality time."
Stefan grimaced, chuckling, looking at Emma, Elizabeth and Isabella. "Let's not pretend like this isn't the best day of Damon's life, and your goal to keep this family together isn't falling apart."
Stefan patted them each on the arm, walking past them, opening the door, walking out, leaving.
...
Lockwood Mansion - Outside
(Song:) Let's Go - Matt & Kim
Everyone was preparing for the pageant.
Evelyn and Elena were standing at a table, arranging flowers in a vase.
"Look, I'm your friend, and I would never pick sides, but are you sure that this is what you want?" Evelyn asked. "Because Stefan broke up with you since your feelings for Damon have suddenly outweighed your feelings for Stefan, and outweighed your sympathy for Emma, your sister."
"It's not like I don't love Stefan anymore, and I don't want to hurt Emma , but I can't deny that ever since I turned, my feelings for Damon have become more intense." Elena told her.
"Yeah, I know." Evelyn told her. "Morgana was listening in on all the gory Damon details."
"She was?" Elena asked. Evelyn nodded. Elena looked worried. "Is she okay?"
"No." Evelyn answered.
"Well, what was I supposed to do?" Elena asked. "Lie to them?"
"No." Evelyn answered. "But you weren't supposed to let Damon weasel his way into your confused newbie vampire heart."
"Well, he did, and that's exactly what I am." Elena told her. "Confused. I need to figure out what these feelings actually mean."
Shane walked down the steps, toward them. "Excuse me, I'm a little lost. I'm here to interview contestants."
Evelyn looked at Elena. "This is Professor Shane."
Elena looked between them.
"Yeah, that's right." Shane told them. "Professor by day, pageant judge by other day. In spite of being absurdly unqualified, I'm apparently awarding a scholarship."
"Uh, inside by the parlor." Elena told him.
Shane pointed to the house. "Right in here?"
"Mm-hmm." Elena answered.
"All right, I'll just follow the scent of hairspray and world domination." Shane told them.
Elena laughed quietly, not really finding that funny, just being polite.
Shane walked away.
Evelyn looked at Elena. "He's the one who told us how to break the Hunter's Curse. And he's also the one that has Bonnie and Sally so obsessed with practicing magic that they bailed on pageant prep. And who has Elizabeth so obsessed with practicing magic that she tried to bail out on getting out of the pageant altogether."
"And now he's judging Miss Mystic Falls?" Elena asked. She raised her eyebrows. "Jack of all trades or kind of creepy?"
"I say creepy." Evelyn answered.
"Is that just because you're paranoid and don't want to trust anyone?" Elena asked.
"Probably." Evelyn answered. "But I have very good reasons to be paranoid." Elena nodded in acknowledgement. "But Sally and Bonnie are both gonna be here tomorrow for the pageant, even if I have to drag them here so they can be here for Elizabeth."
Elena chuckled.
(Song Ends)
...
Inside - Parlor
Shane was making his way around.
Liam walked in. "Professor Shane." Shane turned toward him. Liam walked closer to him. "Sorry to bother you, but I was just wanting to ask you a few questions for my friend April, about her dad, Pastor Young."
"Yeah, sure, of course." Shane told him. "Anything you need."
"Good." Liam told him. "Um, she told me about knowing you through her dad, who taught a theology seminar last year?"
Shane nodded. "That he did."
"So I was just wondering if you were friends." Liam told him. "If he would have told you anything that he wouldn't tell anyone else."
"You mean, if he told me he was depressed or suicidal enough to kill himself and take 11 innocents with him." Shane told him. Liam nodded hesitantly. Shane shook his head. "No, he never told me any such thing. He wasn't depressed or anything. I have no idea why he would kill himself or his friends from the Council. I'm sorry I can't be of more help."
Liam sighed, nodding, backing away. "Well, thanks. At least I can tell April that I tried."
Shane nodded. "That, you can."
"Thanks, anyway." Liam told him.
Shane nodded. "Mm-hmm."
Liam turned around, walking away, looking slightly suspicious, as if he knew something was wrong with him.
...
Outside
Matt and Jeremy were taking out boxes from the back of Matt's pickup truck.
"So, Liam is setting himself up with Rosie as his date,".Matt told him. "Think he'll have to do that weird dance thing?"
"I'm pretty sure that's just for the contestants." Jeremy told him. "He could always back out of being a date for a sired hybrid who is forced to turn against all her friends."
"Or we could show her that it's not gonna be like what happened to Tyler what will happen to her." Matt told him. Jeremy smirked. Matt changed the subject. "And I heard that Evelyn is setting you up with April as her date. How'd that happen?"
"Well, she needed an escort, and apparently, you were taken." Jeremy told him.
Matt grinned, laughing. "Or you're doing it because Evelyn's the one who asked." Jeremy didn't answer. Matt grabbed one of the kegs in the back of his truck, trying to lift it up, but it was too heavy for him. "Okay, let's just take these in and we'll come back for the kegs."
"No, wait." Jeremy told him, jumping onto the bed of the truck. "You want to see something cool?"
Jeremy picked up one keg in each hand as if they weighed nothing, jumping down from the bed of the truck, placing the kegs on the ground.
Matt looked at him with a mix of being impressed and worried. "How did you just do that?"
"Ever since I was awoken as a Hunter, I've had all this energy, like all the time." Jeremy him.
"Jer, I think you need to talk to someone about this." Matt told him. "I mean, look, what happened to Connor, okay? A byproduct of this energy is that you're gonna want to kill vampires and you happen to live with two."
"Hey, I would never hurt my sister or Morgana." Jeremy told him, starting to walk away. "I'll be fine."
Jeremy grabbed a cart, pushing it toward the house.
Matt watched him leave with a look of worry.
...
Mystic Falls Hospital - Hallway
Stefan walked into the hospital through a back entrance. He quietly closed the door behind him. He walked over to a room, picking up the clipboard from the door. He read that the patient in the room was having an appendectomy at 8:30, placing the clipboard back in its holder. He walked over to another room, looking at a man lying in a hospital bed, seeing that his wrist chained to the railing with hand cuffs. Stefan picked up his clipboard, reading that he had quadruple bypass complications. He glanced once more at the man, placing the clipboard back. Stefan walked down the hallway, looking over at a police officer standing guard at one of the doors to a patient's room. He walked over to him.
The officer looked at him. "Can I help you?"
Stefan compelled him. "Time for a little break. He'll be safe with me."
The officer nodded, walking away.
...
Hospital Room
Stefan walked into the hospital room.
The man who was handcuffed to the bed looked at Stefan. "Who are you?"
"Why is there a cop outside?" Stefan asked.
"I'm a convicted murderer." The man answered.
Stefan compelled him. "You guilty?"
"Of course I am." The man answered.
"Any regrets?" Stefan asked.
"Only that I got caught." The man answered.
Stefan bit his wrist, placing in against man's mouth, forcing him to drink his blood. He snapped his neck, killing the man.
...
Klaus' Mansion - Foyer
Elizabeth knocked on the door twice, walking in. "Klaus, you ass! What the hell do you have Stefan involved in now?" She didn't get an answer. "Klaus?"
...
Living Room
Elizabeth walked into the living room. "Klaus..." Klaus was standing in front of the fireplace, looking into the flames. "Hello? Did you not hear me?"
"Of course I heard you, Elisaveta." Klaus told her. "I think the entirety of Mystic Falls heard you."
"Well, that's what you get when you involve my friend in something that he's not supposed to be involved in and pissing me off in the process." Elizabeth told him.
Klaus turned to face her. "I'm pretty sure if Stefan didn't tell you himself, then that means you shouldn't know."
Elizabeth walked closer to him. "Uh-uh. We're not playing that game. Why don't you just tell me what you have Stefan involved in? Getting the Cure? Trying to find a Hunter to kill enough vampires to reveal the Mark?"
"You know, I have some questions of my own." Klaus told her. "I was wondering what time I should pick you up tomorrow."
"Okay, you suck at avoiding a topic." Elizabeth told him.
Klaus smiled a small smile, walking closer. "I was promised a date in return for one of my hybrids."
"Yes, a date." Elizabeth told him. "Like to a movie where we don't have to talk and I can put at least three seats between us. Now how about we talk about the reason I came here that you're trying to avoid on talking about? Or how about the fact you turned Rosie into a hybrid when you knew I had tried to keep her from that?"
"There was nothing you could have done." Klaus told her. "While the Council had been trying to kill you." Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine. I'll tell you what I have your friend doing if you go with me to the Miss Mystic Falls pageant as a date."
Elizabeth gave him a look. "Seriously?"
"Do you or do you not want to know about what Stefan is up to?" Klaus asked.
"You're blackmailing me now?" Elizabeth asked.
"I don't think of it as blackmailing, love." Klaus told her. "I think of it as getting what I want."
Klaus looked at her with slightly pleading eyes.
Elizabeth sighed, giving in. "Fine." Klaus smiled. "If you tell me what's going on, then meet me there. 2:00." Elizabeth turned toward the door, but stopping at the doorway, turning around, pointing at him. "And I already have a dress, so don't even think of getting me so much as a corsage. You understand?" Klaus looked down submissively, nodding. "I'm going to blackmail someone of my own, getting information that I want."
Klaus looked up, smirking. "We're not so different after all, then, are we?" Elizabeth scoffed, rolling her eyes, turning around, opening the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Elisaveta."
Elizabeth walked out of the house, letting the door close behind her.
...
Young Farm
(Song:) Ain't Fair - Deep Vally
Scott was chained up in the barn, forcing himself to turn, breaking the bones in his body.
Hayley stood nearby, watching him.
A female hybrid was standing next to her, watching in pain. "I'll have to go through that after he leaves tomorrow?"
"Yes, Kim, you'll have to go through that." Hayley answered. Luke screamed in pain, bringing his arms down to hit the ground, making in curl in on itself as it broke. "Scream. Let it out. We're at an abandoned farm. No one can hear you for miles."
"Easy for you to say, wolf girl." Scott told her. "You never turned twenty times in a row."
"No, but I watched a bunch of your hybrid friends go through it." Hayley told them.
Scott fell to the ground, yelling in pain.
"Why's it have to be like this?" Kim asked. "Why break every bone over and over?"
"That's what the sire bond is." Hayley told them. "You're grateful to Klaus because he released you from the pain of having to turn every full moon. So, you're gonna keep turning until it doesn't hurt and you'll have nothing to be grateful for."
"What's in all of this for you?" Scott asked.
Hayley didn't answer, changing the subject. "I don't hear bones cracking."
"I'm done." Scott told them.
"No, you're not," Hayley told him.
Tyler walked into the barn. "He might think that he is... But I have some unexpected motivation."
Tyler stepped out of the way of the door frame.
Derek walked in, smiling.
Scott looked at him in surprise. "Derek."
"Hey, bro." Derek told him.
"When did you get back?" Scott asked.
"While you were babysitting a hallucinating Doppelganger twin." Derek answered.
Scott smiled. "Good to have you back."
Hayley looked at Derek. "Good." She looked at Scott. "Is that motivation enough for you? Having your big brother back?"
Derek stood a few feet away from Scott, kneeling to the ground. "You want to protect Sally, and never, ever hurt her, right?"
"Yes." Scott growled.
"Then turn." Derek told him.
Scott sighed, preparing himself, giving in. He started to transform again, breaking his bones.
Derek stood, backing away toward Tyler,
Tyler looked at Derek. "I talked to Elizabeth. She bought us another day. Klaus wants to take her to the Miss Mystic Falls pageant tomorrow."
"You told Elizabeth?" Derek asked.
"Hey, she's always looked out for us, and she still is." Tyler told him. "She feels guilty because she promised Rosie that she would protect her from Klaus, and because of some trick he did, he made her break that promise. So, now, she's trying to pay us back any way she can."
"Sally's been obsessed with practicing magic." Derek told them. "But Evelyn is making her go to the pageant so that she can be there for Elizabeth. So, naturally, Sally is making me go."
Tyler smirked, chuckling.
Hayley looked at Tyler. "So, does that mean we're going?"
"Go to some lame ass pageant?" Tyler asked. "I was an escort for Alex last year, and that didn't end very well. No thanks."
"Oh, come on." Hayley told him. Scott's bones broke. Derek and Kim watched him in pain. Hayley and Tyler continued their conversation. "We need to hide what's going on here by pretending that I was the one that broke you and Caroline up. And besides, isn't it at your house?"
Tyler rolled his eyes.
Scott groaned a scream, looking at Tyler and Hayley. "Guys, like this isn't torture enough?" He let his eyes glow gold. "Can you take it outside?"
Hayley batted her eyelashes at Tyler.
"Fine, we'll go." Tyler told her. Hayley smiled. "Wear a dress."
Tyler walked out of the barn.
Hayley turned around, grinning.
(Song Ends)
...
Jeremy's Dream
Night - Gilbert House - Elizabeth's Room
Elizabeth was looking at her reflection in the body-length mirror, trying to put a necklace on, but was having trouble clasping it together.
Jeremy walked in the room. "Need a hand?"
"Yeah, please." Elizabeth told him. "This clasp is tricky." Jeremy walked over to Elizabeth, helping her with her necklace. "Hey, Emma and Elena picked up our clothes from the dry cleaners. They had me hang your stuff on your door."
"I really wish you'd stop acting like you were still my friend." Jeremy told her.
Elizabeth looked at his reflection, confused.
Jeremy suddenly pulled the necklace tight around Elizabeth's neck, choking her. Elizabeth gasped for air, feebly attempting to push Jeremy off her. Blood started to seep from the wound forming on her neck as Jeremy tried to decapitate her.
...
Reality
Night - Gilbert House - Jeremy's Room
Jeremy woke up in his own room in cold sweat, sitting up, gasping, holding up his right hand. A knife was in his grasp. He looked down at his other hand, raising it. A wooden stake with the Hunter's Mark on it was grasped in his hand.
Jeremy looked up, scared and confused.
...
Day Two
Morning - Gilbert House - Jeremy's Room
Matt was sitting on Jeremy's bed a folder in his hand.
Jeremy was getting ready for the pageant in the bathroom, dressed in formal attire.
"How do you wake up with a knife in your hand and not remember how it got there?" Matt asked. "It's that Hunter's Mark, Jer. It's messing with you."
Jeremy began to pace. "What if I'm turning into Alaric? I've probably died too many times with this ring on my finger and I'm developing an alter ego like he did."
Matt opened the folder, reading aloud from a page "'Newly awakened Hunters may not be fully conscious of their actions. Their subconscious pushes through until the urge becomes a basic instinct.'" He placed the folder on the bed, standing, walking toward Jeremy. "You're not having a psychotic break, Jer. You either tell your sisters or I will."
"Fine." Jeremy told him. "I'll tell them when I see them."
Jeremy's phone beeped. He looked down at the text from Stefan.
Meet in Lockwood Cellar. Don't tell anyone.
"All right, we should probably get going." Matt told him. "Need a ride?"
"Uh, no." Jeremy answered. "Go ahead, I'll meet you there."
"All right." Matt told him, patting him on the arm, walking out of the room.
Jeremy looked down at the text from Stefan.
...
Lockwood Mansion - Dressing Room
Bonnie, Caroline, Elena, Evelyn, Isabella and Sally were in the room, helping April and Elizabeth for moral support. The six of them were dressed for the pageant, but April and Elizabeth were wearing robes.
April held up a blue, one-shouldered dress, and then a red, strapless, heart-neckline dress.
Bonnie, Caroline, Elena and Evelyn spoke together. "Blue."
"Really?" April asked. "The blue seems a little safe."
April looked at Sally, Elizabeth and Isabella.
Sally and Isabella shrugged.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Don't look at me. I'm not a good dress judge." She gave Evelyn a significant look. "And I wouldn't even be doing this if it wasn't for her and Liam."
Evelyn smiled.
Elena looked at April. "Safe is good when it comes to the judges."
"She's right." Caroline told her. "Gracie Lockwood had a three foot slit her year, and practically got laughed off the court."
Sally smiled, laughing.
Damon stood in the doorway, wearing formal attire. "She got my vote."
Elena looked at him, appearing to stop breathing.
Isabella threw a black box at Damon, hitting his chest. "Get out, lurker!"
"Ouch." Damon told her sarcastically. He looked at Bonnie, Sally and Elizabeth. "Where's Professor Shane?"
"Check the judges' table." Bonnie told him.
Isabella walked closer, trying to close the door in Damon's face.
Damon put his hand up, pushing it back open.
Isabella turned away in annoyance.
Damon looked at April. "Red one, definitely."
Isabella stopped in the middle of the room, next to Sally and Elizabeth, crossing her arms over her chest.
"We've already agreed that the red one is a little bit too showy." Sally told them.
"It's a pageant." Damon told them. "That's the whole point."
"Did you win Miss Mystic last year?" Caroline asked. "No. I don't think you did."
"Neither did Elena" Damon told them. "She wore blue. She didn't win. And Elizabeth was supposed to enter back in our day, but she didn't even get the chance to participate before the tragedy. And guess what color she was gonna wear? Blue."
"Nobody cares what you think." Isabella told him.
"I care." April told them stubbornly.
"See?" Damon asked. "April cares. Red, right, Elena?"
Isabella gave Elena a look.
Elena looked at April. "The red is pretty."
Caroline's smirk faded in confusion.
Bonnie, Evelyn, Elizabeth and Sally looked between them in confusion.
Isabella rolled her eyes.
Damon smirked. "And my work here is done."
Damon walked out, leaving.
Sally looked at Elena. "Uh, what happened to thirty seconds ago when you hated the red one?"
"What happened to 'safe is good'?" Bonnie asked.
Elena looked at Bonnie and Sally with a glazed over look in her eyes, shaking her head, looking at April. "Whichever one you want to wear, April."
Elena walked past them, leaving the room.
Elizabeth watched her go, turning toward the others in confusion. "What just happened?"
...
Downstairs
Damon was walking down the stairs.
Elena was following right behind him. "Damon."
Damon stopped at the bottom of the staircase, turning to look at her. "Still here."
There was a moment of silence.
"We need to talk." Elena told him.
"Stefan told me about the break up." Damon told her. Elena walked down the remaining stairs toward Damon. "I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not."
Elena and Damon started to walk across the room together.
"What did he say?" Elena asked.
They stopped in the middle of the room to face each other.
"Oh, you know Stefan." Damon told her. "He kind of just went on and on about it and wouldn't shut up."
"So, he didn't tell you why?" Elena asked.
"Nope." Damon answered. "But I'm sure it has something to do with you acting weird, so why don't you tell me?"
Elena hesitated, just looking at him for a moment. "You."
Damon looked at her, speechless at this reveal.
They looked at each other for a long moment.
Shane walked by, stopping in the doorway when he saw Damon. "Damon Salvatore. Looks like we travel in the same circuit."
Elena and Damon looked at him.
Damon was not pleased that he had interrupted his moment with Elena. "Professor Shane. Just the guy I wanted to see."
Damon walked toward Shane. He looked at Elena.
Damon and Shane walked out of the room together.
Damon gave Elena one last look, walking out, leaving.
Elena watched them go, alone.
...
Rosie's Room
Rosie stood alone in her room, sighing, looking into the mirror in front of her. She seemed deeply sad, sighing, raising a black, dangly earring to her ear, putting it on to complete the outfit.
There was a knock on the door.
Rosie picked up the other earring, looking at the door, putting the last earring on. "It's open, aunt Carol." There was no answer. Rosie sighed, walking toward the door, opening it. "I said you can come in-"
Liam was revealed to be standing on the other side of the door, smiling a small smile when he saw her. "No one's seen you. I figured you'd ditch out of the party at your own house and hide up here."
Rosie blinked in surprise. "You know I don't hide."
"Yeah." Liam agreed.
Rosie shook her head. "What are you doing up here?"
"Well, I also figured with everything going on, that you'd also wouldn't have a date to this thing." Matt told her.
Rosie nodded in understanding. "Meaning either Caroline or Evelyn set us up."
"You can thank Evelyn." Liam told her. Rosie smirked. "And with everything that Klaus is doing to you right now, you also don't have a lot of friends at the moment. Though none of this is your fault."
Rosie sighed, shaking her head, closing her eyes. "Liam-"
"You told me once that every single one of us turned our backs on Tyler because of him. Klaus." Liam told her, using the same words. "My best friend since, like, before the third grade?" Rosie looked up. "The one that's been through hell transitioning into a werewolf, the guy I died for to figure out how to save him. And now you're going through the exact same thing, and the exact same thing is happening to you too, only worse because Klaus left you no way out of it." Liam took a deep breath. Rosie looked away. When Liam started to speak, Rosie looked at him. "All I'm saying is that I'm not making the same mistakes again. But I could have easily said no, to hell with it. But I didn't. I wanted to come with you. Rosie, if you need anyone, I'll be there."
Rosie slowly started to smile. "Thanks, Liam."
Liam offered his arm to Rosie. Rosie took it, smiling. Liam led them out of the room, letting the bedroom door drift closed behind them.
...
Dressing Room
Evelyn smiled, leading Elizabeth toward the half-wall. "You ready for the big reveal?"
"Of the dress or the escort?" Elizabeth asked.
"Both." Evelyn answered.
"Eliza, I'm pretty sure I can guess who the escort is." Elizabeth told her.
"I don't care." Evelyn told her. "It's too late to back out now." Elizabeth gave her a look. Evelyn sighed. "Can you please just let me show you the dress? And then you can decide to drop out or not. Please."
Elizabeth exhaled, nodding. "Okay."
Evelyn smiled, pulling the half-wall aside.
Elizabeth was speechless.
Evelyn looked at Elizabeth nervously. "Now is the time that you would say something." Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came. "Do you like it?"
"Like it?" Elizabeth asked. Evelyn's smile faltered. Elizabeth smiled a small smile. "I love it."
Evelyn smiled in relief. "Really?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Yeah. I thought I would hate it, but... Look at that."
"Look at that." Evelyn agreed, pressing her lips together over a smile, pleased.
Elizabeth looked at her. "Evelyn, why is this so important to you?"
Evelyn sighed. "I want you to be happy with whoever you want to be with."
There was a moment of silence.
Elizabeth took a breath. "All right, well, I'll try my best. For you."
Evelyn smiled.
...
Outside
(Song:) Ordinary World - Vitamin String Quartet
Damon and Shane walked through the crowd.
"So, I'm in search of another Hunter." Damon told him.
"Hunter?" Shane asked.
"Mm-hmm." Damon answered.
"With a capital H?" Shane asked. "Why?"
"Same reason anyone needs a Hunter." Damon told him. "Loneliness, drinking buddy, or for golf."
"I thought you said you already had a Potential." Shane told him.
"I did, but he ended up being a potential problem." Damon told him. "And then we may have another Potential, but they're just recovering from sickness, and she lives with four vampires, so bad."
"Did you say she?" Shane asked.
"Oh, yeah." Damon answered. "The she-Potential is sure one hell of a fighter. Is it possible for a woman to be in the Brotherhood of the Five?"
"It's possible, I guess, but it's also beyond rare." Shane told him. "And there's nothing I can do to help you."
"Hmm, why don't you help us with this..." Damon trailed off, stepping in front of him. "Why are you here? What's in your little lesson plan there, Professor?"
"You think too highly of me, Damon." Shane told him. "I'm gonna go find the other judges." Shane turned away from Damon, starting to walk away. Isabella and Emma stood in front of him. "And who are you?"
Isabella smirked. "I'm Isabella Salvatore, Damon's more fun, awesome big sister."
"I'm Emma Gilbert, their, uh, 'friend." Emma told him. Emma looked at Shane with a forced edge of curiosity. "Hey, no playing favorites with Elizabeth Pierce, just because one of your witches are in the running for Miss Mystic. In fact, she might be relieved if she didn't win."
"And no pity votes for April Young, okay?" Isabella asked. "I mean, just because her dad blew up a house with a dozen people in it doesn't mean she should get a tiara. But you knew him, didn't you? Because I hear you two racked up a pretty impressive phone bill."
"If you want to know something about me, Isabella, just ask." Shane told her.
"Okay." Emma told him. "How did you convince the Pastor to kill all those people?"
"Did you just accuse me of mass murder in the middle of a high school pageant?" Shane asked.
Emma gave him a look.
Isabella and Damon smirked.
Carol was on stage, introducing the pageant. "Welcome to this season's Miss Mystic Falls." Everyone applauded. Shane stared Emma, Damon and Isabella down, walking away, drinking his champagne. Emma, Damon and Isabella watched him go. "We are so excited to showcase our most outstanding community leaders in the making."
Everyone applauded.
Emma turned to Isabella and Damon. "I like having you on my team. We are unstoppable."
Emma smirked, turning her attention back to the pageant.
Damon and Isabella walked away in one direction.
(Song Ends)
...
Lockwood Cellar
Jeremy walked down the steps and into the cellar. He stopped in the doorway, looking at Stefan. "What am I doing here?"
"You have the chance to make your sister human again." Stefan told him. "Not just Morgana and Elena, but Evelyn, too. You interested?"
"You have no idea." Jeremy told him.
"Actually, I do." Stefan told him, leading the way into the cell.
Jeremy followed.
The murderer from the hospital, who Stefan had turned, was chained up.
"Who is that?" Jeremy asked.
"Oh, it doesn't really matter." Stefan told him. "All that matters is that you're a vampire Hunter and he's a vampire." He pulled out a knife. "Well, almost."
Stefan opened the blade, grabbing Jeremy's wrist, cutting it, making Jeremy yell in pain. Stefan dragged him by the wrist toward the murderer, making him drink Jeremy's blood. After a few seconds, Stefan released him.
Jeremy backed away.
The murderer's eyes had changed into that of a hungry vampire.
Stefan pulled out a wooden stake, holding it out for Jeremy to take.
"What is this?" Jeremy asked. "All so I can stake him?"
"You think I want to do this, Jeremy?" Stefan asked. "Look at me. I hate this. I don't want to do this. But your sister isn't supposed to be vampire, and we need to help her. Now, he's a murderer, and he will gladly kill again. So do it, Jeremy. Kill him."
Stefan forced the stake into Jeremy's hand, walking over to the murderer. He broke the chains from the ground, picking them up, holding the murderer by the chains like a horse. He slowly walked the murderer toward Jeremy.
"Stefan, what are you doing?" Jeremy demanded. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Do it, Jeremy or I will rip the chains off for real." Stefan told him. "Do it!" Jeremy staked the murderer in the heart. Stefan dropped the chains on the floor. The murderer knelt over. Jeremy stabbed the stake through the murderer's back over and over again. "All right, enough. He's dead."
Jeremy was breathing heavily. He ripped the stake out of the murderer's back, looking at Stefan coldly.
...
Lockwood Mansion - Outside
(Song:) Pompeii - Vitamin String Quartet
Evelyn and Isabella walked across the grounds in their formal attire.
Isabella looked toward the staircase with the contestants. "You think you'd ever do that?"
"Dream on, Isabella." Evelyn told her, looking at the table with the cushion and the tiara on it. "But if I ever did and if I won, you know what my acceptance speech would be like?" She picked the tiara up, placing it on her head. "'I can't believe that I won. I just want to thank the judges for seeing past the fact that I'm a raging bitch'."
"You don't want to do that." Isabella told her. "Those girls will cut you. They have nails."
"No, they don't want to do that." Evelyn told him. "I will bite them. I have fangs." She smiled, taking the tiara off, dropping it onto the cushion on the table.
Isabella smiled.
"And everything's different now." Evelyn told him. "Elena, Caroline and are vampires. Jeremy's a Hunter. Emma's a Potential. Tyler, Rosie and Scott are hybrids. Sally, Elizabeth and Bonnie are witches. Jenna, Ric, John, Anna and mom are gone. Everything."
Isabella smiled a small, sad, nostalgic smile.
Further down the lawn, Morgana stood alone.
Sally and Scott were standing in the crowd together.
Caroline started the introductions. "Hi, everyone. I'm Caroline Forbes. As the reigning Miss Mystic Falls, it is my honor to introduce this year's Miss Mystic Court." Everyone applauded for the girls. "We begin the procession with Valerie Fell accompanied by Dylan Clark." There was a round of applause for Valerie. Valerie walked down the steps. "Next, we have Amber Wolvertine accompanied by Hector Lindsey."
There was a round of applause for Amber.
Amber walked down the steps
Matt stood next to Morgana. "Surprised you showed."
Rosie stood on the other side of Morgana. "I talked her into it."
"Oh." Matt told them in understanding. He looked at Morgana. "Have you seen Jeremy?"
"He's probably up there with the escorts." Morgana told him.
Another girl had been introduced and more applause was heard as she took the arm of her escort and they walked off together.
Matt, Morgana and Rosie looked over the escorts, trying to spot Jeremy.
He wasn't there.
"Yeah, Caroline told me to wrangle the escorts." Matt told them. "He's not here." He looked at Morgana. "Did he tell you, Elizabeth or Elena about his nightmares?"
"What nightmares?" Morgana asked.
"The ones where he kills all of you." Matt answered.
Morgana looked worried.
Rosie raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Elizabeth started to descend the staircase, in front of April, the last two girls.
Caroline introduced the next girl. "We have two last minute entries. Introducing Elizabeth Pierce, accompanied by Klaus Mikealson."
Rosie's Doppelganger Esmeralda was standing in the crowd in a formal red dress, watching her Doppelganger, smirking. She looked toward Klaus and Elizabeth.
Klaus looked at Rosie in recognition and curiosity.
Klaus stood in the escort line, smirking.
Elizabeth gave him a look, but couldn't help a smile, descending the staircase, walking toward him. "I'm gonna kill you."
Klaus took her arm in his. "Had to get your attention somehow."
"Just go before I change my mind." Elizabeth told him.
Klaus smirked, leading her toward the others.
Sally and Scott watched from the crowd, smiling and applauding.
...
Further on the lawn, Matt, Morgana and Rosie were still talking.
"I'll find him, but..." Morgana trailed off.
(Song Ends)
April started to descend the stone steps in her red dress.
Matt, Morgana and Rosie looked up to her.
Rosie sighed. "April's about to get abandoned."
Matt looked at Morgana and Rosie. "I got this."
"Okay." Rosie told him.
Matt started to walk away.
"And, finally, April Young, accompanied by Jeremy Gilbert." Caroline introduced April.
April continued to walk down the steps but stopped, looking around for Jeremy.
Caroline kept a smile on her face as she looked around.
Matt walked up to where the escorts were lined up, holding out his arm for April.
Everyone applauded.
April breathed a sigh of relief, smiling a little, walking down the stairs, taking Matt's arm.
"Jeremy's running late." Matt told her.
"I guess you'll do." April told him, giggling.
Caroline looked around, worried.
Matt and April stopped next to Luke and Tory, all four of them nodding to each other.
Klaus looked at Elizabeth. "You lead."
Elizabeth smiled a small smile, nodding.
(Song:) Little Deschutes - Laura Veirs
The girls and their escorts bowed to each other. They raised their right hands, circling around each other to their left, looking at each other until they were in their rightful places. They raised their left hands, circling around each other to their right, looking at each other until they were in their rightful places. They raised both of their hands, circling around each other to their left, looking at each other until they were in their rightful places. They stepped closer to each other, dancing slowly and beautifully to the song. All of the couples danced their own way, separating.
Elena stood alone in the crowd, watching the dance.
Damon looked at Elena.
Elena felt his gaze, looking toward him.
They looked at each other for a long moment.
Klaus and Elizabeth looked at each other, continuing to dance, completely serious yet relaxed and at peace, seemingly lost in each other's eyes.
Morgana pulled out her phone, still standing next to Rosie.
Elena looked toward them, walking toward them, looking at Rosie. "Sorry, but I really need to talk to Morgana, so..."
"Uh-huh." Rosie told her. "Keep being a bitch to me, Elena. See if I care."
Rosie walked away.
Elena sighed, watching her go.
Morgana looked at Elena in annoyance, calling Jeremy. "What the hell did you do that for?"
"She locked me in a room and left me with crazy hallucinations." Elena told her.
"She's sired, Elena." Morgana told her. "You talk about how you're the one who always stays by our friends' sides in their time of need, but when Tyler was sired, you turned your back on him. And now Rosie's sired, and you're turning your back on her. Maybe you don't stay by all of your friends' side in their time of need."
Elena was speechless.
Isabella saw them arguing, walking toward them.
Caroline and Liam exchanged a look, watching them.
"Hey, what's with the last minute escort change?" Isabella asked. "Where is Jeremy?"
"I'm calling him right now." Morgana told her. Damon walked up to them, standing next to Elena. "He's not picking up."
"Do the math." Damon told them "Emo teen, open bar, it's fine."
Morgana looked from Elena to Isabella. "Matt said that Jeremy's been having nightmares about killing vampires and he's been hiding it from us."
Isabella was instantly surprised and worried.
Damon shrugged it off. "Relax, I'm sure he's fine."
"I don't know." Morgana told them. "I have a bad feeling."
"If I'm not worried, you shouldn't be worried." Damon told them. Liv nodded sarcastically. "Let it go. I'll go look for him."
"Okay." Elena told him.
Damon walked away, leaving.
Isabella looked at Elena. "Okay, you go home." She looked at Morgana. "You look at the Grill. I'm gonna start asking around here."
"Maybe Damon's right." Elena told her. "Maybe he grabbed a bottle from the bar and snuck off to the woods."
"No, Damon is never right." Morgana told them. "Damon is sneaky and manipulative and rude, but he's never right. How can you see that?"
"I don't know, but why do I think that you won't hesitate to tell us?" Elena asked.
"Fine, friendtervention" Isabella told them. "I think your so called 'feelings' for Damon are really starting to cloud your judgment, and I don't like it." She looked at Elena. "And you, you know that being with Damon will hurt Stefan and Emma, but you act like you couldn't care less. Stefan and Morgana clearly have a connection, but they've been fighting it for you. Shouldn't you give them the same thing?"
Evelyn walked up to them, standing next to Isabella.
"Damon told us not to worry about Jeremy, so we're not worried about Jeremy." Elena told her.
"This is your brother, Elena, your only family left." Isabella told her. "Any other day, you'd be worried out of your freaking mind. But two words from Damon, and everything's okay?"
"Easy, Isabella." Evelyn told her. "You're making a scene."
"Wow, Isabella." Elena told her sarcastically. "Thank you for making this very difficult time so much easier."
Morgana and Elena walked off in separate directions.
Isabella looked stunned, sighing. "How did I become the bad guy?"
Evelyn turned to face Isabella. "You're not being the bad guy. You're just trying to look out for your friends."
Isabella nodded, looking sad. "But by trying to keep them from falling apart, I managed to push them away."
Evelyn held her arm toward Isabella. "Let's get you a drink. Give everyone time to calm down. Then you can try again."
Isabella nodded. "And the next time, I'll try not to be such a bitch. Emphasis on the word 'try'."
Evelyn smiled a small smile.
Isabella linked her arm with hers.
Evelyn led her away.
(Song Ends)
...
Inside - Parlor
Damon was on the phone with Stefan, who was still in the Lockwood Cellar.
"Please don't tell me that you've roped Jeremy into a world of crazy." Damon told him.
"I had no choice." Stefan told him. "They need the Cure."
"Oh, right, so you can turn Elena back into the girl that is still in love with you." Damon told him.
"You know, I get why you wouldn't want to believe it Damon, but she isn't herself anymore." Stefan told him.
"Of course you would think that." Damon told him.
"This isn't just about Elena, Damon." Stefan told him. "This is about Morgana and Elizabeth."
Damon rolled his eyes. "Leave it alone, Stefan."
"Don't you get it?" Stefan asked. "Elizabeth, Morgana and Elena are vampires. Jeremy's a vampire Hunter with urges to kill his sister and friends. They need to be human."
Damon looked as if he hadn't thought about that, looking troubled.
...
Lockwood Cellar
Stefan hung up on him. He looked at Jeremy.
Jeremy was examining his arm. The Mark started to spread.
Stefan walked toward him. "How far did the Mark grow?" Jeremy didn't answer. Stefan pulled out the drawing of Connor's Mark. "Show me on this drawing."
Jeremy turned to face him. "Sorry, Stefan, but I can't trust you."
"How far is it, Jeremy?" Stefan asked.
"I said I can't." Jeremy told him.
"Answer me, or I will make you answer me." Stefan told him.
"I am not telling you anything." Jeremy told him.
Stefan grabbed Jeremy, compelling him. "What does the Mark look like?"
Jeremy suddenly staked Stefan in the stomach, making him yell in pain. "I guess I can't be compelled anymore."
Jeremy released the stake from his grasp, grabbing the duffel bag. He walked out of the cellar.
Stefan fell down on the ground, clutching at the stake still in his stomach.
...
Lockwood Mansion - Outside
(Song:) Falling Slowly - Vitamin String Quartet
Klaus and Elizabeth were walking next to the pond. Klaus was carrying two glasses and a bottle of champagne.
"It's just, as their friend, I feel like I have to do something to make sure that they don't kill each other." Elizabeth told him. "Elena was with Stefan, and now she's taking Damon's side on everything. Emma was with Damon, but got close to Elijah, because of you, by the way, but Elena still listens to everything Damon says."
"So, being a vampire's changed her?" Klaus asked.
"But being a vampire only amplifies who you already are." Elizabeth told him. "It doesn't turn you into a completely different person."
Klaus smirked, looking as if he knew something she didn't. "It's very peculiar."
"What's that look for?" Elizabeth asked.
"It'll all make sense eventually." Klaus told her.
"Whatever." Elizabeth told him. "Just hurry up and find the Cure."
Elizabeth sat down on a stone bench by the pond.
Klaus placed the champagne down next to her, looking at Elizabeth. "I'm working on it."
Klaus sat next to her, starting to open the champagne bottle.
"Would you ever take it?" Elizabeth asked.
"Now, why would I want to cure myself of being the most powerful creature on the planet?" Klaus asked. "Hmm?"
"So there's not one single moment in your whole life that you wanted to be human?" Elizabeth asked skeptically.
Klaus looked at Elizabeth, popping the cork off the champagne bottle, avoiding the question. "How about you?"
Elizabeth took a wine glass, holding it toward him. "Like I said, you suck at avoiding a topic." Klaus smiled. Elizabeth looked toward the girls in the dresses, sighing. "Back when I was on the run from you, I was supposed to be in this pageant 146 years ago. Katherine thought it would make us seem more human." Klaus looked at Elizabeth as if he already knew this. "Then I was put in the tomb before I could actually do it.."
"Life used to be a lot easier." Klaus agreed, standing, pulling a piece of paper out from inside his jacket. "Don't you miss the days of being..." He opened the paper, starting to read. "'Horse-keeper for the underprivileged' and the 'Reader to the blind'."
Elizabeth looked up in shock. "Is that my Miss Mystic application?" She stood, hitting the paper out of his hands. "Where did you get that? That should've burned!"
Klaus laughed, catching the paper, continuing to read. "'When I am chosen, I intend to redefine excellence.'" Elizabeth ran her hand through her hair in frustration, embarrassed for him to know. "Now, I'm really enjoying your use of 'when' here. It's very confident." Elizabeth looked at him, nodding, laughing sarcastically. "'And above all, I promise to aspire, inspire, and perspire...'" Elizabeth clearly didn't like this form of torment. Klaus couldn't stop laughing. "Obviously, we found a shortage of words ending in 'spire'."
Elizabeth tried to grab the paper out of his hands. "Yeah, it's very funny. I was pretending to be a 18 year old human in 1864."
Klaus pulled the paper out of her reach. "Then why does it bother you so much?"
"It's hilarious." Elizabeth told him sarcastically. Klaus held the paper out behind him, away from her, looking at Elizabeth with an expression that clearly said, try to take it from me. Elizabeth stopped trying, barely able to stop from smiling, laughing. Klaus laughed. "Seriously, how did you get that?"
"After our departure in the '20s, I couldn't rid myself of you completely." Klaus told her. "It might have slipped your mind, but I do like to have keepsakes."
Elizabeth looked at him in realization. "You came to Mystic Falls after you left to get that. I'm guessing it was in the town archives." Klaus nodded. "And you kept it with you this entire time." Klaus shrugged slightly, looking a little sheepish. "I'm not sure if that's a little creepy or incredibly sweet."
They smiled.
Elizabeth didn't even bother trying to hide the fact that she was being drawn in like she normally did, which only seemed to please Klaus more. They both sat down again.
"Though I know you're not the girl you once were way back then, it's still interesting to see every aspect there is of you." Klaus told her.
Elizabeth pressed her lips together, shaking her head. "You still suck."
Elizabeth and Klaus looked at each other, smiling.
...
Lawn
Emma was sitting at a table. She saw Elizabeth and Klaus laughing together, looking at them curiously. Unlike Stefan, Isabella and Damon, she was not judging even while using her to distract him for missions. She seemed a little content at seeing Elizabeth truly happy for a little while. She looked over, seeing Shane sit down at a table with Hayley and pour her a glass of champagne.
Tyler walked through the maze of tables.
Emma saw Tyler, standing. "Oh, hey." Tyler stopped, looking at Nicola. "How do those two know each other?"
"They don't." Tyler told her. "Paranoid much?"
"The Council just got burnt to a crisp." Emma replied. "Some mysterious Hunter just blew through town, and this guy just happens to know everything about everything. Yes, paranoid."
Tyler and Emma continued to watch Hayley and Shane.
(Song Ends)
...
Inside
Jeremy found an empty room, placing the duffel bag down. He took out an arm cuff that could hold stakes, placing it on his wrist. He grabbed a few stakes, placing them in his pants. He put on his jacket, walking out of the room.
...
Outside
Jeremy walked through the maze of tables, clearly on a mission.
April intercepted him. "Hey, where have you been?"
"Hey, sorry, I, um, I got stuck at work." Jeremy told her.
"Jeremy, if you were too chicken to do the dance thingie then you should have just told me." April told him.
"No, no, I knew the dance." Jeremy told her. "I watched some lesson online like a hundred times."
"You did?" April asked in surprise.
Jeremy saw Shane get up from a table. "Hey, what's that Shane guy doing here?"
April turned to look toward Shane.
Shane waved.
April waved back. "He's a judge. I got Liam to talk to him about my dad. I mean, he said that he said that my dad had never seemed depressed or suicidal or anything, so..."
Jeremy spotted Morgana across the lawn talking to a girl. He continued to look at her. "Your dad?"
"Yeah, um, you know, I figured I'd explore every possibility, even the bleak ones," April told him. Jeremy still hadn't taken his eyes off Morgana. "What are you looking at?"
April looked over her shoulder to try to follow his gaze.
Jeremy looked at April.
April looked at Jeremy.
"Your dad was doing the right thing for this town." Jeremy told her. "The whole Council was. They died heroes."
Jeremy walked past her.
April watched him walk away in confusion.
...
Inside - Parlor
Shane was alone in the room.
Damon walked in.
"Oh, you again." Shane told him, laughing. "I must be the least intimidating mass murderer ever."
"Well, you still never gave me a name." Damon told him. "And it's kind of urgent."
"Listen, there is no other name." Shane told him. "Look, at any given moment there are five Hunters in existence, all right? Most of them have no idea who they are or what their purpose is. It means finding more than one in a lifetime is next to impossible. Which means you hit an extremely lucky break." He walked past Damon, starting to leave the room. Damon rushed in front of Shane to stop him. Shane looked at him, chuckling. "Subtle."
"Like you didn't already know." Damon told him.
Shane tilted his head in acknowledgment. "Well..."
"You have five seconds to give me another name or you die." Damon told him.
"You know, since it's generally unwise for a vampire to seek out a Hunter, it means you're interested in the Mark." Shane told him. "It's probably because of where it leads, but here's the thing. Even if you complete the Mark and you get the map, the thing that you're looking for is sealed with a spell only three certain kind of witches can perform."
"What kind of witches?" Damon asked.
"Come on, Damon." Shane told him.
Damon grabbed Shane by the wrist, squeezing it. "I love pressure points. What kind of witches?"
"Come on." Shane told him. "You're a big boy. You can figure this one out."
Damon thought for a moment. "A Bennett witch, a Davidsons witch and whatever the hell witch line Elizabeth Pierce comes from."
"Aren't too many of any of those lying around, as I'm sure you know." Shane told him. "So, none of this matters until Sally, Elizabeth and Bonnie are in touch with their magic. And between the two of us, who do you think they trust to help them get there?" Damon released Shane from his grasp. "Five seconds are up, unless you just realized you need me alive. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a scholarship to award."
Shane walked past Damon.
...
Outside - Stage
Caroline, Liam and Morgana were on stage with the rest of the Miss Mystic Court, including April and Elizabeth. Liam had an envelope in her hands. Morgana held the tiara and sash.
Caroline was speaking through the mic. "And, now, the moment you've been waiting for. Liam, would you do the honors?"
Liam walked up to the mic. "This year's Miss Mystic Falls is..." She opened the envelope. "April Young."
Everyone applauded.
April smiled, looking as if she was about to cry.
Elizabeth smiled.
April and Elizabeth embraced for a moment, pulling away.
Liam took the tiara off the cushion Morgana was holding, walking over to April.
Morgana looked out into the crowd, sighing.
Jeremy walked through the crowd.
Morgana saw him. "Jeremy."
Liam placed the tiara on April's head.
Jeremy walked off, away from the crowd.
Morgana handed Caroline the sash and cushion, quickly walking off stage.
Matt and Rosie stood together in the crowd, noticing Jeremy walking away too, watching Morgana as she followed Jeremy.
...
Inside - Empty Room
Jeremy knelt to the floor, holding a stake with the Hunter's Mark.
Morgana walked into the room. "Hey, where have you been?" She looked at the stake. "What are you doing with that?" Jeremy stood up. "Put it down."
"Morgana, you're the one who started all of this,." Jeremy told her. "You and Klaus and Stefan and Rosie."
"I never wanted this, and you know that." Morgana told him.
"Connor was right." Jeremy told her. "All I can think about is killing vampires."
"You're nothing like Connor." Morgana told him.
"I want to believe that." Jeremy told her. "And I know I don't want to hurt you, but everything inside of me is telling me to drive this stake through your heart."
"Why would you say that?" Morgana asked. "It's me, Jeremy."
"And you're a vampire." Jeremy replied.
"Yeah, but I'm also your friend." Morgana told him. "So are Evelyn and Isabella ."
Jeremy looked up to Morgana. "A normal stake wouldn't kill you. Because your a original. If you die so do all of the vampires descended from your bloodline. But it has to be the white oak stake. Your death would end so much pain and death and blood..."
"Jer, don't say that." Morgana told him backing away, turning around, starting to walk for the door. Jeremy strode toward her with the stake in his hand, trying to stake her. Morgana turned around, catching his wrist, pushing him to the floor. Jeremy didn't open his eyes. Morgana just realized what she had just done. She took a surprised, shaky breath, walking over to him, kneeling at his side. "Jer, Jer, hey, Jer, wake up. Jer, please wake up."
Morgana shook Jeremy. Jeremy opened his eyes, staking her in the neck with a hidden arm cuff stake that she hadn't seen coming. Morgana gasped, unable to breathe, clutching at her neck.
Jeremy knelt down in front of Morgana, taking the white oak stake out of his jacket, raising it to finish her off.
Matt tried to stop him, standing at the door. "Jeremy!"
"Get out of here, Matt." Jeremy told him.
"Jeremy, you don't want to do this, okay?" Matt asked. "That's your friend. If you kill her, your other friends might die too. It's that stupid Mark on your arm."
"Shut up, Matt!" Jeremy told him.
"Jeremy, look at me!" Matt told him. "I'm human, and I'm telling you not to hurt her."
Jeremy hesitated, but tried to stake Morgana with the white oak stake anyway.
Stefan rushed into the room, grabbing Jeremy, pushing him against the wall. "Get him out of here, Matt."
Stefan pushed Jeremy toward Matt.
Matt grabbed him. "Come on. Let's get you out of here."
Matt pulled Jeremy out of the room.
Stefan knelt in front of Morgana, holding the white oak stake in his hand, placing it on the floor.
Morgana tried to pull the stake out of her neck, continuing to gasp for air.
"Let me do it." Stefan told her. "Let me do it, let me do it."
Stefan gently took Morgana's hands off the stake, pulling it out.
Morgana breathed a sigh of relief now that she could finally breathe, trying to catch her breath.
Stefan placed his hand on Morgana's cheek, looking at her.
Morgana looked up at him, holding his hand in her.
They looked at each other for a moment, dangerously close to kissing. Seemingly thinking of Damon and Elena, they pulled back without doing anything.
Morgana barely managed a whisper. "Thank you."
Stefan nodded. He looked at the white oak stake. "I'll find a better place to hide that thing."
Morgana chuckled a hysterical chuckle, looking up at Stefan.
Stefan looked down at Morgana.
...
Outside - Staircase
Hayley and Tyler were sitting outside on the stone steps, drinking.
"Your mom parties harder than you do." Hayley told him. "Does she have the gene?"
Tyler shook his head. "Dad. What about your parents?"
"Never met them." Hayley told him. "My adopted parents found out about my wolf gene when I did. The night that I turned and tore apart their living room, they promptly kicked me out."
"You never told me how it triggered." Tyler told her.
"You mean who I killed?" Hayley asked. Tyler nodded. "Boating accident. We were drunk. I thought I wasn't."
Hayley sipped her champagne, looking away.
"So, what's with you chatting up all these old timers, huh?" Tyler asked. "My mom. That professor guy."
"That professor guy is like, thirty, and he's hot, and smart." Hayley told him, laughing.
"You know him or something?" Tyler asked.
"No, I just met him." Hayley told him. "Why?"
Tyler shook his head. "No reason."
...
Lawn
Klaus and Elizabeth were walking together.
Klaus turned to face her. "I never answered your question. If I ever thought about being human. Once, I was on a trek in the Andies, and a hummingbird flew up to me. It just hovered there, staring at me, its tiny heart was pattering like a machine gun. And I thought, what a thing, you know, to have to work that hard every day just to stay alive. To be constantly on the verge of death and how satisfying every day must be that it survived. And that was the only time I thought about being human."
"You ever gonna tell me what you've been doing with Stefan?" Elizabeth asked.
Klaus sighed, nodding. "I have been using him to further Jeremy's Mark."
"By making him kill vampires?" Elizabeth asked.
Klaus nodded. "Once you knew, I knew you'd be angry."
"And that's why you waited until after this to tell me." Kaylin finished. "Well, I'm about as angry at Stefan for letting you use him as I am at you for using him."
Elizabeth looked down, turning forward, sighing, walking along.
Klaus smiled, following her.
...
Driveway
Morgana walked across the yard.
Stefan followed after her. "Morgana, wait."
"I have to find Jeremy." Morgana told him. "This shouldn't be happening to him."
"Morgana, wait." Stefan told her. "It's my fault."
Stefan grabbed Morgana by her arm.
Morgana turned to face him. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm starting to think that when a Hunter kills a vampire, the urge to keep killing gets stronger." Stefan told her.
Morgana looked at him in suspicion. "Tell me that Jeremy hasn't been with you this entire time." Stefan didn't answer, looking away. "Tell me that you haven't been making him kill vampires, Stefan."
Stefan looked at Morgana. "We need the map to get to the Cure."
"The Cure means nothing if Jeremy loses his humanity enough to where he would kill all of us in a single blow." Morgana told him. "Including Klaus, which kills all of you."
"He's the only way to fix all of this." Stefan told her.
They heard Elena's voice from behind Morgana. "You mean me." Morgana and Stefan turned to see Elena. "The only way to fix me. You don't have to love me like this. This is who I am now. The old Elena died when she went off that bridge. Let her go."
Stefan was clearly hurt.
Morgana saw Damon standing several feet behind Elena.
They all looked at each other for a long moment.
Stefan walked away first, toward the house.
Morgana walked away next, walking toward her car.
Elena watched them go expressionlessly.
...
Inside - Foyer
Rosie and Liam walked toward the stairs.
"So, thanks to Stefan and Klaus, Jeremy is unwillingly killing vampires." Rosie told him. "That's just great. It's also partially my fault."
"Rosie, in no way is this your fault." Liam told her. "None of this is your fault. It's Klaus'."
"And we can't kill him, 'cause if we kill him, our entire sireline dies." Rosie told him. "Which sucks more than you can imagine." She shook her head. "I don't wanna be like this, Liam. I just don't know what to do about it."
"Of course you don't." Liam told her. "Everything is so hard right now. And I'm so sorry." He wrapped his arms around Rosie. Rosie smiled a small smile, holding him. "Just try to get through it. Please. If anyone can get through this, it's Rosie Lockwood."
Rosie smiled, chuckling, pulling away. "Thanks, Liam."
...
Gilbert House - Jeremy's Room
Jeremy was packing a bag.
Matt walked in.
He was all in normal clothes.
"What are you doing?" Matt asked.
"I can't keep living here if I want to kill all of my friends and sister." Jeremy told them.
"They know that." Matt told him. "That's why they moved out and asked me to move in."
Jeremy looked up in surprise. "What?"
"Look, we're not one of them, Jer." Matt told him. "I'll keep an eye on you and we can keep this Hunter business in check."
"Where're Morgana and Elena gonna go?" Jeremy asked.
Matt looked at Jeremy, but didn't respond, because the answers were pretty obvious.
...
Lockwood Mansion - Foyer
Rosie opened the door for Morgana, both of whom were still in their pageant dresses. "This about what went down earlier?"
Morgana nodded with an awkward smile. "Oh, yeah."
"Well, come on in." Rosie told her, stepping aside.
Morgana walked in.
Rosie closed the door, turning to face her.
Morgana sighed. "What happened earlier this year, and now this, and you've let let someone stay here both times..." She turned to face her. "Rosie, I think it's safe to say you're the best friend ever."
Rosie smiled. "No problem. Because you're one of the only few who hasn't turned their backs on me."
"I'll talk to the others." Morgana told her. "I'll do anything I can to make it easier."
"Morgana, there's nothing you can do." Rosie told her, shaking her head sadly.
Morgana stood in front of Rosie, placing either of her hands on her shoulders. "I will not give up on you. You're my best friend. I can't. Okay?"
Rosie smiled a small smile, nodding a barely noticeable nod. "Okay."
Morgana and Rosie smiled.
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Foyer
Emma opened the front door.
Elena was outside, carrying her luggage. She walked in the house.
Stefan and Damon walked out of the parlor. They looked at each other.
Elena looked at Emma. "I can't stay at home anymore."
Emma nodded. "Pick a room."
"Then I'll crash somewhere else." Stefan told them, walking toward the door.
"Stefan..." Emma trailed off.
Stefan nodded to Emma, walking out of the house, leaving.
Emma, Damon and Elena watched him go.
Emma gave Damon and Elena a look, closing the door, turning around, walking down the hall toward the stairs.
"Em." Damon told her.
Emma ignored him, walking upstairs, leaving Damon and Elena alone.
...
Young Farm
Kim was lying on the floor of the barn, tired from transforming into a wolf so many times. "Tell me it's over, Ty. I really don't think I can do this anymore."
Tyler knelt down in front of her. "It's over. Nice work. We're one step closer to ending this."
Tyler stood, pulling out his phone to send a text to Hayley.
...
Whitmore College - Shane's office
Hayley received the text from Tyler.
Kim broke the sire bond. Where are you?
Hayley looked up, smiling. "We got another one."
Esmeralda walked closer, looking at Shane, Elizabeth and Hayley, smirking. "Good. Then we're almost ready."
"Why are you having us do this, Esmeralda?" Hayley asked.
Esmeralda smirked. "Because I need you all to complete some tasks for me, so I can help free my brother from captivity."
"Esmeralda's the one that had Silas locked away, but she needs him free now because of a deal she's made with a group of witches that call themselves Travelers." Shane explained.
"Really?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yeah." Esmeralda answered. "I've already mind controlled your friends, the hybrids, to turn against Klaus, and I'll mind control Klaus to slaughter them all when the time comes, and to kill anyone else who stands in the way of completing the next sacrifice."
Elizabeth looked worried. "I want to leave Tyler and Rosie Lockwood, and Scott Jackson out of this when it all goes down."
Esmeralda looked at Hayley, tilting her head, smirking in amusement. "You have a crush on Tyler, and you see Rosie and Scott as your friends. How sweet." Hayley rolled her eyes in annoyance. "We'll talk about leaving them alive when you've broken the last one. Besides this will bring Elizabeth and Klaus closer to their miracle."
Elizabeth, Hayley and Shane looked at Esmeralda intrigued and curious.
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Parlor
Elena was sitting on the couch.
Damon walked over to her, handing her a drink.
"Thanks." Elena told him, taking a drink.
Damon sat down next to her. "I was being polite. I thought you hated whiskey."
"My brother wants to kill me and my friends." Elena told him.
"Welcome to the club." Damon told her.
Damon held his glass out to her. Elena clinked her glass against his. They both drank.
"Stefan wants to fix me, Elizabeth hates me for what I'm doing to you and Stefan, Jeremy can't live with me, and both Morgana and Isabella flat-out admitted that they don't like me this way." Elena told him. "I think it's safe to say that I'm not so great at this vampire thing."
"You want to know what I think?" Damon asked. Elena looked at him. "I don't think I've ever seen you more alive."
They looked at each other for a moment.
...
Forbes House - Living Room
(Song:) Kiss Me - Ed Sheeran
Caroline, Liam and Stefan were sitting together, drinking.
Caroline was still in her dress.
Stefan poured a shot for them. "Elena's right. I just-I need to let go."
"No, you're right, Stefan." Caroline told him. "It's not pretty and it's not easy, but you can't give up on her."
"Caroline, she looked me in the eye and she told me to move on." Stefan told her.
"She's lost." Caroline told him. "Okay, you and her, epic. You and Morgana, don't get me wrong, I don't like it as much. Her with Damon, ugh. God. There's something wrong with Elena."
Elizabeth and Evelyn walked into the house, still in her dress.
Stefan didn't have to look at her to know she was there. "Not now, you two."
Evelyn sighed, walking closer. "I'm not here to fight." She turned toward Caroline and Liam. She looked at the shots on the table. "Ooh, shots."
Evelyn sat down, tossing one back.
Stefan sighed, taking a shot.
Isabella looked at Stefan. "Just promise me you won't stop looking for the Cure."
"Klaus won't let him even if he wanted to." Elizabeth told them, placing her shot glass down, pouring herself another one.
"Why does he care?" Caroline asked. "He doesn't even want it."
"He wants to keep Elena human so that he can make more hybrids." Stefan answered.
Caroline sat back into her chair. "He's gonna need them. Tyler's almost got all of the unsired."
Elizabeth looked as if she just realized something. She sat forward. "Oh, my God." Caroline, Liam, Evelyn and Stefan looked at her in confusion. "Oh. My. God."
Evelyn non-verbally asked her what was going on.
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room
Elena and Damon were still sitting on the couch. They looked at each other for a long moment. Damon smiled, kissing Elena slowly but passionately. The longer the kiss went on, the more passionate it became.
...
Forbes House - Living Room
Stefan, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Caroline and Liam were talking.
Elizabeth stood. "I was trying to understand why Klaus was so intrigued by Damon and Elena. He said I would figure it out. This is what he was talking about."
"What are you talking about?" Caroline asked.
"Think about it." Elizabeth told them. "Every time she's had a problem, Damon's been the magic solution."
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room
Damon and Elena were intertwined together, still kissing passionately.
...
Forbes House - Living Room
Stefan, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Caroline and Liam were talking.
Elizabeth pointed at Caroline and Liam. "Today, Elena was worried about Jeremy. Who swoops in and tells her to relax? Damon. And she listens." No one seemed to understand. Elizabeth sighed. "When Elena started feeding, who said that she could only drink blood straight from the vein?"
Stefan seemed to be realizing what his sister was getting at. "Damon."
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room
Elena rushed Damon into a wall, pushing a table aside to make room, breaking a lamp in the process.
...
Forbes House - Living Room
Stefan, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Caroline and Liam were talking.
"And when she tried to drink from animals?" Elizabeth asked.
"She couldn't keep it down." Stefan answered.
"And blood bags?" Elizabeth asked.
Evelyn appeared to be thinking. "Same thing."
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room
Elena had Damon pushed against the wall. They continued to kiss. Elena ripped Damon's shirt open.
...
Forbes House - Living Room
Stefan, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Caroline and Liam were talking.
"Name one vampire in the history of vampires who couldn't drink blood from a blood bag." Elizabeth told them. "Damon said she couldn't, so she couldn't."
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room
Damon rushed Elena into the wall next to the fireplace, continuing to kiss her. He was holding her leg up to his waist. Elena grabbed hold to the wall.
...
Forbes House - Living Room
Stefan, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Caroline and Liam were talking.
"Damon likes the red dress, Elena likes the red dress." Evelyn added.
"Damon says kill Connor, she try's to kill Connor." Stefan agreed.
"What if it's possible?" Elizabeth asked. "Damon's blood her a vampire, right? It's rare, but it happens." She sat down. "What if this is really happening?"
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room
Damon and Elena were still making out.
(Song Ends)
...
Forbes House - Living Room
Stefan, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Caroline and Liam were talking.
Stefan leaned forward. "Elena is sired to Damon."
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Damon's Room
Elena and Damon were now in Damon's bed with only their undergarments on. Elena was straddling Damon, pushing him on the bed. She kissed him. Damon rolled over her, kissing down her neck and chest. They sat up, continuing to kiss.
