She was lying on the ground pleading for her life. Rivers of kerosene surrounded her as the flames grew closer and closer. She screamed and begged for mercy, but it was useless. They drove a stake through her heart. She would never have a funeral; the burning basement, filled with ashes and unidentified bodies was her final resting place. She was dead.

Jeremy only had one question for him, one simple question. It couldn't hurt to ask, could it? And if anything went wrong, Jeremy had his ring to protect him. All he had to do was ask.

"Jeremy, are you okay?" Bonnie looked concerned. "You were spacing again."

"I'm fine. Just tired from Caroline's party."

"Are you sure? We could go home if you want."

No, I'm not fine, he wanted to say, I'm the opposite of fine. He couldn't ruin this. Bonnie had finally agreed to go on a date with him. They were at the Grill, and were supposed to be having a great time. It might be the only chance he would ever get to impress her. And he really liked her; she might be the only other person in the world who understood what it felt like to lose someone close as much as he did. They were two lonely souls that had found each other.

"No, I'm fine."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow.

"I just haven't been getting much sleep lately."

He wished he could tell her. Tell her that he'd been overdosing on sleep pills for the past 2 weeks and that still didn't stop the nightmares, tell her about how he heard screaming, pleading, and death, every night. He trusted Bonnie, didn't he? Maybe she could even help. She could cast some kind of spell to make it all go away and take away his pain. But he couldn't tell her. It wasn't the darkness of the dreams that bothered him, it was who he saw in the dreams, suffering and dying every night. He loved Bonnie now. It wasn't fair to her. He loved Bonnie, and yet he was dreaming of Anna.

He should have forgotten about her. It was too late to save her. Anna was not coming back. It was impossible, wasn't it?

"It's okay if you want to leave. We could do this some other time." Bonnie reached in her handbag for her car keys.

Jeremy stared down at an empty glass in front of him. Just one question. He was sitting right across the Grill, talking to Jenna while sorting through old historical documents and journals, the only vampire he knew who was staked and lived.

This was a stupid idea. Elijah was ruthless; Stefan had described how he had decapitated another vampire without thinking twice. But then again, he couldn't hurt anyone with all those witnesses around. All he had to do was ask.

"Jeremy?"

"I'll be right back."

"Okay."

He had to ask. He tried to walk casually over to where they was seated. "Excuse me?"

"Jeremy? What do you want?" Jenna laughed and rolled her eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be on a date?"

"Yeah, but I just remembered, I had a few questions."

Jenna looked at him expectantly.

"For Elijah."

Jenna was confused.

"Umm...It's for a school project."

"Homework? On the weekends? Who are you and what have you done to Jeremy?"

Jeremy turned to Elijah. "Jenna tells me you're in town researching the history of Mystic Falls."

"That is true." Elijah answered.

"Well, I'm working on a research project of my own." He paused. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about any...supernatural occurrences in this town, would you? Like, say...vampires?"

Elijah's expression grew cold as he dropped his human facade for a brief moment. "Sorry, I deal in history, not myths."

Jeremy frowned.

"Jenna, it's getting late. Why don't you stay here while Jeremy helps me put these books in my van?"

"No, I'll come help." Jenna protested.

"I insist." Elijah said forcefully. He looked into her eyes to compel her. "Stay here." He motioned to Jeremy to pick up a box.

As they walked outside, both were silent.

"I am warning you now." Elijah said under his breath, "Don't get involved in things larger than you are. You are asking for death if you do so."

"You're supposed to be dead." Jeremy replied. "Damon killed you."

"How much do you know?"

"More than you want me to."

"That would be too much." Elijah answered. Without warning, he rushed behind Jeremy and snapped his neck. He began to walk away as Jeremy collapsed to the ground. He was almost inside when he heard Jeremy's voice from behind.

"Nice try!" Jeremy raised his hand to show his ring. "You can't hurt me as long as I have this."

"The ring only protects you from supernatural deaths. There are plenty of other ways I can kill you."

"Nice to know." Jeremy answered sarcastically. "Now answer my question! How are you still alive?"

"Same way you are still alive."

"Damon killed you!"

"And I killed you."

Jeremy noticed that Elijah was also wearing a large ring. It was similar to the rings that Stefan and Damon wore. "But how?"

"Who told you that magic rings only protect mortals?"

Jeremy was shocked.

"Why do you think vampires who wear them can walk in the daylight? These rings protect the wearer, mortal or vampire, from death."

"So, if Stefan or Damon were killed while wearing their rings..."

"They would survive, yes."

"Why are you even telling me this? What makes you think I won't go tell the Salvatores right now."

"You asked me a question, I answered it. If you want to risk your life by knowing too much, it is not my concern." Elijah stared coldly at Jeremy. "But if you have any regard for your life or the lives of those close to you, you will not repeat a word of this conversation." He spoke slowly while compelling him. "Do you understand me?"

"I won't repeat a word."

"Very good."

"One more question. What if someone- a vampire- dies and they're not wearing a ring?"

"Then they die. It is as simple as that."

Jeremy's heart sunk. "But is there any way... to bring them back?"

"It is possible, but you would require the assistance of a witch..."

Bonnie.

"It is a difficult spell to perform, it has only been done once before...by a Bennett witch..."

"When?"

"Why don't you ask the vampire who was revived herself?"

"And who might that be?"

Elijah took a moment to decide whether to answer. "None other than Katerina Petrova, or as you might know her," he paused, "Katherine Pierce."

Jeremy went back inside to find Bonnie still waiting for him.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"Nothing. Just a school project."