N/A: Here goes nothing... Hope you guys enjoy.
"Jeremy!" both Elena and Bonnie yelled out at the sight of the young man's lifeless form on the ground.
Black veins started appearing around Elena's eyes, rage boiled inside her at the thought that this woman had attacked her baby brother. She was about to flash to her to rip open the artery in that bitch's neck when all of a sudden her brain exploded bringing her to her knees. She gripped her head with both her hands and started screaming, quickly followed by her vampire friends. Even Klaus and Elijah were on their knees, the Hybrid clutching Caroline's hand; no matter what happened he would not let her go.
He looked up at the witch, not recognizing her. Surely if this witch was powerful enough to bring two original vampires down without breaking a sweat he ought to have known of her existence.
Grunting heavily he managed to lift his shoulders up to show he was still strong enough to fight them all. That the moment they'd drop their guards he would rip the heart out and shove them up their throats. This was going to become a blood bath and the thought excited him beyond all reason. His eyes glowed yellow and black veins surrounded his eyes, a low growl escaped his lips and he fought the urges to adopt his wolf form.
"Rebekah… why are you…" Elijah asked between sharp breaths.
Rebekah walked between her two brothers stopping when she was next to the witch. She slowly turned towards the group, making this a little more dramatic than necessary.
"Bonnie… do… something! Damon cried out.
Stefan was flanked by both Elena and Damon but they were currently useless bodyguards for the weakened vampire.
"I can't! I'm trying but it's as if…"
"You're engulfed into a plastic bubble preventing you from using your powers. Preventing you from breathing, even. You're suffocating now aren't you?" the witch said smiling evilly.
Klaus turned his head ever so slightly to look at Bonnie. The young witch was on her hands and knees, with one hand clutching at her throat. Her features showed a mask of hatred and concentration. Unfortunately nothing happened to help her friends.
"Impossible…" Klaus had never witnessed an Expression user taken down before. They always ended up dying because they never could handle the outburst of power that came with it. So unless this witch was also an Expression adept…
"Your powers are no match to mine Bonnie Bennett." Her voice was strong but level. She was in complete control of her element.
Klaus took a quick look around, his vision was getting blurred but he noticed the history teacher was still on the ground at the exact same spot he had been a few minutes before, but he did not seem to be in pain. Maybe the witch didn't consider him as much a threat as the others were.
"How do you … know… my name?" The air in Bonnie's magical invisible bubble was starting to dwindle and Bonnie was fighting to stay alert.
The witch gave her a wicked smile "Oh I know everything there is to know about you, young lady... and your friends" she finished, expending her arms to englobe every individual in the room.
"Rebekah … why are you … doing this." Elijah started, pleading. "Please… you remember our oath… Always and forever… you… me … and Niklaus."
Klaus looked up at his sister. He remembered that promise like it was yesterday when really it had happened a thousand years ago. They had been just the three of them, in a circle, holding hands promising to never break the bond they had between them. Looking up in Rebekah's watery eyes he thought they were getting through her resistance, finally talking some sense into the youngest of the Originals.
Suddenly Klaus saw a blur and Kol appeared in front of Elijah holding the silver stake. "Too bad I'm not part of the inner circle then right?" and he pushed the stake hard into Elijah's chest dragging a painful breath out of the eldest of the Mikaelsons.
"NO!" Klaus bellowed. "I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU, THIS TIME FOR GOOD!"
"Oh shush... You are in no position to give empty threats Nik" Kol laughted, amused he joined Rebekah's side.
The blonde vampire was holding back tears looking at her older brother. Apparently this had not been planned.
The rest of the gang all stared in shock as Elijah fell to the ground, his veins protruding from his now grey skin.
"Oh my god" Caroline let out a breath between two excruciating aneurism fits. She had felt a huge weight lifted off her chest when she noticed Matt standing in the room with them but quickly realized that there was no way around the witch she would have to be patient, then all of a sudden the pressure was completely lifted off of her and all she was left with was the pain. The agony from the multiple explosions of vessels in her head.
Then she realized Klaus' defeated expression and following his gaze she saw Elijah, face on the floor, dead. Of course he wasn't dead dead. Just... out of it.
She realized Klaus was still holding her hand and she squeezed his fingers as best she could.
Looking apparently bored from all the family drama, the witch turned her attention back to Bonnie.
"So Bonnie, dear, I have a suggestion for you. Either you take your friends and leave. Or you stay and die. The choice is yours."
Bonnie finally felt she could breathe freely again.
"Why would you offer me and my friends such an easy way out?"
"Oh, I never said it was going to be easy, but you will see that in time" the witch smiled. "For instance, I will need to take your professor and this young hunter with me."
"What? I can't let you take Jeremy or Shane away!"
"Alas your options are non-negotiable. It's either you save some or none of your friends. So what will it be? I can give you a glimpse of what your friends Damon and Stefan' deaths will look like."
She glanced quickly at Klaus and he was suddenly jerked on his back and his bones started cracking and bending in unnatural angles. He started screaming from the pain the beginning of the transformation in wolf form was inflicting him.
"You'll... make him ... bite them!" Elena cried out.
"Well it's all up to Bonnie here" the witch said matter-of-factly.
Klaus' screams resonated in the room. He was fighting the transformation, not for the Salvatores' sake, but because he was not going to let the witch control him.
"Who are you anyway?" Bonnie asked.
"Oh Bonnie, haven't you figured it out yet? We are bond by blood which explains why you are so powerful. But I have been around for far longer than you my dear." She looked at Shane who was hiding in the far corner of the room. "Do not be afraid human, your cause is noble. I can help you fulfill it. I will help you revive Silas and drop the veil between the two worlds."
"How..." Shane muttered.
"I long to reunite with my love at last..." The witch said dreamily.
"Qetsiyah..." Bonnie said, incredulously.
"Yes, in flesh and blood" Qetsiyah said. "Well not really. This body belongs to a young witch called Mariana or Matianya or something. I am still bond to the Other Side, but I found a way to possess this mortal woman who happened to be experiencing with some very dark magic. I impersonated her well enough for the twelve other members of her coven to not be suspicious of anything before I slaughtered them. I closed the Expression Triangle, now twelve humans; twelve demons and twelve witches' blood have been shed to help sever the veil between both worlds. Once this was done I needed to find the right people to help me get the action going and find Silas' new emplacement. The world has changed so much since I died, and my fellow witches have prevented me from keeping a close eye on him. Since I followed your little group's action ever since the first small glimpse of your powers have shown, I thought you would help me, being so eager to make your friend Elena a human again, but then I met my friend Kol here in a local bar called The Mystic Grill and he was more than willing to help in exchange for the Cure to immortality. He promised he would do what would be necessary to help get to the cure and so far he has not disappointed me. He somewhat befriended you and helped train the latest addition to the hunter's family and got valuable information on one Atticus Shane" she gave Kol a genuine smile of appreciation.
"But if you give the Cure to Kol" somehow the thought was too ridiculous for Bonnie to make anything of it, "you won't be able to drop the veil and be united with Silas again, no?" she asked, intrigued.
"I can make more Cure without a problem. Back in the days, Silas was the only immortal on Earth, I did not need to make several samples. Now I could make one for all of your friends. Well at least the ones that want it" she said giving Damon a knowing look. "Yet when the veil is shattered we both will be able to live in this World. I will finally be able to leave the Other Side."
Bonnie, panicked at the thought that Qetsiyah would rule the world with her infinite power, tried to reason with the Originals. "Kol, Rebekah, you can't be serious. Dropping the veil would bring all your most powerful enemies back from the dead... you can't seriously want that?"
"We lived in the fear of our father's wrath and were on the hiding for centuries, mainly because of Niklaus. Mikael hated what he was, just a reminder of our mother's betrayal. We plan to take care of that problem. If it does not work we will simply go on and resume staying in the shadows. It will be a small price to pay. Anyway we will still be stronger than all our opponents, except maybe for our mother and father. But if our plan works, we will be able to get around that problem when it comes. I would even take the Cure if I could." Rebekah answered, smiling at Kol.
Ignoring Rebekah's last sentence Kol gave Bonnie a cocky smile "Now, Bonnie, make your choice my patience is running thin."
"I..." Bonnie gave a quick glance at Elena and the others. She felt helpless without her powers. Her eyes then met Klaus' yellow ones and she knew she had to save her friends. She hated thinking about leaving Jeremy, or Shane, behind but what other choice did she have? She could not endanger everyone. And she might also be able to reason with Qetsiyah. Unwillingly she agreed, "I... I will leave with my friends."
"Wise choice." She pointed at Klaus and the transformation ended. She also stopped the aneurisms on the others.
Exhausted from the battle he had just fought with all his might, Klaus dropped to his knees.
Jeremy started grunting and lifted himself up on his elbows, "wha... what's going on?"
"Finally!" Kol exclaimed before grabbing Jeremy by his shirt and shoving him next to Elijah's body.
"Jeremy!" Elena shouted.
She shot up aiming for Kol's head but she slammed hard in an invisible wall.
"Now, now dear. Don't interfere, these are the rules. Proceed Kol" Qetsiyah said.
Kol looked at Matt meaningfully and held out his hand, palm up, waiting for the young man to give him his next accessory.
"Let go you dick!" Jeremy yelled, kicking and trying to shove the Original away from him, but Kol's grip was just too strong. The injury Jeremy had received from either Matt or Qetsiyah was already healing and his strength seemed to be back.
"Now would be a good time Matt" Kol said impatiently.
Matt looked at Rebekah and she hesitated before finally nodding. She knew what was going to happen, and although she knew it was necessary, she did not support it. Yet she understood that when she had asked Kol for his assistance on getting back at Klaus, her youngest brother would be unpredictable and ruthless in his actions.
Matt reached for his jacket's inside pocket and retrieved the White Oak stake from it.
"Matt, No!" Caroline shrieked. "Where did you..."
"Care", Matt said apologetically, "I had to Care." He walked up to Kol and handed him the stake.
Rebekah grabbed his hand from behind and pulled him to her. She made him face her and with teary eyes she spoke calmly "Matt, I am so sorry for dragging you into all of this. I hope that one day you will forgive me. You are free now. Go to your friends."
Matt turned to Bonnie and Elena, his eyes full of regret "What have I done?"
Bonnie extended her arms and he ran to her, holding on to her.
"I grabbed the stake from the secret storage-room at the Lake House. I just felt I had to… and then I attacked Jeremy. I am so sorry Elena" Matt said looking at the brunette vampire. He turned to look at Jeremy and he felt extremely guilty for what was happening before them. "Jer…"
"It wasn't your fault Matt, you were compelled." Bonnie said rubbing his back.
"Compulsion does not excuse what I've done" Matt said his voice cracking at the end.
"Enough wimps, and look at the show" Kol nastily pointed.
Caroline walked slowly to Klaus. He hadn't moved since the pain the witch Qetsiyah had inflicted and then freed them from, and although the transformation had stopped Klaus had remained hunched and quiet. Too quiet.
She gently touched his shoulder which made him jerk his head up. He glared at Qetsiyah with hatred and slowly took into account what was happening. Kol holding the White Oak stake and Jeremy, close, far too close to Elijah's lifeless form on the ground.
"Kol, I'm warning you..." he grunted.
"I thought I had told you your threats do not affect me, never did, never will" Kol smirked. "Plus I have the mother of all witches on my side. Why on earth should I be afraid of you?"
Kol turned his attention to Jeremy who was still struggling against him "So young Gilbert how has the hunting been going? Killed any big bad vampires recently? Nah that's what I thought. You see we know how to go to the emplacement of the tomb, we know how to get the cure from Silas without Silas ripping our throats out, yet we are missing the most important part. Can you guess what it is? The spell. Which is ultimately revealed by the hunter's mark once it's complete. Do you get where I am going with this?"
"Why do you need the mark? If you are who you say you are, aren't you the one who created the spell that trapped Silas in the first place? Just hocus pocus him out of there", Damon asked as he sensed Elena was about to try something stupid to save her annoying brother from Kol, which would no doubt put her in great danger.
"Yes, indeed you are correct. Yet the body and mind of the young witch I am possessing right now, is weak. I am at the very limits of her powers and my limited ones in this world. Crossing over from the Other Side has reduced my abilities considerably."
Yet she is capable of reducing four vampires, two Originals and a powerful witch to simple and useless rag dolls, Caroline thought. What would it be like if she had all her powers?
"The Mark will help me cast the spell to free Silas at last as I will be able to draw additional energy from it." Qetsiyah finished.
"Aren't you afraid he's going to want to kill you, after you killed his one true love? Not sure your reunion is gonna be as magical as you'd like, honey" Damon retorted.
"Well aren't you the witty talker" Qetsiyah retorted, losing her smile. "Careful or I might take you out of the "go home safely" list young vampire. After all these years he will have forgotten about that young and foolish Akasha, and he will come back to me."
Damon did not reply but his face was clearly expressing his disdain for the witch.
"Enough of this" Kol shoved the stake into Jeremy's hand and moved the young hunter so he would face Elijah's body. "Here, you are feeling the urges to kill now aren't you? You have at your feet an Original vampire. He's weak. He's at your mercy. Take the plunge Jeremy."
Caroline noticed Jeremy's face harden under the encouragements Kol's words brought forward. The muscles of his arms were tensed and his fingers holding the stake were twitching uncontrollably. The hunter's skills kicked in as he took a deep and sharp breath, and a determined look crossed his face.
"Jeremy don't..." Elena murmured. She always appreciated Elijah and she had to calm down her instincts to fly to the Original's rescue, as doing so would endanger her brother.
Caroline instinctively gripped Klaus' forearm and felt how tensed he was. She suspected Qetsiyah was holding him down with her powers, expecting him to rush to his brother's rescue because Caroline was sure he would have reacted violently by now would he have been free to move, like they apparently all were. Of course this was just an illusion; she knew deep down that Qetsiyah would not let them interfere should they wish to try.
"I have to Elena. It's the right thing to do. I need to rid this earth from this nuisance" Jeremy retorted.
Then what happened next took everyone by surprise.
Jeremy, at a speed nobody expected from the young man, feinted a blow towards Elijah before twisting his wrist and trusting the stake into Kol's chest.
Everyone - except for Qetsiyah who looked beyond bored – gasped in stupor.
Kol eyed Jeremy incredulously, his eyes wide with shock, Kol let out a scream right before his body caught fire. Elena jumped forward and grabbed Jeremy's arm, pulling him away from the Originals, as Rebekah let out a cry and tried to pull the stake out of Kol's chest. Her youngest brother fell on the floor still screaming.
Klaus was still in shock as he watched Kol draw his last breath. The flames quickly devoured his baby brother's body. The Original Hybrid gave Jeremy and his doppelganger sister an evil look, his eyes watering. He had himself wished to end his insufferable brat of a brother's miserable life but … now seeing his brother die; it made him question his previous intent. He was not so sure now that he would have been able to drag the stake in Kol's heart. Kol was part of his family, now it was only him, Elijah and Rebekah. Jeremy had made a terrible mistake by taking matters into his hands, Klaus would not forgive the young Gilbert's broad move.
Rebekah seemed to have thought the same thing as, her eyes filled with tears and circled by dark veins; she rushed to Jeremy, her fangs elongated, ready for the bite. Unfortunately she was met by an invisible wall an inch from her target. "I will kill you for this, hunter!"
Matt quickly put himself in front of his friend, giving Rebekah a look full of hatred. Unable to look back at Matt's expression Rebekah whirled around a savage expression on her face as she advanced on Qetsiyah.
"Let me through. Let me tear that hunter's throat."
"I can't let you do that Rebekah. We need the Hunter's mark to be completed and the Hunter alive, at least until we've reached Silas' tomb. After that you can do whatever you want with him, I do not care."
"HE KILLED KOL!" Rebekah yelled, as if it wasn't clear already.
"Best thing that happened so far today if you ask me" Damon provoked the blonde vampire, making Rebekah snap her head in his direction.
"Careful Damon or I'll rip Elena's head off, her I can kill."
"Yeah you've proved that once" Elena spat.
"What's the problem anyway Rebekah? It was either him or Elijah." Stefan said
"Yeah, at least the saner one is still alive, well sort off" Damon added, giving a quick glimpse at Elijah's still form.
"I will bring him back once the veil has been dropped, my dear. Now come we have a long journey ahead of us."
Kol's body disappeared and Shane was magically lifted off his feet. He floated all the way to Rebekah's side. The blonde vampire grabbed his elbow roughly and pulled him towards the stairs. She stopped next to Qetsiyah "What about the hunter?" she asked, hoping the witch would drop her guard and let her take care of him. Qetsiyah should have stopped Jeremy from killing Kol, she knew the plan was to kill Elijah and then bring him back, just to give him a lesson as to never betray Rebekah and Kol again. That had been the agreement they had put with the witch. Apparently Qetsiyah did not care about honouring her word. Rebekah would find a way to get back at the witch for this. Maybe Finn would help them. Maybe she would see Henrik again.
Qetsiyah was not fooled that easily.
"I will take care of young Jeremy" she extended her hand for Jeremy to willingly take.
Elena held on to Jeremy not wanting to let him go. She had no clue whether Jeremy would come out of the trip alive or not, and she did not want to have to say good bye to yet another family member. He was the only one she had left.
"No" she said, shaking her head, when she felt Jeremy move towards the witch. She knew that as a hunter Jeremy was immune to vampire compulsion but was he also immune to magical influence? Bonnie quickly came to her aid by grabbing Jeremy's hand.
"Please don't take him" she protested, pleading with Qetsiyah.
"Now, now Bonnie. The deal was for some of your friends to leave here unharmed. Jeremy has never been a part of that list and as a key player in the next steps to freeing Silas; you know that I can't leave him here with you."
"Then please promise me that he will come back to me. Alive. Please, he's … I love him." Her eyes filled with tears she felt Jeremy's eyes on her face. His hand squeezed hers reassuringly.
Qetsiyah stood there apparently unaffected by Bonnie's sudden declaration of love.
"Please Qetsiyah. As my ancestor. As a lover that lost her former companion, and has only wished to be reunited with him ever since, please do this for me. We will let you go, we will not interfere with your plan to free Silas, but just…. Let me have a chance at a happy life."
Qetsiyah pondered this for a few seconds before a soft smile spread across her face. "Very well Bonnie, I promise that Jeremy will come back to you. I promise on our ancestral line. This is my oath to you."
She reached out her hand to Bonnie, and the young witch took it with her free one, still holding Jeremy's with her other.
Bonnie instantly felt a warm fire course through her fingers. Was this how witches oaths get sealed? She let go of Qetsiyah's hand and looked at her fingers making sure they weren't full of blisters, but they looked completely normal.
Finally, Bonnie reluctantly let go of Jeremy's hand and nodded at Elena to do the same. Before joining Qetsiyah Jeremy gave his sister a bone-crushing hug and then turned to Bonnie. With his thumb he brushed a tear from her cheek and kissed her lips softly. Lips still locked in the kiss he took both her hands in his and held them.
Rebekah cleared her throat impatiently, "we're running out of time".
As she said that, Jeremy suddenly started to writhe in pain.
"Jeremy!" Elena and Bonnie exclaimed.
"It is starting" Qetsiyah said happily. She walked up to Jeremy and ripped his shirt open, revealing his sturdy upper-body. There, appeared a tattoo spreading from his right arm all the way to his heart and moving up his left shoulder again. The sign crossing his heart looked like a five point star.
"It is now complete" Qetsiyah sighted, making her fingers dance across Jeremy's chest.
"Then let's go" Rebekah said, excited at the adventure waiting ahead and the outcome that was sure to happen. Finally her plan would be fulfilled.
"Come Bonnie, it is time for you and your friends to leave this house." Elijah's body was lifted up by some magical wind and followed Rebekah and Shane while Qetsiyah, holding on to Jeremy's arm led the way for the others to follow.
Caroline got up, but realized Klaus was still not moving. Thinking maybe he'd want some alone time to grieve she went to meet her friends but she had walked just a few feet away from Klaus when she came across an invisible wall preventing her get to Bonnie and the others. Caroline then realized Qetsiyah must still be holding Klaus down with her powers and she was not letting Caroline leave either.
Caroline started pounding on the wall with all her might "Hey! What about us! Let us out!"
Bonnie and Stefan turned around surprised.
"Why is Caroline trapped there with Klaus?" Bonnie asked Qetsiyah.
"I told you Bonnie, only a few of your friends would leave and you would need to leave some behind. Elena, Matt, Stefan and Damon were to be spared. Elijah will be free as well as he was supposed to be killed by Jeremy but now that Kol took the blow I am granting him freedom. Your friend Caroline however, I had an agreement with Rebekah and Kol that she would remain behind, with Niklaus Mikaelson. Rebekah and Kol have unfinished business to settle with both of them. I will not break my promise to them. If I do, then I will have to break the one I just made to you" the witch said giving Bonnie a meaningful look. "Are you willing to risk it Bonnie?"
Caroline realized what Qetsiyah was saying. If Bonnie broke her promise to not interfere in Rebekah and Qetsiyah's plan she would endanger their other friends' lives. Caroline had always thought she'd be willing to sacrifice her life for her friends', and there were no doubts in her mind that Rebekah and Kol – once he was revived – would come back for her and Klaus and kill them. Or at least kill her and make him suffer.
With a determined face she stepped away from the barrier that was separating her from her friends, and moved resolutely back to Klaus' side. She looked at her friends embracing them with her blue eyes, pushing her tears away "Take care of my mom for me please" she had tried to stay strong when she had started talking but she was now overwhelmed by the emotions that came to her. The thought of her mother being left behind, alone, without Caroline to protect her. Her voice quivered and she looked away to hide the tears that now flowed freely from her eyes onto her cheeks. She would not make it more difficult than it already was for them. Bonnie had to save the others. It was the right thing to do.
"Caroline… I can't leave you behind…"
"Yes you can" Caroline said with force, "and you have to. Leave, all of you. Now. It's going to be fine. I'll be okay." She hoped she sounded convincing.
"You heard her, let's go Bonnie, before the witch changes her mind and leaves all of us to rot in this place" Damon said, and Caroline thought she saw regret and a newly formed respect in Damon's eyes when he looked up at her for what would undoubtedly be the last time.
Stefan looked shocked and when he tried to move to join Caroline, Damon grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Let go of me" Stefan spat. "You might be ready to leave a friend behind but I am not." He wrenched his arm away from his brother and turned back to meet up with Caroline but before he could, Damon flashed to face him and snapped his neck in a quick gesture. Stefan fell to the ground where Damon picked him up and shoved his baby brother over his shoulder before starting walking to the staircase.
Elena looked at Damon bewildered and after meeting his eyes she nodded and glanced back at Caroline with a sad but resolute expression.
Bonnie gave Klaus a hard look "Take care of her. You better protect her Klaus. Show us she was right to put her trust into you."
Klaus lifted his head, which seemed to cause him extreme pain. His eyes were bloodshot and hard as he looked at Bonnie, but his words were soft when he spoke "I will. I will always protect Caroline, with all I have." He turned his blue eyes to the blonde vampire and unspoken words flew between them as they smiled sweetly to one another.
Caroline gave Elena, Matt and Bonnie a brave smile as she watched them walk away. They kept glancing behind and she held their eyes until they were out of sight. She dropped to her knees and grabbed Klaus' hand in hers. A few seconds later, when he was finally freed from Qetsiyah's spell he reached for her and quickly pulled her to him. Caroline closed her eyes and finally relaxed in his arms. They were going to die. But at least, they would be together until the end.
A/N: What did you guys think? What would you like to see happen in the end. I have a good idea how I want to end this but it might change a little depending on your comment. I have put up a poll for this, please go and vote!