Day One
Morning - Salvatore Boarding House - Damon's Room
(Song:) Covering Your Tracks - Amy Stroup
Elena woke up in Damon's bed. She turned on her side, looking at Damon. She gazed at him for a moment.
Damon still had his eyes closed. "This would be so much more fun if we were naked."
"That was your call, not mine." Elena told him.
Damon opened his eyes. "I was being a gentleman." He rolled over onto his back. "You shouldn't have stayed."
Elena rolled over onto her back. "I know."
Damon got out of the bed, walking over to his dresser. "I should have made you leave. Sent you packing. I promised Stefan."
Elena sat up in the bed. "I know."
Damon took his shirt off, taking a fresh shirt out of his drawer, putting it on. "You're sired to me, Elena. Which means everything that you think you feel might not even be real."
"I know, Damon, but it feels real." Elena told him, getting off the bed, walking over to Damon. "And I'm not ready to let go of that."
"Well, I can make you." Damon told her. "Invoke the sire bond."
"So do it." Elena told him.
"I told him I would set you free." Damon told her. "Right after I didn't tell him that we slept together."
"Well, Emma already knows, and it's tearing Morgana apart." Elena told him. "But, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't she the one who broke up with you?"
"Because of us, Elena." Damon told her.
"So, what do you want to do?" Elena asked.
Damon moved closer to Elena so that their faces were merely inches apart. "I wanna throw you back in my bed and never let you leave."
"So do it." Elena told him.
Damon drifted closer to Elena, dangerously close to kissing her.
Elena's phone rang.
(Song Ends)
"Saved by the cell phone." Damon told her.
Elena rolled her eyes, taking out her phone to read the text. "I have to meet Bonnie and Evelyn. Evelyn asked if there was a way to teach Jeremy how not to kill her or her friends, and Bonnie found a way." She backed away toward the bed, picking up her bag. She looked at Damon. "Wanna come?"
...
Klaus' Mansion - Parlor
Klaus was painting a picture that looked like a big snowflake.
Stefan was standing there with him.
Rosie walked in.
Stefan looked at her. "Rosie."
"Stefan." Rosie replied. She looked at the painting. "Looks like a giant snowflake."
"I like to think of it as an expression of post modernism." Klaus told her. "It's my donation to the Winter Wonderland chairty event. Take this to the Mystic Grill immediately."
"You want me to be a delivery girl?" Rosie asked skeptically.
Klaus walked closer to her. "What I want is for you to do whatever I say. Without the regular attitude." Rosie gave him a glare, walking toward the painting, picking it up, walking toward the door. "And be careful with that. It's still wet."
"Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, you know." Stefan told him.
"What is the point of turning her into a hybrid as revenge to her brother Tyler if I can't maximize on the benefits of free labor?" Klaus replied.
"Yeah, because telling her she can't break the sire bond on her own and that she has to kill anyone who tries to make her break it isn't enough of your petty revenge." Stefan told him sarcastically.
Rosie looked over her shoulder to look toward them, looking surprised that Stefan was defending her.
Klaus and Stefan looked at Rosie.
Rosie rolled her eyes, walking out of the room, leaving the house.
Klaus looked at Stefan. "What are you doing here?"
Stefan walked down the stairs and further into the room. "Elena is sired to Damon."
"I intuited as much." Klaus told him.
"Which means I need to find the Cure now more than ever, and yet here you are making postmodern snowflakes." Stefan told him.
"I've delivered." Klaus told him, walking away, grabbing a cloth to wipe the paint off his hands. "I retrieved the Hunter's Sword from Italy which we'll use to decipher the map hidden in the Hunter's Mark. You're the one who is supposed to deliver the Hunter and his Mark."
"Well, Jeremy is the Hunter, and he has to keep killing vampires to complete his Mark, but we can't quite figure out how to keep him from killing us." Stefan told him.
"Sounds like quite the chore." Klaus told him. "Which is why I feel perfectly justified doing a little charity work."
"Hmm, or maybe you're lying about having found the sword." Stefan told him.
"Why would I lie to you, Stefan?" Klaus asked, striding past Stefan, toward a vault. "We're in this together." Stefan followed Klaus. Klaus turned the dial on the vault, opening it up. He took the sword out. "The hilt acts as a cipher, which we'll use to decode the Marks on Jeremy's tattoo when he's killed enough vampires to complete it." He placed the sword down on a table. He took a seat on the sofa, propping his feet up on the same table. Stefan picked the sword up, examining it. "Or, if you wouldn't like for Jeremy to be our Hunter, I could always find a vampire for Emma to kill and activate her Hunter side. That seems a little bit closer to home, doesn't it?" Stefan looked at him in surprise. "You didn't actually think I didn't know about that, did you? If there was one person in all of Mystic Falls who would be a better Hunter than Jeremy Gilbert, it would be your Elisaveta great niece Emma."
"You do that, and you know Elizabeth will never speak to you again." Stefan replied.
Klaus smirked, not giving a reply, changing the subject. "Speaking of those two girls, I heard you moved out of your house. Bit of a martyr move, hmm?"
"I'm not here to bond, Klaus." Stefan told him, placing the sword back on the table.
"Oh, on the contrary." Klaus told him. "Other than Morgana, I think right now I'm the best friend you've got."
...
On the Road - Morgana's Car
Morgana was driving down the road, on the phone, with the speaker's voice coming from the speakers.
Rosie was in Town Square, pacing underneath the fake falling snow with children running and laughing around her, on the phone with Morgana. "I'm sick of taking his crap. I should rip his throat out. See if he can boss me around with a larynx."
"Now you're starting to sound like the old you." Morgana told her. "I take it as a sign Bonnie's herbs are working?"
Rosie sighed. "Not for long periods of time, but yeah, they're working. The first thing I thought when Klaus told me to take the painting was, 'Go to hell'. But I can't let him know that we found a way around it. The feeling of freedom is more than I can take. I... I just..." She sighed, putting her hand to her head, turning away, starting to pace again. "It lasts as long as the high does, and for hybrids, the high doesn't last very long."
Morgana looked sympathetic. "I'm so sorry."
Rosie sighed, shaking her head. "It's his fault. I hate him, and I just... I wanna find a way out of this."
"Well, if there was a way, you know we would've already tried it." Morgana told her. "You know that."
"And you know that it would be you risking your life just to unsire one little hybrid that has to kill anyone who tries it." Rosie told her.
Morgana nodded. "Yeah, we know."
Rosie sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "I can't be around this right now. I have to-I have to get out of here."
"You mean go on the run for the rest of your life?" Morgana asked. "Which, if I have to remind you, is for eternity. How are you going to do that when all it takes is one phone call from Klaus to get you back here?"
"I'll throw my phone away." Rosie told her. "I'll hide someplace where he could never find me."
"Yeah, except the fact where he can force a witch to do a locator spell to find you and then kill you." Morgana told her. Rosie sighed, pacing, putting her hands to her head. "I'm sorry, but until we can find a way, this is what it has to be."
Rosie nodded in acknowledgement. "What about you?"
"What about me?" Morgana asked.
"You, the Gilbert's, Bonnie and Evelyn all under one roof?" Rosie asked.
"If I can handle the girls' night from hell, I can definitely handle this." Morgana told her.
"Well, tell those of who will care I said hi." Rosie told her.
"Will do." Morgana told her.
"All right." Rosie told her, looking in front of her. "I gotta go. Bye. Be nice."
"I'll be nice if she decides to be nice." Morgana told her.
"Then you better hope Evelyn is willing to play peacekeeper again." Rosie told her.
"Believe me, Evelyn has done nothing but play peacekeeper since Elena turned." Morgana told her.
Rosie managed a small smile, hanging up.
Morgana sighed, hanging up, continuing to drive.
...
Town Square - Winter Wonderland Charity Event
(Song:) Christmas Treat - Julian Casablancas
Rosie hung up, still looking in front of her, putting her phone away. "Hey."
Liam stood in front of her. "Hey. How is she?"
"Hurt, angry, betrayed." Rosie answered. "You know, like any sane person would be."
"And you?" Liam asked.
"Pretty much the same, minus the betrayed part." Rosie answered. "But she's right. I can't go on the run when all it takes to get me back here is a phone call or a witch to do a locator spell. And if I run, what will Klaus do to any of you?"
"Hey, you do not get to worry about that, okay?" Liam asked. "You have too much to worry about, anyway."
Rosie's phone vibrated. She took it out, looking at the text. She looked up in anger and annoyance.
"Klaus?" Liam asked.
"Klaus." Rosie answered.
"Go ahead." Liam told her. "Like you said, you can't let him know you found a way around it."
Rosie nodded. "Thanks, Liam."
"No problem." Liam told her.
Rosie walked away, leaving.
Liam watched her go, concerned and sympathetic.
(Song Ends)
...
Lockwood Cellar
The hybrids were standing together, including Tyler, Scott, Kim and Adrian.
Derek stood next to them.
Adrian looked at Tyler. "Klaus is using your cousin as his right hand for everything, from killing to delivering. You say that there is a way to free all of us, including her."
"There is." Scott told them.
"You guys keep saying that, but here we are hiding, plotting a revolution that's never gonna happen." Kim told them.
Hayley entered the cellar. "Never say never and never say I don't pull through. I found the witch that's gonna save your lives."
Hayley smiled.
"Are you serious?" Adrian asked.
Hayley continued to smile.
Tyler looked from Hayley to Derek and Scott.
Derek nodded.
Tyler looked at Kim and Adrian. "We promised you guys we'd free you from Klaus. You did your part by breaking your sire bond, now Derek, Scott, Hayley and I are gonna do ours."
...
Town Square - Winter Wonderland Event
Derek, Sally, Scott, Elizabeth, Caroline and Tyler were standing in the middle of the square.
"You're going to do what?" Elizabeth asked incredulously.
"Hayley found a witch strong enough to do the body jump spell." Tyler told them. "You know, the Klaus specialty."
"So, you're going to put him in someone else's body and then what?" Sally asked.
"We'll encase the body in concrete then bury it." Derek answered.
"Why not just desiccate him like Bonnie did?" Caroline asked.
"Because to do that spell, you have to stop a human heart." Tyler answered. "We were a little short of volunteers."
"Well, who was dumb enough to volunteer their body to be a Klaus sublet?" Sally asked.
Tyler didn't answer, sighing, exchanging a look with Derek and Scott
Caroline's face fell as she realized why.
"Okay, don't freak out." Tyler told her.
"Freak out?" Caroline repeated. "Freak out? I'm about to hemorrhage! You volunteered?"
"It's not forever." Tyler told her. Elizabeth and Sally exchanged a look. "Just long enough for the hybrids to be able to completely disappear, including Rosie."
"Well, I can think of better ways for us to spend our senior year than you buried in concrete, Tyler." Caroline told him, angry yet depressed.
Tyler remained calm. He gently grabbed Caroline by the shoulders, looking directly at her. "This started with me. This has to end with me." Caroline could't seem to bear looking Tyler in the eyes. She continued to look down at the ground. "I need your support."
Caroline finally looked up at him with sad eyes.
...
Gilbert Lake House - Outside
Jeremy was outside of the house, chopping wood. He pulled the ax out of the log he just chopped, placing it into a tree trunk where a small wooden stake lied. He picked up the stake, staring at it. He then threw it down, picking the ax back up, chopping another piece of wood.
Jeremy looked at Damon's car as it drove closer.
Damon was driving. Elena was it the passenger seat. Isabella was sitting behind Elena.
Jeremy didn't take his eyes away.
Evelyn walked toward him. "Jeremy."
Jeremy walked in front of the car, looking at them. Evelyn stood right behind him.
"They shouldn't be here." Jeremy told her.
"They're here to help you." Evelyn told him. Jeremy wouldn't look away from them. "Do you trust me?"
Evelyn wrapped her hand around the handle of the ax.
Damon looked at Elena. Elena had a stony look. Isabella sighed.
"Yeah." Jeremy answered. "Yeah, I trust you."
Jeremy released his grip on the ax.
Evelyn took the ax away, throwing it aside, holding his arm. "Let's go inside."
Jeremy didn't look away from them.
Evelyn led him inside.
Shane opened the door, walking toward them.
...
Damon's Car
Damon was in the driver's seat.
Elena was in the passenger seat.
Isabella was in the backseat.
"What the hell is Professor Shadypants doing here?" Isabella asked.
"I invited him." Elena answered.
Isabella looked at Elena in the seat in front of her with annoyance.
They got out of the car.
...
Outside
Morgana pulled up, getting out of her car.
"Surprised you showed." Damon told her.
"Jeremy's more important than some fight going on between us." Morgana replied, walking forward without another word.
They sighed, starting to follow.
...
Gilbert Lake House - Foyer
Shane and Bonnie moved around the furniture.
Evelyn and Jeremy stood with them.
"Okay, listen, we are ready to get started, but before we can do that, we need them..." Shane trailed off, looking toward Elena, Morgana and Isabella as they walked to the door. Jeremy followed his gaze. "In here."
"This is your house now, Jer." Morgana told him. Jeremy walked closer. "You have to invite us in."
Jeremy stared at them.
"Go ahead, Jeremy." Evelyn told him. "Invite them in."
Jeremy continued to stare at them, hesitating a moment longer. "You can come in."
Elena, Morgana and Isabella walked in.
Elena walked toward Bonnie.
Isabella walked toward Evelyn.
Morgana stopped in front of Jeremy, looking up at him, smiling a small smile, gently touching his arm, walking past him, setting her bag on the counter.
Jeremy looked down at his arm where she touched him, suddenly grabbing the small wooden stake from his waistband, attempting to stake Morgana.
"Jeremy!" Isabella told him.
Morgana reacted quickly, grabbing Jeremy by his wrist. "That was a test, Jer." She twisted his arm around, standing behind him, placing his arm behind his back, taking the stake from him, putting him in a chokehold. Jeremy tried to struggle free. Damon, Isabella, Bonnie, Elena, Evelyn and Shane stared in surprise. Morgana looked at Jeremy. "You failed."
Morgana sighed, looking away.
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Library
Emma sat on the couch, going through old pictures.
Elizabeth looked over her shoulder, standing behind the couch.
Stefan walked in. "What are you doing?"
"Going through old pictures of my parents." Emma answered. "Since Damon's not here to mock, I'll admit it to you. I'm feeling sentimental and nostalgic."
Stefan leaned against the back of the couch next to Elizabeth . "It's okay to miss them once in a while, Em."
"Yeah, I know." Emma told him.
Stefan's phone rang. He answered, putting it on speaker. "Hey, sorry, I know I'm late."
Caroline was on the other end, walking through Town Square. "If I'm gonna be a friend in your time of need, then you need to work on your punctuality. I'm in a crisis. Where are you?"
"I'm at my house." Stefan answered.
"Why?" Emma asked. "What's wrong?"
"My boyfriend is a dumbass martyr." Caroline answered. "Wait, Stefan, why are you at your house? Aren't you trying to keep your distance from Elena?"
"Well, she's not here anymore." Stefan told her. "Damon took Jeremy to the Gilbert lake house with Bonnie and Evelyn, so I guess her house is safe for her again. Hey, listen, I got Klaus to tell me a little bit more about this Hunter's Sword. You know that map in Jeremy's tattoo? The sword decodes it. It's literally the key to finding the Cure."
"Klaus told you this?" Caroline asked.
"Yeah." Stefan answered. "Why?"
Caroline smiled hopefully. "And did he happen to hand you over the sword for safekeeping?"
"Uh, what do you think?" Emma asked. Caroline sighed. "What's wrong?"
"We need to get our hands on that sword." Caroline told them. "Like today. Tyler and his hybrids are taking out Klaus tonight. Where's Elizabeth?"
"Right here." Stefan answered, looking at Elizabeth. Elizabeth gave him a look, opening her mouth to speak her complaint about Klaus bait. Stefan cut her off. "She's in."
Elizabeth leaned her head forward in defeat.
Emma patted Elizabeth on the shoulder sarcastically.
...
Town Square - Winter Wonderland
(Song:) Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
Children were running around in the fake snow and starting snowball fights for the Winter Wonderland Charity Event.
Sally and Scott were walking together, toward the fountain in the square.
"You know, I should be practicing right now." Sally told him.
"Yeah, but you just found out about our plan and you decided to talk to me instead." Scott told her.
Sally looked at him, shaking her head. "This plan is stupid. It could get you all killed."
"We're gonna be fine." Scott told her.
"You don't know that, Scott." Sally told him.
"You're right." Scott told her. "I don't. But it doesn't matter."
Sally stopped walking next to the fountain.
Scott stopped next to her.
Sally took a breath. "Even if you guys do somehow manage to pull this off, then you'll have to leave with the other hybrids. Once Tyler gets back, Klaus gets back, and then he's gonna come after all of you." Scott didn't answer, sighing. "So, what? You're just gonna go on the run for the rest of your life?"
"Unless we find someone else to put Klaus' body into forever." Scott told her. "Do you have any other ideas?"
Sally looked as if she didn't know what to do, turning away from him, putting her hands to her head. "God! So is this how it's gonna be? Just you, gone? Never coming back?"
"I wouldn't say never." Scott told her. "I need you to trust me on this, Sally."
"I trust you." Sally told him. "I just don't know if I can trust the fact that you'll be able to make it out alive."
Scott turned Sally to face him, kissing her sweetly yet passionately, startling her, but she kissed back. After a long moment, Scott pulled back. "I've been wanting to do that since you got back." Sally chuckled once hysterically. "And I didn't know if I would get the chance again."
Sally didn't respond, breathing deeply, just letting him hold her.
...
Mystic Grill
The Grill was crowded for the day's festivities.
Matt walked down the steps, a tray of food in his hand, working.
Elizabeth was standing alone, admiring the postmodern snowflake Klaus painted. She knew she was being watched, turning to see Klaus looking at her.
Klaus smiled.
Elizabeth turned to face him. "Here to steal Tiny Tim's crutches?"
"Dickens was a dark man." Klaus told her. "You would have like him."
Klaus walked around the table toward her.
Elizabeth made her way to the other side of the table. "Nice snowflake, by the way."
"Is my work really that literal?" Klaus asked.
"I'm serious." Elizabeth told him. "There's something... lonely about it."
"I'm gonna take that as a compliment." Klaus told her "Can I offer you some champagne?" Elizabeth turned around, starting to walk away. "Elisaveta..."
Elizabeth turned around to see Klaus standing in front of her. "If we're going to be nice to each other, then I will need that glass of champagne."
Klaus smiled, walking closer. "Is that our thing now?"
Elizabeth chuckled, rolling her eyes. "We don't have a 'thing'. We never did."
"Oh, I beg to differ." Klaus told her.
"What?" Elizabeth asked. "Blood and torture and torment?" She backed away from him only a little, bringing her hands clasped together in front of her, sarcasm and exaggeration in her voice. "Oh, the romance! Cue the violins." She looked at him like she had gotten a great idea, pointing at him. "Maybe you could serenade me." Klaus smiled. "That's a little too dark for my taste these days."
Elizabeth couldn't help a smile.
"I'd be happy to settle for something a little less dark, as well." Klaus told her. "Allow me."
Klaus smiled, walking away to get some champagne.
Elizabeth watched him walk away, taking out her phone, texting Stefan. He's here. Go.
Esmeralda was standing across the Grill from Klaus and Elizabeth, watching them, smirking. She walked toward Elizabeth, pretending to be Rosie. "Elizabeth."
Elizabeth smirked. "Rosie Lockwood. Is there finally a Lockwood working here at the Grill?"
"Oh, you know it." Esmeralda answered. "Can I talk to you real quick?"
"About what?" Elizabeth asked.
Esmeralda smirked. "About Klaus, and the plan with the hybrids." She used mind control on Elizabeth. "You will not interfere with the plan, no matter how much you want to warn Klaus about what the hybrids are up to. You will watch him walk into a trap, and you will not say a word. Do you understand, Elisaveta?"
Elizabeth, still believing she was talking to Rosie while under mind control, nodded, looking confused.
(Song Ends)
...
Klaus' Mansion - Living Room
Stefan ripped off the handle from the vault, placing it down. He opened up the vault, seeing that the sword is no longer there. He seemed frustrated. He called Damon.
Damon was still at the Gilbert Lake House, outside. "Well, he's not walking around with it. Check the rest of the house."
"I am." Stefan told him. "I haven't found anything."
"Try the sock drawer." Damon told him. "People leave the sketchiest stuff in sock drawers."
"I'm gonna need real ideas, Damon." Stefan told him, starting to open an old trunk.
"Here's two." Damon told him. "Kill Tyler before he goes to Klaus or, since Klaus has suddenly become MVP in our relay race for the Cure, tell him about the hybrids, and he'll kill Tyler."
Stefan saw a bunch of handwritten letters littering the bottom of the trunk. None of them were addressed to Klaus, which Stefan found curious. "Nobody's killing Tyler. Do you seriously want Elena's hate toward you be the thing that breaks her sire bond?"
"I don't think we have to worry about that." Damon told him. "Emma's barely spoke to me since we got back from New Orleans."
"Can't blame her." Stefan told him, picking up one of the letters.
"I know, I know." Damon told him. Stefan didn't reply, reading the letter. "Hello? Stefan?"
Stefan finally put the letter down. "Look, I know it's a touchy subject, but do you know where Elena is today?"
Damon looked incredibly guilty. "I think she's running around... trying to figure out how to deprogram Jeremy."
"How'd she take it last night?" Stefan asked, very sympathetic toward his brother. "You telling her to stay away from you?"
Damon looked like he was feeling guilty. "Not well."
"You okay?" Stefan asked.
"Peachy." Damon told him. There was a moment of silence between them, which Damon broke quickly. "Gotta go. Bonnie has enlisted Dr. Evil in her plan, and I have to thwart him."
Damon quickly hung up his phone.
...
Gilbert Lake House - Inside
Shane started up the pendulum of a metronome, which ticked slowly back and forth. Candles were lit around them. Shane tightened some thick leather straps around Jeremy's wrist, which tied him down into a chair. Jeremy had his eyes closed and in a trance.
Elena, Isabella and Morgana sat next to each other across from Jeremy.
Bonnie sat in the chair next to Elena.
Evelyn sat in the chair next to Morgana.
"All Jeremy feels when he sees a vampire is a burning desire to kill them, even if consciously, he doesn't want to." Shane told them. He looked at Elena, Isabella and Morgana. "As in your case, it's his subconscious that's calling the shots."
"Persuasion helps reverse your subconscious thoughts." Bonnie told them.
"So, basically, compulsion for the Hunter who can't be compelled." Isabella summarized.
Shane nodded. "Exactly. Think of it as kind of a conditioned response, right? See vampire, kill vampire. What I'm doing is creating kind of a middle step. It's like a detour, where his subconscious learns to recognize you as someone he loves, someone he wants to protect. And that gives him a choice. He can choose to take the detour instead of the conditioned response." He sat on the table next to Jeremy, speaking to Elena, Isabella and Morgana. "Okay. Talk to him. He'll listen."
"I'm not sure what to say." Isabella admitted.
"You chose to do this here at your family's vacation house, right?" Shane asked. "So, maybe just start by telling him why."
Elena nodded. "Every holiday, we came here. This place was family. And when Mom and Dad died, Jenna made us come here, and we thought it was an awful idea, but it was like they were here with us."
Jeremy opened his eyes, looking at his friends.
Eliza smiled, looking from Jeremy to Elena, Isabella and Morgana.
"They would have wanted you to stick together, Jer." Evelyn told him. She looked from Elena to Morgana on either side of her, the sentence directed to them as well. "To fight for each other, no matter what."
No one spoke.
Jeremy continued to stare at them.
"Jeremy, how do you feel about Morgana, Isabella and Elena right now?" Shane asked.
Elena, Isabella and Morgana looked from each other to Jeremy, waiting for his response.
"Isabella may be my friend, but she is just another vampire running around, killing, hurting those who she sees can help her needs." Jeremy told them. Isabella looked down, tilting her head, hurt. "Morgana, Emma and Elena ruined our lives. They're not even my real sisters. They're just the reasons that everyone I've ever loved has died. They mean nothing to me. I will kill all four of them even if that means I die myself."
Morgana looked down, upset.
Shane rapped his knuckles against the wooden table, which brought Jeremy out of the trance.
Jeremy looked from Shane to Elena, Isabella and Morgana, completely normal. "Did it work?"
No one answered, disappointed.
...
Mystic Grill - Outside - Alleyway
Stefan and Caroline were waiting by the stairs.
Elizabeth and Emma walked toward them.
Caroline stood.
Stefan pushed away from the wall, turning toward them.
"Hey." Emma told them.
"Hey." Stefan told them.
"Did you find the sword?" Emma asked.
"Nope." Stefan answered. "Just a bunch of letters that weren't addressed to him."
"He takes them from his victims." Elizabeth explained.
"How do you know that?" Caroline asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Doesn't matter. What are we gonna do now?"
"Klaus is the only shot we have at finding the Cure." Stefan told them. "We need him. Tyler and Scott have to call it off."
They heard Scott's voice. "Well, that's not gonna happen."
Stefan turned around to see Tyler and Scott, who both had appeared on the stairway.
Tyler looked at Caroline. "You told them?" He walked down the remaining steps. "We've had twelve hybrids sworn to secrecy for a month. We have Hayley, Derek and a witch risking their lives, and you're blabbing our plan to them?"
Stefan stood in front of Tyler. "Look, all I'm asking you for is a little bit of time, okay?"
"How long?" Scott asked. "An hour? A day? Because every minute that goes by that we don't do this, they're at risk. You and Klaus already served one of them up for Jeremy to kill."
Tyler looked over Stefan's shoulder at Caroline.
Caroline looked down, ashamed.
Tyler looked back at Stefan. "I don't owe you anything." He turned around, starting to walk away. "I'm taking him out."
Stefan rushed in front of Tyler to stop him. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that."
"Stefan..." Caroline trailed off in warning.
Stefan looked at her. "I'm sorry, but I can't."
Emma looked behind him. "Stefan. Elizabeth."
Stefan turned around to follow their gazes to the half a dozen of hybrids standing on the stairs behind him, including Kim and Adrian.
Elizabeth and Emma turned around to see the remaining six hybrids in the alleyway, blocking any means of escape.
"Sorry, but you don't have a choice." Scott told them.
Elizabeth looked at Stefan, knowing they could take them.
Stefan shook his head.
...
Gilbert Lake House - Outside - Dock
(Song:) Running Down the Aisle - Morning Parade
Elena was sitting on the edge of the dock by the lake, still looking upset about what Jeremy had said.
Damon approached her with a bottle of bourbon in hand. "You're not allowed to feel this sorry for yourself unless you're sitting on a bar stool." He sat down, facing her, uncorking the bottle of bourbon. "Fortunately, I travel with the bar."
"It didn't work." Elena told him. "I shouldn't have put so much hope into reprogramming someone's mind. If it were that easy, then you and I wouldn't be in this situation." They looked at other for a moment. Elena was clearly looking for confirmation from Damon. "Right?" She sighed. "Last time I was here, I was so completely in love with Stefan. Now, it's barely a memory. Is that the sire bond? Or just that I'm so happy to be here with you?"
Elena placed her hand on Damon's cheek.
Damon took her hand in his.
They sat together on the dock alone, looking at each other.
(Song Ends)
...
Lockwood Cellar
The hybrids had brought Stefan, Elizabeth, Emma and Caroline here.
Tyler took a chain from on top of a box.
"Tyler!" Emma told him.
"Keep them down here until we're ready bring Klaus in." Tyler told them, dropping the chains in front of Kim. "Use these if you have to."
Stefan walked closer to Scott and Tyler. "Come on, guys, this is bigger than you. It's about more than revenge for us."
Scott walked closer to Stefan. "I know what it's about for you, Stefan. It's about the Cure. You know what happens to a hybrid when he's cured of being a vampire? We go back to being werewolves; turning on every full moon. We could give a rat's ass about the Cure."
Tyler walked past Emma.
Caroline stepped forward. "Tyler, come on."
"I needed you on my side, Care." Tyler told her. "That's all I wanted."
...
Gilbert Lake House - Living Room
Jeremy sitting on the sofa, looking through old family photos.
Evelyn stood behind the couch, looking at the picture. "You okay?"
"I've tried to kill all of my friends." Jeremy told her.
"Well, nobody is perfect." Evelyn told him. "Emma daggered an Original vampire who liked her and killed an Original Witch who tried to kill you and Matt."
Jeremy looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn smiled.
Bonnie walked in "Shane wants to try again."
Jeremy stood, looking at Bonnie, seeing Isabella standing in the doorway. "You shouldn't be in here. I tried to kill you."
"And if earlier is any indication, I can protect myself." Isabella replied. "And are we seriously gonna trust this guy? Survey says:"
Isabella imitated a buzzer.
"Professor Shane has been dipping into the magical herbs a little too much if he thinks using three vampires to suppress the need to kill another one is gonna work on a Hunter." Morgana told them. "It's like dangling a cheeseburger in front of someone on a master cleanse." She glanced at Evelyn. "Just find someone else to attach your warm and fuzzy detour feelings to."
Evelyn and Jeremy looked at them in confusion
"Gee, I wonder who that could be." Bonnie told them sarcastically, glancing at Evelyn, looking away, letting her arms swing slightly at her sides, smiling.
Jeremy looked at Evelyn. "You." Evelyn looked at Jeremy, slightly shocked. "I feel that way about you."
Evelyn smiled a small smile.
Jeremy grinned.
"Well, this isn't awkward at all." Isabella told them sarcastically. "We'll be anywhere else."
Isabella and Morgana walked out of the room. Bonnie followed them.
Evelyn looked at Jeremy, smiling.
...
Outside - Dock
Morgana was outside, standing at the end of the dock.
Shane walked closer, standing next to her. "It was good thinking using Evelyn as Jeremy's emotional touch zone. You, Isabella and Bonnie are very intuitive." He looked at Morgana. "Yeah, Bonnie told me about you and your friends relationship with Damon. I don't mean to pry, obviously."
"It's complicated." Morgana told him.
"Uh-huh." Shane agreed.
"Any ideas of how to hypnotize her out of it?" Morgana asked.
"You know, in all my world travels, the one spell that I've never found is how to break somebody from loving too much." Shane told her. "Trust me, I've looked." Morgana gave him a confused look. "My wife and son died. I was just-I was trying to figure out a way not to miss them."
Morgana looked sympathetic.
Damon and Elena walked toward them.
Damon had an ax in hand. "If your hypno herbs work, we should be singing 'Kumbaya' around the fire by dinner." He stopped, standing a few feet away from them, holding up the ax. "So now, tell me why I'm not killing you."
Elena stood in front of him. "Damon."
"I'm serious." Damon told them. He looked at Shane. "Why are you after the vampire Cure?"
Shane walked toward Damon. "I didn't say I was looking for the Cure, but I can tell you where to find it."
Damon walked toward Shane. "Klaus' sword will tell us where to find it."
"The swore will lead you there, sure, but so can I." Shane told them.
"What?" Morgana asked. "How?"
Shane continued to look at Damon. "'Cause I've already been there."
Damon, Elena and Morgana exchanged a look, shocked.
...
Town Square - Winter Wonderland
(Song:) The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes
Carol and April were walking through the Winter Wonderland event together. April wore her Miss Mystic Falls crown and sash.
"Instruct the guests to drop their donations at the gift tree in the Grill." Carol told her.
"Yes, ma'am." April told her.
Carol stopped, handing April a checklist of some kind. "Excuse me." She saw Tyler walking her way. "There you are!" She grabbed two glasses of champagne off a tray carried by a waitress. She handed one to Tyler. "Quick. A toast before people can judge us." Tyler held his glass up. Carol clinked hers to his. They both took a sip, but Carol noticed that her son's concern. "What's wrong?"
...
Later
Tyler and Carol were sitting on a bench together, away from the noise of the party.
Tyler had explained his plan to entrap Klaus' essence in his body and then bury himself.
Carol was silent.
"Please say something." Tyler told her.
"But you'll miss graduation." Carol told him. "Which I guess is a ridiculous thing to worry about."
"I'm their Alpha." Tyler told her. "They're looking to me to help them."
Carol looked down, nodding sadly. "You do what you have to do, Tyler." Tyler looked surprised. "Well, don't look so shocked. I'm trying to channel your father. He'd be proud of you, you know? You're a leader of people just like he was."
"Thank you, Mom." Tyler told her. "When all of this is over, tell Rosie that I did this for her, too. That I found a way to set her free when there was no way. Tell her that I love her."
Carol nodded sadly, smiling although she was sad of the prospect of never seeing her son again. She wrapped her arms around him, embracing him for what could have been the last time.
Further in the square, behind the bench they were sitting on, Rosie was looking toward them, listening.
Rosie took a deep breath of shock and sadness, finally understanding why Tyler had never been around for her when she had needed him most.
Because he was doing the impossible to set her free.
(Song Ends)
...
Night - Gilbert Lake House - Living Room
Elena and Shane sat across from each other on the couches.
Damon stood next to the couch Elena was sitting on.
Isabella and Morgana sat in the chairs on either side of the table in front of them. Liv sat between Damon and Cristian. Alex sat alone.
Shane unwrapped an old rock from a cloth.
"It's a rock." Isabella told them expressively, sarcastically.
"It's not just any rock." Shane told her.
"Hmm, so is this that silly little wives tale that you told at the occult exhibit?" Morgana asked, walking over to the bar behind the couch, grabbing a bottle of alcohol.
"Right, long story short." Shane told them. "Once upon a time, there was a witch named Silas who loved two girls, best friends. He eventually found out that he loved the older one more." Elena and Morgana exchanged a look. "Who wanted to be with her forever, so he and his best friend, another witch, made an immortality spell. And then Silas' best friend witch got jealous, and killed Silas' girls before he had a chance to make the older one immortal. In revenge, Silas turned the best friend witch's younger sister immortal, and in return, the best friend witch turned Silas' sister immortal, who turned out to also be best friends. The sister of Qetsiyah wanted to die a human death. Qetsiyah finds a way to reverse the immortality spell, letting her sister take the first Cure and die the way she wanted. But Silas' sister wanted revenge against her brother and made a deal with Qetsiyah. Before Silas has the chance to take it, his former friend and his sister buries him underground, leaving him and the Cure to rot."
"So, it's a Cure for immortality?" Elena asked.
"Human blood is the life force of an immortal." Shane told them. "No more immortality, no more need to feed on blood. You dig up Silas, and you've got your Cure."
Elena, Damon, Isabella and Morgana looked at Shane, still processing.
...
Lockwood Cellar
The hybrids were still watching Stefan, Elizabeth, Emma and Caroline.
Elizabeth was pacing impatiently. "Ugh, this is ridiculous. We're not hostages."
"Sure you are, sweetie." Kim told her.
Elizabeth rushed in front of her, staring her down. "I will rip your heart out of your chest without thinking twice about it."
"I would be able to bite you before you could." Kim replied.
Elizabeth looked at her with feigned interest. "Oh, so, you're the kinky kind of bitch."
Kim glared at her, transforming facially.
"Elizabeth..." Emma trailed off in warning.
Stefan's phone started to ring.
The other hybrids started to advance on him.
"Relax." Stefan told them. They stopped. "It's my brother." Stefan answered the phone. "What's up?"
Damon sat alone in the Gilbert Lake House. "Don't ask how or why or who, but I just found the answer to your Tyler problem."
They listened to the rest of what Damon had to say.
"You're kidding." Stefan told him, hanging up, looking at Elizabeth, Emma and Caroline. "We don't need the sword."
Emma smirked.
Caroline subtly raised her eyebrows.
Elizabeth looked down, seemingly lost in thought.
...
Mystic Grill - Bar
(Song:) Take You to the Mistletoe - The Kicks
Sally walked turned toward Scott. "Please tell me that you did not seriously trap Stefan, Elizabeth and Caroline in the Lockwood Cellar with twelve hybrids." Scott didn't answer, sighing. "Will they listen to you if you tell them to let them go?"
"Yeah, I'm the one they come to after Tyler." Scott answered.
"Good." Sally told him, grabbing the phone off the bar, handing it to him. "Call Kim and get them to let them go."
"Sal-" Scott started. Sally looked at Scott's arm, focusing on it, using magic to make it break. Scott held his arm, looking at Sally in amusement, unable to help a smirk. "What the hell?"
"Remember how determined I was before I knew I had magic?" Sally asked. "Think of the things that I can do now."
"What do you want from me?" Scott asked.
"Call them." Sally answered, forcing the phone into his hand.
Scott took it, looking at Sally.
Sally raised her eyebrows, waiting, gesturing for him to do it.
Scott sighed, dialing the number.
Sally smirked.
(Song Ends)
...
Bathroom
Hayley and Tyler walked in together.
"So you told your mother goodbye, right?" Hayley asked. Tyler nodded. "But you didn't tell Rosie? Because if she's not on those little witchy herbs, it won't be long until she tells Klaus, and we'll all be dead soon thereafter."
"No, I didn't tell her." Tyler told her. "I promised I wouldn't."
Rosie walked in. "You didn't have to."
"Rosie..." Tyler trailed off.
"Are you out of your minds?" Rosie asked.
"You heard everything, didn't you?" Hayley asked.
Rosie nodded. "Uh, yeah. Plan's off. You guys are gonna get yourselves killed."
Rosie turned around, trying to leave.
Tyler rushed in front of the door to stop her. "I can't let you leave."
"I can't let you be a Klaus body escape hatch if your little plan even works without everyone dying." Rosie replied in a whisper. "Tyler, are you crazy?"
Tyler gave her a confused, curious look. "You're not running to tell Klaus."
"I'm on some of Bonnie's herbs at the moment." Rosie explained. "But that's not gonna last. Tyler, you can't do this."
"Rosie, I have to." Tyler told her. "If I do this, that means Klaus is out of the way forever, and you'll finally be free." Rosie shook her head, tears in her eyes. "Rose, trust me on this, please."
"Do you not recognize the stupidity of your Alpha hybrid murder plan?" Rosie asked.
"I'm not going to fight with you anymore, Rosie." Tyler told her.
"Oh, we are going to be doing plenty of fighting the second that you shove Klaus into someone else's body." Rosie told him.
"I don't have anybody else." Tyler told her.
"Yeah, well, I do." Rosie told him.
"What?" Hayley asked. "Who?"
"One of Klaus' sisters, Rebekah." Rosie answered. They looked at her curiously. "She's got a dagger in her. I've been hiding her coffin in the tunnels. We dump Klaus into her, bury both bodies, we just killed two Original birds with one stone."
Tyler smiled.
"It's too late to change the plan." Hayley told them.
Tyler and Rosie looked at Hayley.
Tyler looked at Rosie. "Call Bonnie." Rosie smiled. "Make sure it'll work."
"Tyler!" Hayley complained.
Tyler looked at her. "It's a brilliant plan, Hayley." He looked at Rosie. "You're a genius. You're the best cousin ever."
"You're the best cousin ever even when you're the worst cousin ever." Rosie told him.
Hayley turned away from them, texting Esmeralda two texts, one saying: We have a problem. The other said: The plan is falling apart.
Rosie looked at Tyler. "You did all of this..."
"To free you, to save you." Tyler told her.
"And here I thought you had given up on me, when all this time..." Rosie trailed off.
"Hey, I would never give up on you." Tyler told her. "I've got to find Mom. Tell her I might actually graduate."
"Tell her that she's gonna have her little girl back after this is all over." Rosie told him.
Tyler kissed Rosie on the forehead, walking out, leaving.
Rosie smiled widely in relief, closing her eyes, turning away.
...
Town Square
Rosalita had received Hayley's texts and looked at it. She texted her back the message Fix it.
...
Living Room
Evelyn sat in front of Jeremy on the table, having both of his hands in hers.
Bonnie had hypnotized Jeremy again, who had his eyes shut.
"Is it working?" Evelyn asked.
Bonnie nodded. "Yeah, I think we're making progress." Bonnie's phone started to ring. She answered. "Rosie, hey." Evelyn looked at her in slight shock. "This is a surprise."
Rosie was still in the bathroom. "I really need to thank you for those herbs because even though their shortlasting, I think they just saved someone's life. Oh, and, Bonnie, I need you to think fast. I know the daggers don't work on Klaus, but what if we put his essence into Rebekah? It'll work, right? Say it'll work."
Bonnie stood, walking away from Evelyn and Jeremy. "Slow down, slow down, what-what's happening?"
"Just come on, Bonnie." Rosie told her. "Will it work?"
"Yeah, I don't see why not." Bonnie told her.
Rosie smiled. "Uh, Bonnie Bennett, I love you."
"Do you need my help?" Bonnie asked. "I can leave Elena, Morgana, Isabella and Evelyn here with Jeremy."
"They're all there with you?" Rosie asked.
"Yeah, so is Damon." Damon answered. "Damon, who is being slightly less horrible than usual."
"Caroline's not gonna like that." Rosie told her.
"Yeah, I know." Bonnie told her. "Don't tell her, okay?"
"Yeah, uh-huh, definitely not, secret's safe with me." Rosie told her.
"Are you on the herbs right now?" Bonnie asked.
"How do you think that I'm even able to help right now?" Rosie replied. "And, Bon, that is, like, the main reason I love you, so thank you."
Bonnie smiled. "Well, I can get you some more if they're actually working."
"Thank you." Rosie told her.
"Yep." Bonnie told her. "Look, I gotta go, okay? Shane's helping us deprogram Jeremy the Hunter."
"Shane?" Rosie repeated. "Creepy Professor Guy?"
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Oh, my God, not you, too. Goodbye."
"Bye." Rosie replied.
They hung up.
...
Mystic Grill - Bathroom
Rosie turned to Hayley. "She said it would work."
"I gathered." Hayley told her. "And for a fleeting second, you can actually make your own decisions. Congratulations."
"Thank you." Rosie told her, starting to walk past her.
Hayley snapped Rosie's neck, letting her body fall. "My pleasure."
...
Gilbert Lake House - Parlor
Elena pulled out a box of holiday decorations from a closet. Damon stood next to her.
Isabella sat on a table across the room. Morgana sat in a chair next to her, leaning against the wall.
Cristian stood at the bar.
Elena put the box on the table, looking toward Isabella and Morgana. "You, Jer and I should take these decorations home with us. We could use the holiday cheer."
"Look at you, suddenly poly optimist." Morgana said with bitter sarcasm, crossing her arms over her chest.
Elena put the decorations down on the table with a slam. "What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry?"
"That could be a good start." Morgana told her, tilting her head, looking up at the ceiling.
"Look, I'm sorry that I hurt you by hurting Stefan." Elena told her.
"Apparently not enough." Morgana told her in a sing-song voice.
Isabella held her head.
"Now, now, put the claws away." Damon told them.
Isabella looked at Elena. "Why are you suddenly chipper?"
"I think Shane's gonna get us through this." Elena told them. "I trust him." Isabella scoffed. Morgana shook her head. Damon rolled his eyes. "But you guys clearly don't."
"This guy comes out of nowhere, supposedly wanting to teach Sally, Bonnie and Elizabeth a new magic that's just ironically Expression, the most dangerous kind of magic, without wanting anything in return?" Morgana asked.
"And anyone who knows as much as he does obviously has a reason to know all of this, and normally, these kinds of guys have a reason that's not good for anyone else." Isabella added.
Elena scoffed, shaking her head. "You two are being ridiculous."
"Isabella, maybe." Damon told them. "Me and Gana? No. Our reason is because we think he blew up twelve people at the Young farm."
"What?" Elena asked.
"Little tip, Professor, I heard you before you even took your first step." Morgana told him.
Shane was standing in the door frame behind Morgana. "I see we're back to the false accusation part of our relationship."
"What are they talking about?" Isabella asked.
"Damon and Morgana discovered that I was in contact with Pastor Young prior to the explosion at the Young farm." Shane answered, walking into the room. "And the Pastor was severely depressed. He had lost his wife to cancer and he sought me out for a little supernatural assistance. I tried to help but he was too far gone. I just-I never expected that he would take eleven innocents with him."
"Uh-huh." Isabella told him. "I remember something about Liam asking you about Pastor Young for April at the pageant. If we bring him in here right now, will she say the same thing?"
Shane didn't answer.
"Busted, Exhibit A." Isabella told him.
Elena looked at Morgana and Isabella. "Knock it off."
Morgana raised her eyebrows as if to ask, Excuse me? Isabella looked at her as if to ask, Seriously?
Jeremy, Evelyn and Bonnie walked in. They all looked at them.
Morgana and Isabella stood, turning to face them.
Jeremy had a stake in his hand, looking at Elena, Isabella and Morgana. "Guys." Jeremy looked at them. "It's okay. I think we've got this."
Bonnie and Evelyn walked toward them. Bonnie took Morgana's hand. Evelyn took Isabella's, leading them toward Elena, making them stand next to each other.
"Don't move, okay?" Evelyn asked. "No matter what."
Elena seemed nervous. Isabella looked hopeful yet not getting her hopes up. Morgana was calm.
"Jeremy, remember the detour." Bonnie told him. "Choose the right path."
Jeremy nodded, starting to walk toward his sisters.
Jeremy looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn smiled sweetly.
Jeremy looked down at the stake, handing it toward Evelyn .
Jeremy stopped in front of them, wrapping his arm around all of them. They all wrapped their arms around each other, relieved.
Bonnie and Evelyn smiled, watching them. They exchanged a look, still smiling.
...
Town Square - Winter Wonderland
(Song:) Jingle Bells - Sugar & The Hi Lows
Elizabeth was walking alone, seeing what seemed to be Hayley talking to Klaus, walking off, leaving him alone.
Once 'Hayley' was far enough away, she let the mirage fade to where she revealed she was actually Esmeralda . Her phone rang. She pulled it out to answer the call. "Hello, Hayley."
Hayley was hiding Rosie's unconscious body in a stall inside the bathroom. "I'm fixing it. You'll get your twelve."
Esmeralda smirked. "Good." She turned around to see that Elizabeth was walking toward Klaus. "I just mind controlled Klaus to slaughter the hybrids and anyone else involved. He thought I was you, by the way. He doesn't know that I'm in town, and neither does Elizabeth now, or anyone else, except for you and Shane, and they're all still playing my game without realizing it." She smiled. "This is going to be fun."
Esmeralda hung up, smirking, watching Klaus and Elizabeth, knowing that Elizabeth couldn't tell Klaus about the hybrid plan because she had mind controlled her not to.
Elizabeth walked toward Klaus.
"Where have you been?" Klaus asked.
"I've been around." Elizabeth told him.
"I'm not interested in vagary, Elisaveta." Klaus told her. "Your friends been dodgy and you've been lovely, which I've come to recognize as a tool of distraction." Elizabeth smirked halfheartedly. "Now, do you have something to share with me, or should I compel it out of you?"
Elizabeth gave him a subtle look, standing in front of him. "I distracted you as Stefan broke into your safe to look for the sword."
"Why?" Klaus asked.
"Because he asked me to because he doesn't trust you." Elizabeth answered.
"I showed him the sword, I told you what we were up to." Klaus told her. "I've been on your side the entire time. What do you want from me? A secret handshake?"
(Song Ends)
Elizabeth changed the subject. "Didn't know that you still stole your victims' letters. Stefan found them and asked me about them thinking I would have known about it."
"And did you tell him the truth about it?" Klaus asked.
"No." Elizabeth answered. "It's... morbid."
Klaus smiled smugly. "Well, is keeping my victim's letters really so different from writing their names on a wall? Like you did. Queen of Chicago."
"Also, morbid." Elizabeth told him.
Klaus smiled a small smile, looking behind her, his face falling, walking past Elizabeth.
Elizabeth turned to watch him walk toward Adrian.
Klaus slowed to a stop, turning to Elizabeth. "Loneliness, Elisaveta. That's why you and I memorialize our dead. There's the briefest of moments before we kill where we literally hold their life in our hands... and then we rip it away. And we're left with nothing. So, gathering other peoples' letters or writing their names on a wall is a reminder that in the end, we're left infinitely and utterly alone."
Elizabeth didn't respond.
Klaus turned, walking away with Adrian.
Elizabeth watched them go, looking as if she was trying to convince herself to not feel guilty.
Esmeralda watched Adrian lead Klaus away to the slaughter, knowing that Elizabeth had wanted to stop him deep down, but couldn't because of the mind control, smirking smugly, incredibly pleased with herself, smiling in triumph, turning around, walking away.
...
Mystic Grill - Bathroom
April walked in, trying to open a stall door, but it was jammed. "Oh, sorry." She seemed to worry that something might have been wrong in the stall, knocking gently. "Oh, hello, are you okay? Um..." She opened the door of the stall. Rosie's body fell to the floor. April backed away in shock. "Oh, my gosh!" She knelt next to Rosie's body, shaking her by the shoulders. "Rosie!" She placed her fingers on her neck, trying to find a pulse, but couldn't seem to find one. She started to panic. "Somebody help! Help!" She quickly stood, frantically trying to leave the bathroom. Rosie rushed to stand in front of the door. "Holy crap!"
"Have you seen Hayley?" Rosie asked.
April turned to look where she had been, looking at Rosie in confusion. "You didn't have a pulse. You were dead."
Rosie held her hand up, using the other to pull out her phone to call Tyler. "Please stop talking, I'm in the midst of a crisis here." Tyler didn't answer, so she left a message. "Ty, it's me. That little werewolf slut has lost her mind. Go to the Lockwood Cellar and make sure Rebekah's body is still there. Hayley is trying to screw this up." She hung up, smiling at April, walking closer, gently lying her hands on her shoulders. April looked absolutely horrified. Rosie compelled her. "Forget everything you just saw and heard. You are Miss Mystic Falls, and you have duties to fill."
"Okay." April told her, still scared, walking past her, leaving.
Rosie sighed, walking out.
...
Main Room
Rosie walked in.
Matt walked toward her. "There you are. Tyler's been looking for you. Adrian's leading Klaus to the cellar."
"How come the only time April Young isn't following you around like a little lost puppy is when I'm lying dead with a broken neck?" Rosie asked bitterly, pulling out her phone.
Matt's eyes widened. "April saw you?"
"Yeah, it's okay." Rosie told him. "I compelled her."
"No, she's-she's wearing Jeremy's vervain bracelet." Matt told her. Rosie looked up in shock. "She can't be compelled."
"You look for her, I gotta try to find my aunt or Tyler." Rosie told him.
Matt nodded.
Rosie walked past him.
Matt turned to watch her go.
...
Town Square
Rosie walked out of the Grill, into the night, looking around nervously.
"Rosie, sweetheart." Carol called, walking closer. Rosie turned to face her in relief. Carol smiled hopefully. "Tyler told me about the plan, and I am so proud of you for managing to pull yourself through this time."
Rosie wrapped her arms around Carol. "Thanks, aunt Carol. After this is all over, I will be your little girl again, okay? I just have to see it through, find Tyler."
Carol nodded. "Of course, honey." She pulled away, lying her hands on her Nieces shoulders. "You're the strongest one out of us all, sweetheart. Continue to prove it. Find your freedom. Okay?" Rosie nodded, tears in her eyes. Carol stroked her cheek, pulling her hair back behind her daughter's ear. "Go."
Rosie kissed her on the cheek. "I love you, aunt Carol."
Rosie backed away.
"I love you, too, Rose." Carol told her.
Rosie turned around, walking away.
Carol watched her leave with a small, proud smile.
The shot panned from Rosie walking away to Hayley walking toward Scott, Derek and Tyler from across the fountain.
Derek looked at Hayley. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be taking the witch to the Cellar."
"There is no witch, Derek." Hayley told him.
"What?" Derek asked.
Hayley hesitated. "I made it up."
...
Woods
(Song:) O Holy Night - Cary Brothers
Kim and the other hybrids were waiting in the woods.
"Where the hell is the witch?" Kim asked. "Adrian should be here any minute."
There was a rushing noise that all the hybrids heard. They turned around to see Adrian.
Adrian seemed to be in pain. "Kim."
Suddenly, Adrian's heart was torn from his body through his back.
Kim was instantly torn apart. "No!"
...
Town Square
Tyler, Scott, Derek and Hayley were talking.
"I never intended for you to put Klaus down." Hayley told them. "I needed him for the sacrifice."
Tyler stood on the other side of Scott. "The what?"
...
Woods
Adrian fell down on his knees, revealing Klaus standing behind him, holding out his bloody heart in his hand. He dropped it on the ground. His face showed nothing but pure rage. He had the Hunter's Sword in his hand, beginning to rush at the hybrids, slashing at them with the sword.
...
Town Square
Tyler, Scott, Derek and Hayley were talking.
"I don't know how to explain it, but I made a deal with someone who can help me find Elizabeth and my family." Hayley told them.
"What are you talking about?" Scott asked. "What kind of deal?"
Hayley looked at him. "There needed to be twelve for the sacrifice, Scott."
...
Woods
Klaus had slashed at one of the hybrids, who fell to the ground, dead. Another hybrid jumped at him, ready to attack him. Klaus sliced her head off with the sword.
...
Town Square
Tyler, Scott, Derek and Hayley were talking.
Tyler looked from Scott and Derek to Hayley. "Twelve what?"
...
Woods
Klaus slashed at another hybrid's throat with the sword.
...
Town Square
Tyler, Scott, Derek and Hayley were talking.
Hayley looked only slightly guilty. "I'm sorry."
...
Woods
Klaus threw the sword at another hybrid, through his chest, pinning him to a tree.
...
Town Square
Tyler, Scott, Derek and Hayley were talking.
Scott looked at her incredulously. "Hayley, what did you do?"
...
Woods
Klaus ripped the hybrid's, that was pinned to the tree, heart out of his chest.
...
Town Square
Tyler, Scott, Derek and Hayley were talking.
"If you run now, you might make it out alive." Hayley told them.
Derek looked at her with a mixture of horror and shock.
...
Woods
Klaus took the sword out of the now dead hybrid's chest, slashing the throat of another one of his hybrids.
...
Town Square
Tyler, Scott, Derek and Hayley were talking.
Tyler continued to stare at Hayley, backing away. He turned around, dashing through the crowd.
Scott backed away, looking at Derek. "Stay here."
Scott turned, following Tyler.
Derek and Hayley watched them go.
Derek turned to look at Hayley.
Hayley had disappeared.
Derek was left alone in the thinning crowd.
...
Woods
Klaus stood in the midst of all the dead hybrids. He breathed heavily and had blood splashed across his face and clothing. He heard Kim crying, hiding down in the Lockwood Cellar. He proceeded to follow her.
...
Lockwood Cellar
Kim tripped down the remaining stairs, looking up from the floor.
Klaus walked toward her.
Kim attempted to back away from him. She stood, grabbing the bars of the Cellar, trying to find a way, continuing to sob. She was trapped. She turned, looking at Klaus.
"Where are Tyler Lockwood and Scott Jackson?" Klaus asked. Kim didn't answer. Klaus pointed the sword at her throat, walking closer. "You'd do well to answer me, love." He placed the blade against her throat, screaming in her face. "Where are they?"
"I don't know." Kim told him.
"Wrong answer." Klaus told her, pushing the blade into her throat.
Kim gasped for air.
Klaus successfully pressed the blade through her neck, decapitating her, letting her body fall. He turned around, starting to walk off. His face was not full of rage anymore but seemingly full of sadness and loneliness. He breathed out a sigh, utterly and completely alone.
(Song Ends)
...
Gilbert Lake House - Living Room
Jeremy, Evelyn, Bonnie, Elena, Isabella and Morgana were rummaging through the boxes of holiday decorations.
Isabella pulled out a string of mistletoe. "Hey, check this out."
"Jenna used that to make out with Logan Fell." Jeremy told them.
Elena looked out onto the deck.
Damon was sitting on the railing.
Elena smiled, waving him to come in.
Damon smiled, looking away.
Elena grabbed the strand of mistletoe, walking out to him.
Morgana looked away, still annoyed.
Evelyn looked at Morgana sympathetically. "Are you okay?"
Morgana tilted her head. "Not really."
Evelyn wrapped an arm around Morgana's shoulders.
They looked toward Damon and Elena.
...
Outside
Damon and Elena were talking.
"Of all the drama, you're missing the actual fun part." Elena told him, holding the mistletoe over their heads.
Damon looked toward Morgana. "Elena, we can't. I can't."
Elena lowered the mistletoe. "Damon, you can't keep telling me that this isn't real. I know how I feel and that you feel it too, so stop fighting it."
Damon looked toward the others.
They looked away.
Damon looked at Elena. "It's good to see you like that. All normal with your siblings. I want that again for you. Christmas was always mine, Isabella and Stefan's favorite holiday when we were kids. Not that I've celebrated it since. I kind of miss that."
"You're thinking about how upset Stefan'll be when he finds out that you and I are together." Elena realized.
"I've been lying to him all day." Damon told her.
"No, you were helping me with Jeremy." Elena told him.
"The point is not what I was doing." Damon told her. "The point is that I'm here with you. I was supposed to invoke the sire bond, Elena, send you away. I was supposed to do the right thing by you and the right thing by my brother."
Morgana walked out onto the porch. "Which is what you're gonna do right now." Elena frowned. "You're gonna tell her to go home."
"What?" Elena asked. "No, Morgana."
Morgana turned toward her. "You lost the right to tell me what to do."
"You can't just-" Elena started.
Morgana snapped Elena's neck, letting her body fall.
Damon stood in shock.
...
Inside - Living Room
The others were watching.
Bonnie and Evelyn spoke together. "Whoa."
"Damn," Isabella told them.
"Didn't see that one coming." Jeremy told them.
Evelyn smirked.
...
Outside
Morgana turned toward Damon. "Now, can you tell me that she didn't deserve that?"
"No." Damon answered.
Morgana hesitated, sighing. "Damon, your Stefan's brother. But I cannot just watch you love her like this when we're she's sired to you. If you love her more than your, then let her go. Set her free."
"It's not that easy." Damon told her. "After I tell to do what I want her to do, I'm supposed to leave her forever. And to leave her..."
"You have to leave Elena." Morgana finished. "I don't care. It is that easy right now. It might not be completely broken, but at least we won't have to do this again. So do it.
Damon sighed, nodding. "Isabella and I are gonna stay here with Jeremy. We're gonna help him complete the Mark. We'll teach him how to hunt, we'll protect him, and we'll kill vampires without you. I'm sorry."
Morgana looked at him with tears in her eyes, taking a deep breath, but seemingly relieved, closing her eyes, letting two tears fall.
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Library
Emma sat in the library on the couch, looking into the fire.
Elizabeth walked in, sitting in the chair next to her. "What would you say if I told you that Klaus actually got under my skin?" Emma looked at her in a little shock. Out in the hall, Stefan walked toward the doorway, stopping to listen in slight shock. "What? You're shocked that he managed to do it?"
"No, I'm surprised that you admitted it." Emma answered. "I knew that he got to you, Elizabeth. And my reaction is this. You used to be in love with him way back when. He's using the same techniques that he did to make you fall him in love with him then to make you fall in love with him now. It's bound to mess with your head. You might be a vampire, Lizzie, but ... you're not invincible, as much as you try to pretend that you are."
Elizabeth laughed barely, looking down. "Well, I have to admit this. Watching Klaus get led away to his slaughter, I couldn't help but feel kind of guilty. All day, I've been trying to remind myself of all the horrible things he's done."
"But that's the thing." Emma told her. "We've all done horrible things. And I'm sitting here, trying to figure out what makes us any better than him. And I think it's just that, we have family we can trust."
"Yeah, you're right, Emma." Elizabeth told her. "Trust is everything."
Stefan walked into the room slowly.
Emma looked at him weirdly. "Have you been here the entire time?"
"No." Stefan told them. "Just got home."
Emma nodded, obviously not believing him. "Have you heard from Damon?"
"Yeah, he's still with Jeremy at the lake house." Stefan told them.
Elizabeth looked at Emma. "You said something about the broken lamp?" Emma looked down. "It wasn't from a fight, like Damon said, was it?"
Emma shook her head sadly. "No. It was Damon and Elena."
Stefan looked at her questioningly, walking closer. "Wait, what do you-what do you me, 'It was Damon and Elena'?" Emma looked at him meaningfully. Stefan could guess as much from the look she was giving, sitting down. "They're together, aren't they?" He looked incredibly upset. Emma looked guilty and sad. Elizabeth looked at him sympathetically. "How together are they?" Emma looked away. "Emma... tell me. How together are they?"
(Song:) Oblivion - Bastille
Emma looked down, licking her lips nervously.
Stefan finally realized just how together Damon and Elena were.
...
Gilbert Lake House - Driveway
Jeremy opened Evelyn's car door for her. They looked at each other, smiling.
"Thank you." Jeremy told her.
Evelyn wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes with a small smile. Jeremy wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes as he held her.
Jeremy and Evelyn pulled away. Jeremy smiled. Evelyn got into the car with Bonnie.
Jeremy closed the door for her, walking toward the house.
Damon and Morgana were standing at Morgana's car.
Damon laid Elena's temporarily-dead body into the trunk. "You know, you didn't have to break her neck just to get her in the car." He stood, closing the lid, turning to face Morgana. "Though I have a feeling it was cathartic for you."
"After everything the two of you did to Stefan, it's the least I could do to you." Morgana replied.
Morgana gave him one last look that was more hurt than angry, walking away. She opened the driver's side door, getting in, closing it behind her, driving away.
Damon watched the car go.
...
Salvatore Boarding House - Library
Elizabeth and Emma were still sitting down, watching Stefan.
Stefan was standing next to an end table, flicking over one of the chess pieces on the chess board gently. With vampire speed and strength, he pushed the board off the table with such force that it flied halfway across the room. He proceeded to knocking the end table across the room.
Elizabeth looked at her friend, not giving a reaction.
Emma looked down, into the flames, sympathetic.
Stefan breathed heavily, more hurt than angry as he stared blankly at nothing.
...
Lockwood Cellar
Scott saw Kim's dead body. He walked out of the cellar, clearly in anguish.
He did not notice that April was hiding behind the wall.
April was in tears, looking very frightened. She heard Scottleave, walking out from behind the wall. She approached the coffin lying in the middle of the cellar, opening it, revealing a daggered Rebekah in the coffin.
April started to gasp for air, looking from at Rebekah.
The shot panned through the ceiling of the cellar up into the woods above, where all of the other dead hybrid lied.
...
Woods
Tyler stood in the midst of his dead friends, deeply sad.
Rosie ran toward him. "Ty!" She slowed to a stop, looking around at the dead bodies of her friends. "Oh, my God." Tyler turned toward her, absolutely numb. Rosie saw the anger in his eyes, shaking her head, tears in her own. "I didn't do it, Ty. I didn't tell him. You have to believe me."
Tyler walked closer to her. "I know it wasn't you. It was Hayley. She admitted it to us."
Rosie started to cry.
Tyler and Rosie embraced, completely numb.
Scott walked up the cellar steps behind Tyler.
Rosie looked at Scott, pulling away from Tyler. "Scott."
Tyler turned to face him.
Scott slowly walked closer to them, completely numb, slowing to a stop when he stood next to them. "Rosie."
Rosie looked from Tyler to Scott, wrapping an arm around each, no longer crying, but her cheeks still tear-stained.
None of the three hybrids moved or spoke in the midst of the eleven dead hybrids surrounding them.
(Song Ends)
...
Town Square
Carol was leaving a voice message. "Tyler, honey, you're supposed to be my sober cab. I think I drank half the party."
Carol hung up, sitting on the edge of the stone fountain. She put her champagne glass down next to her, taking her shawl off.
(Song:) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Digital Daggers
Klaus approached Carol, bloodstained, having his sword. "Good evening, Carol. You're looking for Tyler. I'd like to have a word with him myself."
Carol looked at him, terrified. "Klaus, please, don't hurt him. He's my son. Tyler and Rosie are all I have."
"And you're all they have." Klaus told her. "There's a beautiful symmetry to that, don't you think?"
Klaus grabbed Carol by the back of the neck.
Carol screamed.
Further in the Square, Derek stood alone, hearing the cry for help, turning toward it.
Klaus pushed Carol's head into the water surrounding the fountain.
Carol struggled to fight Klaus off.
Klaus continued to hold her head under.
Derek rushed toward him, in an attempt to save Carol. He let his eyes glow gold.
Klaus turned toward him, one arm still holding Carol's head underwater as he used the other to grip Derek by the throat.
"Now's not a good time to play hero, mate." Klaus told him.
Derek looked at him in realization, not having known what he had looked like before. "Klaus."
Finally, Carol took her last breath and the life left her eyes.
Klaus took his hand off her neck, raising it toward Derek.
Derek kicked into Klaus' chest, making him let him go, falling to the ground.
Klaus walked toward Derek. "Derek Jackson. Scott's brother. Where is he? Where is Tyler?"
"I'm not telling you anything." Derek told him.
"A warrior, then?" Klaus asked. Derek slid back. Klaus stabbed the sword through his stomach, pinning him to the ground. Derek groaned, gasping.
Klaus took his sword out of his stomach, starting to slash into Derek repeatedly with the sword, over and over again, to the point where he was a bleeding, nearly unrecognizable mess.
Derek slowly stopped moving, the life leaving his eyes.
Klaus pulled his sword out of Derek's chest, walking away, leaving Derek's dead body on the grass and Carol's dead body in the fountain without looking back.
(Song Ends)
