Hey guys :) I know I haven't updated in about 2 weeks, but I think I've come up with a plan. I'm going to update this story this week, and Revenge of the Kat next week, then this one in 2 weeks and so on. That way I won't get bogged down with updates on two stories every week! Does that sound more acceptable than a super long story hiatus? I hope so! Oh, and thank you all for the encouraging reviews! I'm so glad I still have people out there reading-it makes me want to start writing again! It's getting easier to write again, so I won't be taking 5 month long breaks again :} sorry about that again, by the way! Anyways, here's chapter 30. There isn't really any action in this chapter, more of a set up for the sacrifice. But there is some Klaus-Elena stuff and there's a set up for a favorite character's cameo next chapter! Anyways, here's the next chapter!

"There has to be some way to find out where she is, Bonnie!" Stefan growled. His usual 'calm, cool, and collected' demeanor had transformed into a desperate plea for help as time began to run out for Elena. Caroline, Ric, Jeremy, and Bonnie had shown up as soon as Stefan and Damon called. While everyone else worked on gearing up for the potential blood-bath, Bonnie and Stefan were busy trying to locate Elena. It had been 4 hours of locator spells, but nothing was working. It had also been 4 hours of pure hell for Stefan, and the group could tell that it was wearing on his nerves.

"I'm sorry Stefan, I wish there was," Bonnie replied with tears in her eyes, "but Klaus has to have a really strong witch to break the curse, so I'm sure she has enough power to block my power from Elena. Trust me, I want to find her just as badly as you do, but it's not going to happen—at least not with my magic."

Stefan looked down at the floor and whispered, "It has to work, Bonnie. I can't lose her. I don't know what I'd do without her." Although he had been annoying her for hours, she knew it was because he was worried and scared. Bonnie's face softened, and she leaned forward and laid a hand on Stefan's forearm, looking deep into his eyes.

"I know, Stefan. I know. We're gonna save her, okay? We just have to find another way," Bonnie assured him, "and we will! We always do."

At that moment, Damon and Caroline decided to walk into the library where Bonnie and Stefan were working. After pouring himself some bourbon, he leaped onto the couch next to the Caroline and the witch.

"Any news? Do we know where our damsel is yet?" Damon said sarcastically, but even he couldn't hide his anxiousness behind his well constructed façade.

"The spell isn't working, Damon", Bonnie stated. Caroline let out a strangled sigh, while Damon jumped right down the witch's throat.

"What the hell do you mean 'the spell isn't working'? Make it work!" Damon demanded.

"I can't. Klaus's witch is blocking me from being able to locate Elena. It's not going to work. You're going to have to find another way."

Stefan, Caroline, and Bonnie all jumped when Damon slammed his glass down on the table and grimaced, "Unbelievable!"

While the rest of the group sat in anger, Caroline was deep in thought. Jumping to her feet, she started talking. "You know what? Who cares if the spell didn't work? Bonnie's magic has screwed up before and we still came out on top! What makes this any different?"

Stefan looked up from his chair in the corner. "Maybe the fact that Elena's life is on the line, Caroline. If we don't get there in time she could die. And we don't even know where 'there' is!"

"Well who would?" Caroline asked, but when she was faced with three blank stares, she continued, "Who is the one person that has always been one step ahead? That's been outrunning Klaus for over 5 centuries?"

Damon leaned back into the sofa and took a sip from his drink and grinned, "Katherine."

"Exactly!" Caroline yelled, "Do you really think she would come to Mystic Falls without knowing where Klaus was first? If anyone knows where he is, it's Katherine. And if we find Klaus…"

"We find Elena."

Something was tapping her face. Elena didn't know what it was, but after 5 minutes of a light knocking on her cheek, it started to get annoying. She felt like she'd been hit by a freight train and thrown off a twenty story building, but when she considered her sleeping arrangements it was unsurprising.

"Miss Gilbert, wakey wakey," a soft British accent scolded, "Oh please! You've been asleep for over 8 hours! How much time do you need, anyways?"

"After the hell you and Peter have put me through the past 3 weeks, eight hours isn't even a fraction of the amount of sleep I need," Elena whispered viciously to the vampire. After hearing a small chuckle, she slowly opened her eyes. Sure enough, Klaus was less than a foot away from her, and she immediately catapulted herself away from the ancient man.

"Shy, I see. Well that just won't do," Klaus grinned, "I thought we should have a nice hike today before the sacrifice."

"I'd rather rip my own heart out," Elena spat at him.

"Well that can certainly be arranged," Klaus chuckled. Apparently the knowledge that he was about to be free of the pain from the sun's rays was lightening his mood.

"It's not enough that you're going to kill me, you have to torture me, too?" Elena griped as Klaus reached up and took the chains off of her arms. As soon as her limbs dropped to the floor, excruciating pain shot through them while the blood rushed back to her cold fingertips.

"Dear, it's not torture. I like to get to know a woman before I sacrifice her on an altar. Although, I can hardly consider you a woman—you're yet to be even eighteen, or am I mistaken?"

Elena deflected her teary eyes from Klaus's as she said, "I'd turn eighteen in June."

"Such a pity. If I cared about human life, I might have let you go. But seeing though I don't give a damn whether you live, I'll return to my previous offer. How about we get out of this dark, dingy hell-hole and take a hike. The forest is beautiful this time of year, and I figure you don't want to stay down here on the last day of your life."

Elena turned to look into his face, and was surprised to see a genuine smile grace his features. She thought for a moment, then made up her mind. "Sure. Let's go."

So that's it for now! I'm going to update my other story next week, and in two weeks I'll update this one :) I go back to school next week, so it might be difficult but I might be able to update both next weekend. MIGHT. No promises-I still have 2 AP classes and 3 instruments to practice every night! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter :) If so, I'd love to see your comments and opinions! If you like the way the story's going, tell me. If you don't, still tell me-I love criticism! Just make sure it's constructive, I don't want someone to tell me my writing sucks and then not tell me how to fix it. So yet again, thank you SOOO much for reviewing the last chapter, it made me want to keep this story going! Anyways, feedback is love, people! So read and review :)

-kiki :)

PS: Who watched this week's episode? OHMYGOD Elena had like 3 breakdowns (kind of)! I was soooo happy (you know I love my protagonist's breakdowns!)! But I was also really confused. When she *SPOILER ALERT* slapped Stefan, I was like YEAH! Stick it to him! But then I was like, waaaiiit...I'm not supposed to like that. But he's a jerk now, so I was happy and sad at the same time because the real Stefan is gone. :( Also, poor Jeremy. If you saw the episode, you know what I mean-but I'm not going to screw up everyone else's viewing pleasure! Oh, and has anyone been following the spoilers for next week's episode? OH GOD. Stefan and Elena's scenes? I already know I'm going to be in tears for approximately 200,000,000 hours next week. He's going to take away her choice. Oh man, I'm already crying about it! And in the promo? "Klaus took everything from me"? NUH-UH. And Elena agrees. "You had me!"-I literally cried when I saw that. URG. Nina Dobrev's acting is going to be the death of me she's so freaking good!