Cora met Elena and Bonnie at the Grill. It'd been a few days since the Homecoming incident. She sat down with them. "Hey. How are you holding up?"
"I feel like I´m going crazy. Totally paranoid all the time." Elena said.
"You have a right to be. Klaus is still out there and he knows you tried to kill him." Bonnie pointed out.
"Why hasn´t he made a move? There hasn´t been no sign about him. Nothing."
"Well, I can tell you that if he's anything like I think, he's probably waiting to make his move." Cora said. "Most of the bad ones I've come across tend to know what they're doing."
"It's a good thing you're one of the good ones then." Bonnie said. "But I'm worried, too. Every time I close my eyes I have that nightmare. On repeat!"
"The same dream?" Elena asked.
"Yeah! Four coffins, Klaus is in one of them. It´s weird."
"What if it´s not just some dream? What if it´s like... you know...witch dream." Elena asked.
"She could be right. Leslie's visions would often manifest as dreams." Cora told Bonnie. "Maybe they're trying to tell you how to stop him."
"True, but that doesn't mean anything until I figure out what it means." Bonnie said. She sighed. "What about Stefan? Has there been any sign of him?"
"He betrayed us Bonnie. The Stefan that we know is gone." Elena said.
"I refuse to believe that." Cora said. "Though I'm worried about his disappearance. I keep getting a bad feeling about it."
"How is Damon handling it?" Bonnie asked.
"Damon is...Damon."
"Honestly, I think he'd fall apart without us." Cora said. "I've never seen him like this."
"Speaking of falling apart, have either of you seen Jer?" Elena asked. "He took off this morning and I haven't been able to reach him." Cora and Bonnie looked at each other.
"Haven't spoken to him since that ghost thing."
"I thought I saw him earlier, but I don't remember. Looked like he was headed out of town, but I couldn't tell."
After a couple of hours, Elena was still trying to reach Jeremy. Bonnie had left. Damon was trying to teach Cora how to throw darts. "Okay, just cause you've had time to learn this, doesn't mean I have."
"I still can't believe you've never done this before." Damon said.
"Please, I've been a busy girl." Cora said. She threw one of the darts and missed, instead striking the wall.
"Jeremy, the minute that you get this call me!" Elena shouted into her phone. She hung up. "Unbelievable!"
"You are feisty when you are mad." Damon told her. Cora pulled the dart out of the wall, then turned to Elena.
"It's not that I'm mad. I'm just- I'm worried."
"But why? He lost his job at the Grill. He can survive, Elena." Damon told her.
"He is spiraling. Ever since Bonnie broke up with him, he is moody, he is not really talking to anyone." Elena explained. Now Cora was really worried. True, she'd only been in town a couple weeks, but this didn't sound like the Jeremy she met in the school hallways.
"It's typical teenager." Damon said.
"Who has seen ghosts and has lost everyone that he cares about." Elena pointed out.
"Not everyone. He still has you." He said.
"Well, I don't know him that well, but this doesn't sound like him." Cora said.
"It's not the first time he's spiraled." Elena said. "After we lost our parents, he started doing drugs." She lowered her voice so that Cora was the only one who heard her. "The guys helped us take care of that problem."
"That makes sense. It's totally something they'd do." Cora said. "Maybe you should talk to him." She turned back to the dart board and managed to hit the outer circle of the target. She turned and saw them talking, then noticed someone else had arrived and walked over to them.
"Klaus." Elena said, taken slightly by surprise.
"You gonna do this in the Grill? In front of everyone? It's little beneath you, don't you think?" Damon asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about. I just came down to my local pub to grab a drink with a mate." He told them. A guy showed up. Cora knew it was one of his hybrids. "Get a round in, would you Tony?" He left for the bar.
"I'm surprised you stuck around town long enough for happy hour." Damon said.
"My sister seems to be missing. Need to sort that out." Klaus told them.
"Cute blonde bombshell, psycho. Shouldn't be too hard to find."
"Truth is I've grown to rather like your little town. Think I might fancy a home here." Cora seemed stunned. You have got to be freaking kidding. She thought.
"Oh, I imagine you're wondering how this is affect you. The answer is: not in the slightest. Unless I get what I want and everyone behaves themselves you can go on living your little lives however you choose. You have my word."
"And what could you possibly want?" Elena asked him.
"Oh for starters you can tell me where I might find Stefan." Klaus said.
"Stefan skipped town the second he saved your ass." Damon told him. He put an arm on Cora's shoulder protectively.
"Well you see that is a shame. Your brother stole from me. I need him found so I can take back what's mine!"
"That sounds like a "Klaus- and Stefan- problem"" Elena pointed out.
"Well, this is me broadening the scopes, sweetheart."
"I swear, if you do anything to hurt them…" Cora began. She broke off when she realized they were all staring at her.
"And who might you be?"
"I'm…"
"She's my cousin." Damon said. Cora gave him a look. "And she knows about as much of my brother's location as the rest of us."
"That really is too bad. She's quite cute."
"Why don't you do us all a favor and go to hell?" Cora said, not at all flattered by his comment. She couldn't stand him for what he did to Stefan and she knew she'd never forgive him for it. She glared as he left.
"Wow. You've grown into quite a little badass, haven't you?" Damon said, impressed by her.
"Well, when people hurt my family and friends, it makes me really angry." Cora told him.
A few hours later, she was helping Elena set the table at her place. "Thanks for coming over, Cora."
"It's not like I had anything better to do, aside from giving Klaus the death glare." Cora pointed out.
"So, you ready?" Alaric asked Elena.
"Vampires, hybrids and originals, no problem! My rebellious brother, I'm worried!" Cora put a hand on her shoulder.
"Proof, you' re still human."
"I'm worried, too." Cora told her. "I know how dangerous this could get."
"It helps to have friends like you." Elena said. Jeremy entered the room then. "Just in time! We're cooking."
"Sorry, I'm just passing through." Jeremy told her.
"Oh, wait a little. Stay in, have a meal together like a typical family." Alaric said.
"Why?"
"Maybe because you got fired and you didn't tell anyone?!" Elena said. Cora looked really worried. She knew this wasn't going to work.
"Ahh, look, can we do this later?" Jeremy told them. "I made plans with Tyler. He`s right outside."
"When did you start hang out with Tyler Lockwood?" Alaric asked.
"I don't know... Does it matter?"
"Yeah, Jeremy! It matters! He was sired by Klaus. He is dangerous!"
"He can still hear you. He is right outside." Jeremy said. "Besides, you, of all people are gonna lecture me on who I can and can't hang out with?"
"Whoa, what is wrong with you people?" Cora said, getting between the two siblings. "Look, we're all under a lot of stress because of Klaus. Yelling at each other isn't going to solve anything." Elena and Jeremy looked at each other.
"Sorry." Elena said after a long moment of silence. "I've just been really freaked out over everything lately."
"I get it." Jeremy said. He turned to Cora. "So, what brings you here?"
"Thought I'd help your sister out tonight, it gets lonely in that house sometimes." Cora said.
"Look, I'd like to stay, but Tyler's still out there." Jeremy pointed out.
"Forget it, you can't go out with him." Elena said.
"Why don't we just invite him in?" Cora asked. Elena and Alaric looked at her like she was crazy. "You guys can talk to him about…recent developments."
"That's…a really good idea." Alaric said.
"I've had years of finding simple solutions to problems." Cora said.
A few minutes later, they were all sitting together. Cora could see how uncomfortable Elena was. "This is weird. Klaus´s hybrid stalking me and now you´re just sitting in our kitchen."
"Look, maybe I should go."
"Oh, stay. You´re not doing anything." Jeremy said.
"Unless you have to, you know, check in with your hybrid master." Elena said.
Tyler laughed. "It´s not like that Elena." For a moment, no one said anything.
"Tell me Tyler...What is the difference between being sired and being compelled?" Alaric asked.
"Compulsion that´s just mind control, like hypnosis. And being sired is...it´s like faith. You do something because you believe it´s the right thing." Tyler said.
"So you believe that serving Klaus is the right thing?" Elena asked.
"I don't think it's like that…" Cora began, when Tyler interjected.
"I don´t serve him. Klaus released me from a curse that was ruining my life. I owe him for that."
"What if he asked you to jump of a bridge?" Alaric asked.
"He wouldn´t! And even if he would I`ll be fine. I´m a hybrid." Cora pressed her hand against her forehead. For a guy who was supposedly their friend, he certainly wasn't bright.
"Okay, so what if he asked you to rip your heart out?" Elena asked.
"Again, he wouldn`t."
"What if he did?"
"I don't know! Then I´d rip out my heart!" Tyler said. Everyone looked shocked. "You guys sound like Caroline, getting all freaked out about something you don´t understand."
"You're right, Tyler. I don´t understand." Elena said. "Klaus has terrorized every single one of us and you´re just blindly loyal to him."
"You're overthinking it. I can still make my own decisions."
"Can you prove that?" Everyone turned and looked at Cora. "Look, I know a little about sire bonds, but not that much."
"What are you getting at, Cora?" Jeremy asked.
"Look, I know Ty's your friend, and I want to trust him, but until he can make a choice that goes against Klaus at his own free will, I don't trust him." Cora said. She turned to Tyler. "I'm sorry."
He shrugged. "It's no problem. Besides, it's not like we were friends to start with."
"True, but I hope one day we can be. For Caroline's sake." She added. She noticed Jeremy on his phone. He hung up.
"What was that about?" Elena asked. She must've noticed, too.
"It was nothing." Jeremy said.
"I got to go. thanks for the food offer, but..."
"Next time?" Tyler left the house. Cora almost felt bad for him, but she knew it was probably for the best.
"That was illuminating." Alaric said.
"So, Tyler Lockwood is a lunatic who has access to our house." Elena said.
"It's not his fault. If he's sired, he has to do what Klaus says." Cora pointed out. "It effects what he does."
"Honestly, I don't even think Tyler is fully aware of what little reason he is buying what he's saying." Alaric said.
"Great! That's a wonderful influence for you, Jer..." That's when Cora realized Jeremy was gone. "Jeremy?"
"He must've slipped out while we were talking." Cora said. Elena noticed a small object on the table. (Jeremy's protection ring is lying on the table)
"That's his ring!"
"Where'd he go?"
The three of them ran out the front door. Jeremy was standing in the middle of the road. "Jeremy? What is he doing?" Elena asked.
Cora could hear a car coming from a distance with her vampire hearing. "Oh, god! He didn't!" Sure enough, a car came flying around the corner…straight for Jeremy.
"Jeremy!" The group ran toward him. Alaric pushed Jeremy out of the way before the car could hit him, taking the hit instead. Cora ran over to Jeremy while Elena checked on Alaric.
The car stopped and they noticed the hybrid that was with Klaus earlier. "There I go again. Bumping into people." Cora glared at him as he drove away. Elena saw Alaric was wearing the ring.
"He's gonna be o.k.! Are you all right?" Elena turned to Jeremy.
"I don't understand."
"He doesn't have any injuries." Cora told her.
"Who was that on the phone earlier?" Elena asked.
"It was Klaus!"
"You were compelled, Jeremy! We've gotta get him inside- help me!" They all helped get Alaric inside.
"Shouldn't we call a doctor or something?" Cora asked as soon as they had layed him down on the couch.
"He'll be okay. He was wearing the Gilbert ring." Elena said.
"It's a special ring that's passed down through our family." Jeremy explained. "One of the Bennett ancestors created it to protect humans from a supernatural death."
"So, if a vampire or hybrid kills him, he'll come back to life?" Cora asked. "That's amazing."
"Yeah, but it's not enjoyable for the person getting killed." Jeremy pointed out. "Considering your brother's one of the guys who killed me before."
"Speaking of, we should call him. Let him know what happened." Cora said. "This whole Klaus thing is getting out of control. I always heard he was ruthless, but to actually see something like this happen…"
A few minutes later, Damon showed up. "How is he?" He asked.
"He is dead, but he had his ring. Klaus's hybrid hit him. Now we just wait..." Elena said.
"Jeremy, why weren't you on vervain?" Damon asked. "Where is your bracelet?" Jeremy looked at his wrist, realizing the vervain bracelet was gone.
"I don't know."
"It was Tyler! He had to have been. That's why he was hanging out with you! To get you off the vervain." Elena said.
"Hang on…" Cora began.
"Klaus is trying to send us a message. He wants us to find Stefan who stole his coffins full of his dead family members." Damon told the group.
"Coffins?" Elena repeated.
"Yep! So all we have to do is find four coffins and- voila no one else on your family's Christmas list needs to die!"
Cora remembered that Bonnie had been having a dream about a set of coffins. Maybe they were right. Maybe they really were visions.
"Wait- that's your big plan? To steal back four dead originals so this evil hybrid doesn't kill me and everyone else we know?" Jeremy asked.
"You got a better idea?" Damon asked him.
"Yeah! Let's get the hell outta here! Pack our bags and go!" Jeremy said.
"Hey, Jeremy calm down." Elena said.
"No, no! I'm not gonna calm down, Elena! This happens every time, no matter what we do! Getting on my case about school and work- who cares? None of us are gonna make it out of this town alive." He walked out of the room.
"Jeremy…" Cora watched after him, concerned.
"He said he wants his family back?" Elena asked.
"No! No! I know you are thinking- the answer is no!"
"If we give him Rebekah..."
"Yeah, then Klaus un-daggers her, first thing she does is kill you! Frying pan, fire- not an option!" Damon pointed out.
"But we have to do something, Damon." Cora said. "We can't risk Jeremy or possibly the others."
"I know, Cora, but do you really want to risk it? You befriended her, too, she might think you had something to do with it."
"I can hold my own against another vampire, even if she is an Original." She headed upstairs to find Jeremy.
"Hey."
"Did they send you up here?"
"No, they didn't." Cora said. "I was worried about you."
"How am I supposed to care about life when there's a chance there could be one less of our group tomorrow?"
"Jeremy, I know exactly how you feel." Cora said, sitting next to him. "I've befriended and lost many people I was close with over the years, but there's a lot of good things out there, too. We might never be free of the dark things in our lives, but we have to learn to deal with the positive changes, not just the bad ones."
"How do you do it?"
"Honestly, over the past century, I'm still figuring it out on a day to day basis." Cora said. "I guess I never lost hope in the good in people." She got up. "You should talk to Tyler. I'm going to find Stefan." She headed downstairs.
"Everything okay?" Damon asked her.
"He's a tough one, I just hope he'll be okay." Cora said. "They've both been through a lot."
"All the more reason to kick little brother's ass when we find him."
"That might not be as hard as you think. I think I know where Stefan is." Cora said.