Some dialogue taken directly from the episode.

Chapter 11: Ultimatums

*****Same Night******

Cami insisted that she wanted to go home and shower because she felt dirty after spending so much time with the psychopath. Buffy didn't like leaving her alone, but Cami was convinced that Lucien had gotten what he wanted—some dark object from her uncle's collection.

She called Faith. "Yo, B. What's up?" Faith asked.

"Where are you?" Buffy asked.

"At a club with Vincent. We're trolling for Strix," Faith said. "I've killed three already tonight!"

"I got an arm off of Lucien," Buffy said. "He kidnapped Cami."

"Nice! So you found Cami? Vincent got these crazy texts from her. We weren't sure what was going on," Faith said.

"Lucien probably sent them. He most definitely had her," Buffy said. "I'm taking my trophy home to show Elijah."

"Can vamps grow back their arms?" Faith asked.

"I don't know. Probably," Buffy said. "They heal fast—the Mikaelson kind especially."

"How do we not know this for sure?" Faith asked in bemusement.

"Guess we'll find out," Buffy said with a snicker. Her phone beeped, indicating another call. She looked. "Elijah's calling, so I'll catch you later. Don't break the witch. Cami is very fond of him."

"Don't worry, B. It'll be the good kind of hurt," Faith said, smirking at Vincent, who was eying her warily.

"Where are you?" Elijah asked Buffy.

"On my way home. I got a gift for you," Buffy said.

"We're trying to locate Rebekah. We think she's been taken," Elijah told her. "Be careful."

"I always am," Buffy said. "I'll see you soon." She hung up, wondering if she needed to put Willow on alert and sent out a text.

*******St. Louis Cathedral*******

Elijah, Marcel, and Hayley were at the attic of ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL meeting with Freya, who had lit dozens of white candles in preparation for more spell work, as the four discuss what they have learned in the last day or so.

"So, where is Klaus?" Hayley asked.

Freya, who was leaning against the table and looking exhausted, sighed. "When I told him about Rebekah, he said he'd pursue another lead," she shared.

Elijah grabbed Freya's athame and used it to slice open his palm, so he could bleed into a bronze bowl on the table, which was on top of a large, pristine paper map that covered the entire table top. "Forget Niklaus." He took out his handkerchief, which he used to clean up his hands. He then handed the bowl to Freya. "You will find her."

Marcel looked at Freya nervously. "Now, you sure you got enough ju-ju for a world-wide locator spell?"

"She's my family. I won't lose her," Freya said with determination. She took a deep breath before putting her hands around the rim of the bowl of blood and beginning the spell. "Le six ce strul no cruv. Le six ce strul no cruv."

Freya handed the bowl to Elijah, who joined her, Hayley, and Marcel in watching the map hopefully. Freya focused all of her energy on concentrating on Rebekah, but the blood just spread out until it is covering the entire map. "Damnit!" she yelled in frustration

Elijah looked at the others in alarm, while Freya, Hayley, and Marcel look disappointed.

"Well, so much for witch-GPS," Hayley said.

"I assumed they'd cloaked her. I didn't expect a spell this strong," Freya said in frustration.

"No doubt conjured by the very witch who lured Rebekah into this trap," Elijah remarked.

"Where's Willow?" Hayley asked. "Can't she pretty much do whatever she wants?"

"She is working on the Kol spell," Freya said. "If I can't figure out where Rebecca's body is, I'll call her."

"The Strix trust me. If they know where Rebekah is, I can find her," Marcel said.

"There's no time. You need to stop Davina from activating Lucien and Tristan's weapon," Elijah told him. They had concluded that Davina would be the one most likely to be used now that Lucien's witch was dead.

"We need to find Rebekah!" Marcel insisted.

"Marcel, I will not rest until my sister is found," Elijah assured him with a pointed look.

Marcel paused for a moment before sighing and conceding to him with a reluctant nod. "All right. I'll handle Davina," he said in resignation. Then he turned and left the attic.

"Well, in the meantime, please tell me that we're gonna kill someone?" Hayley asked Elijah.

"Oh, we're going to kill many someones," he assured her. "But first—if we are to start a war, let us determine where allegiances lie." Elijah turned without another word and left the cathedral.

*****MIKAELSON COMPOUND******

When Elijah got into his courtyard, he began to loudly call out for Klaus as soon as he entered the courtyard. "Niklaus! Niklaus!" he called out.

Just then, Klaus appeared on the balcony behind him, looking unamused. "You shout loud enough to wake the dead!" Klaus said.

"Can't pick up your phone? Your sister is missing," Elijah said in annoyance.

Before Klaus could reply, Aurora came out onto the balcony in Klaus' button-down shirt. Klaus immediately sighed in embarrassment as Aurora addressed Elijah cheerfully. "Well... She's not exactly missing. And, as long as everyone behaves themselves, you can trust me to tell you where she is," she informed them.

Klaus smiled a tiny smile at Elijah in hopes that he would understand that he had a plan, but Elijah just stared at him, clearly appalled by Aurora's presence. Aurora's fake-nice tone of voice disappeared and was replaced by a more sarcastic one. "Hello, Elijah," she said.

Elijah glared at her. "Give me my sister. Or perhaps I can pay a little visit to your brother, Tristan," he threatened.

"Elijah, please. Aurora and I have come to an agreement," Klaus said as he placed and arm around her.

"Oh, my goddess! I think I just threw up in my mouth!" Willow exclaimed, stepping into the light, Buffy by her side.

"You throw up. I'm going to slice off another arm," Buffy said, holding up her wrapped arm.

"Behave," Klaus murmured to Aurora. "These women are more deadly than they appear."

Aurora gave Klaus a puzzled look, sensing his sudden nervousness. She decided to ignore the women and focused on Elijah. "Yes, Nik and I find now that your vile act of compulsion has been revealed, there's really no reason why we can't pick up where we left off a thousand years ago," she told him.

Klaus pulled Arora closer to him so that their faces are only inches apart. "Go on, love. I need to have a word with my brother," he told her.

Aurora smiled and nuzzled her nose in his neck before she stepped away.

Willow held up her hand. "I don't think so," she said, thickening the air in front of Aurora, holding her in place.

"Leave her be," Klaus told her, glaring down at the redheaded witch.

"No, she won't," Buffy said firmly. "I'm not sure what dumb idea is in your lame brain, but let me tell you, plans change." She waved the arm.

"Whose arm is that?" Elijah asked in amusement.

"Lucien's," Buffy said with a proud smirk. "He had Cami, and I was going to kill the slimy bastard. He took off, though, before my scythe could take his head."

Klaus wasn't sure how he felt about that. On one hand, the man who terrorized Cami was duly punished. On the other hand, Lucien was his to punish.

"Release her," Klaus said, gesturing to Aurora.

"If this crazy vampire knows where Rebekah is, she better tell us now," Buffy said. "I'll start slicing off her parts until she tells me."

Aurora gave the slayer a concerned look, reaching out to grab Klaus' hand. "I saved Rebekah, going behind the back of my very own brother, and this is the thanks I get?" she protested.

"How about you allow Aurora to get dressed, and we'll discuss this like civilized individuals?" Klaus suggested, giving the two women below a pointed look.

Buffy glanced at Willow and shrugged. "Fine. If she tries to run off, I'll find her," Willow said.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Aurora said in offense.

Buffy threw Lucian's arm so hard that Aurora ducked her head as it flew over her, hitting the wall behind her with a loud thud. "You should be," Buffy said with a smirk.

The wall holding her in place disappeared, and Aurora went to Klaus' room to dress. Klaus jumped down to stand in front of Elijah and the ladies.

"Am I to assume that you've gone completely mad?" Elijah asked his brother.

"You see madness, I see method!" Klaus said smugly.

Elijah rolled his eyes. "And that method would be what, Niklaus? To fornicate with the she-devil who took our sister?"

"Yea, talk about standards," Buffy said, tsking in disapproval.

"My brother obviously has none," Elijah said.

"To be clear, the Strix took our sister. Aurora simply hijacked her. I will get Rebekah back. Trust me. Keeping Aurora close garners the goodwill we need," Klaus stated.

Elijah considered it. "Well, it is a bold—if lecherous—plan. Will you employ the same tactic when it comes time to retrieve the medallion from Lucien and Tristan?"

Klaus smirked. "They're not really my type," he replied. "There must be another way."

"There's always another way," Willow said.

"Give me five minutes with her, and I'll find out where Rebekah is," Buffy said, a determined glint in her eyes.

"Aurora does not deserve your brutality, Buffy," Klaus said, frowning in disapproval.

"She took your sister and is playing a game with her! She deserves a little bit of brutality!" Buffy insisted.

"She will not harm Rebekah," Klaus said confidently.

"Aurora will always protect Tristan... And, given that he and Lucien are aligned, the three of them together have a distinct advantage on us," Elijah said.

"Go on," Klaus encouraged when he paused, thinking. "I like where I think you're going with this."

Elijah suddenly got an idea. "Unless we break that advantage," he said.

"Break it how?" Buffy asked.

"It's Thanksgiving in a few days. Let's invite them for a friendly meal, systematically turn them against one another, and then devastate their pitiful alliance!" Elijah suggested.

Klaus grinned, liking the idea. Buffy, however, did not.

"No way in hell you're turning my second favorite holiday into a political game," Buffy said. "I want to have an engagement party on Thanksgiving."

"Engagement?" Klaus asked.

"That's right. We've not told you yet," Buffy said, reaching for Elijah's hand and holding up her left. Elijah had given her a very large diamond ring surrounded by tiny red rubies. "Elijah asked me to marry him."

Klaus was truly surprised as he glanced between the two.

"I would have told you, brother, sooner, but we have not had an opportunity to speak," Elijah said in way of apology.

Klaus moved to embrace Buffy. "Now you will truly be our sister," Klaus said, happy at the news. Now he will have an army of slayers at his beck and call! No one will withstand the Mikaelsons—not for long.

"I want a party, and I am not wasting Thanksgiving on your political maneuvering," Buffy insisted, crossing her arms. "Willow will get Aurora to tell us where your sister is, and if she can't I will."

Klaus looked at Elijah with an arched eyebrow. "A party to announce our engagement would be lovely," Elijah agreed.

"I don't see how we can't combine the two. Let our wayward sire lines know just how formidable Buffy really is," Klaus said with a smirk.

"I'm not letting my girls be fodder for your vampire vendetta," Buffy said, glaring. "We can take care of these dweebs before Thursday. We got three days."

"Three days is more than enough time," Klaus said.

"I already called Dawnie," Willow said with a grin. "Party is in motion!"

"Rebekah is our party planner, so let's go find her," Elijah said.

Buffy hugged him, excited.

Klaus saw Aurora coming down and winced. He didn't think he could protect her much longer.

******Rousseau's******

Marcel walked down the street toward Rousseau's, taking a moment to watch Gurufish play before walking into the restaurant, where a drunk Vincent was sitting at bar drinking a glass of bourbon.

When Marcel sat down next to him, Vincent sighed in annoyance. "Do I look like I need company?"

Marcel shrugged. "I tracked you down. Least you can do is hear me out," he said.

"Forgive me if I don't feel like drinking with one of your kind," Vincent said.

"I don't care if you like me. Some new vampires are in the Quarter from out of town—way out of town—and they want the Regent on their side," Marcel shared.

"Are you referring to the Strix wanting Davina to help them against the Mikaelsons?" Vincent asked in concern.

"And, if Davina says no, they're going to kill her. And I want her to leave town, but she would rather—of course—stay and fight. And I'd rather not sit back and watch her get herself killed," Marcel said.

Vincent thought about this for a moment and started to reply when Faith reappeared.

"I wasn't gone that long, and you already gave up my spot?" Faith asked, sitting on Vincent's other side.

Marcel's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Vincent smile warmly at the slayer.

"I told him to go away," Vincent said. "He doesn't listen."

"Well, I'm real good at getting rid of vamps," Faith said as she gave the very attractive vampire a once over. "However, he's too pretty to stake." When Marcel grinned, she whistled. "Damn. That's one lethal smile."

"Thank you," Marcel said.

"I didn't say that was a compliment," Faith said. "My ex had a smile just like that."

Marcel lost his smile. "Sorry to interrupt," Marcel said easily. "I was just telling him about a mutual friend who may need his help."

"What's the sitch?" Faith asked.

"Some vamps wanna use my friend Davina to do some magic against the Mikaelsons," Vincent said.

"Does your friend want to help go against the Mikaelsons?" Faith asked.

"Davina doesn't like Klaus at all, and she pledged to stand against them when she became regent," Vincent said. "But she loved Kol, and she is determined to work with Willow and Freya to bring him back. She won't want to work against them."

"Tell me this isn't some of those Strix?" Faith asked. "We've killed a few tonight. I'm all up for killing some more!"

"It's the Strix," Marcel told her.

"There might be a way to get her out of trouble... But you ain't gonna like it," Vincent said to Marcel.

Faith listened to his suggestion. "That's cold. You want to get her powers stripped and her banished from her witches?" Faith asked in disapproval.

"You can't do that!" Marcel said.

"If you want my help, that's the best way. If she's not regent, they won't target her," Vincent said.

"But you'd be regent. They'd target you," Marcel said.

"I'm not about to be manipulated. Davina is young," Vincent said.

"Well, I think this is a shit move and totally benefits only you," Faith said in disapproval. She jumped off the stool. "Buffy would be totally pissed 'cause I'm sure she and Red are friends with this little witch, right?"

"Willow has been working with her to get Kol back," Marcel admitted.

Faith glared at Vincent. "And you want to render her powerless? What the hell's wrong with you? This is not the plan," Faith said.

"It would work," Vincent countered defensively.

"Yea, and so would killing Tristan, which is my plan," Faith said. "I'm calling Red." She got out her cell. "Will. Your witch friend Davina is being targeted by the Strix. They want to use her mojo, and Vincent think the best way to help her is to strip her of her power as regent."

Faith winced as Willow yelled, and she pulled the phone away from her ear. "I hear ya. We're at Roussau's."

Two minutes later, Willow walked in and joined them at the bar. She gave Vincent a cool look. "You are not stripping Davina of her powers. If the coven is going to be a problem, I'll deal with them. I'll deal with the Strix, too, if I have to," she said.

"I got them," Faith said.

"Klaus has a plan to take care of them, I'm sure," Marcel said. "He always does."

"You go talk to him about the vamps," Willow said to Faith. "I will go with Vincent to speak to Davina and deal with the coven."

Vincent had a feeling that the coven wasn't going to like how Willow dealt with them.

*****Mikaelsons******

Willow left to take care of some witch business while Elijah called Tristan, inviting him to their home. Klaus and Elijah wanted to be a bit more subtle in dealing with the sire lines. However, Buffy was all for the direct approach. Her impatience with the entire situation won out, so they decided to confront the two siblings together.

Tristan arrived with a few of his Strix. Buffy, Faith, and Marcel were waiting. Tristan gave Faith a cold look but addressed Elijah.

"Where is Aurora?" he asked.

"I'm fine, brother," Aurora said, coming into the courtyard with Klaus.

"We want to know where you and your sister have put Rebekah," Elijah said.

"Do you think killing my Strix is a way to get any cooperation?" Tristan said sourly.

"I told your Strix to leave town," Buffy said grimly.

"Since they ain't good at following instructions, they're fair game," Faith added with a grin.

"Where is my sister?" Klaus asked.

"Yes, rest assured, Rebekah is perfectly fine," Aurora said with an easy smile.

"We need more than your assurances," Klaus said. "Where is she?"

"She is... at the bottom of the ocean," Aurora announced.

Elijah and Klaus glared at her murderously as she stepped away from Klaus and stood next to her brother. "You see, while I did ensure that Rebekah was dropped in the ocean, I don't know precisely where. I had some old friends do it for me... and then I killed them," she said.

"Aurora has procured the exact location of Rebekah's watery grave in two sealed envelopes. Hers contained the latitude," Tristan said.

"And Tristan got the longitude," Aurora added.

"Thus, each of us has one half of the coordinates you need to find your sister," Tristan said, looking smug.

"X marks the spot!" Aurora declared with a grin.

"Assuming, of course, you keep us both alive," Tristan said.

Elijah and Klaus gave him angry looks while Buffy pulled out her scythe. "I'm thinking I'll start slicing off body parts, ending your little game," Buffy said.

"You hurt either one of us Rebekah stays where she is forever," Tristan said grimly.

It seemed that they were at an impasse.

For now.

*****Chapter End*****

I hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are wonderful! Thanks!