"Easy…easy…" Misha admonished as he held open the back of the Jeep and watched the coffins holding the bodies of Stefan Salvatore and Katherine Pierce being pulled out one by one.
Kol and Rebekah took hold of Katherine's first, each taking hold of one end, and walking out into the forest clearing near the Mystic Falls Cemetery.
Damon and Caroline soon followed close behind, carrying Stefan's, as Kaspar sprinted ahead of the procession toward the Salvatore crypt, with an LED lantern in hand, and opened the door without ceremony.
Once inside, he quickly set the lantern down in the center of the room, then held the iron door open as the group filed in with their charges.
Kaspar watched as the vampires, rotated, then laid the coffins down side by side inside the crypt beneath the tombs of two generations of Salvatores.
"There we are…" Kol sighed as he stepped back and cast a satisfied glance down at both coffins "Safe as houses."
Caroline watched with sad eyes as Damon rubbed the lid at the end of Stefan's coffin with reverence for a moment, then removed his jacket and leaped up and took a seat on top of one of the vaults.
"Alright, kids…" Misha said as he arrived through the door with a large green cooler, and watched as Kaspar shut it safely behind him before turning to the vampires, "Dinner time."
"Fantastic," Rebekah smirked, stepping forward as Misha rested the cooler on the floor of the crypt an opened the lid to reveal the mound of blood bags inside, "I'm famished after outrunning Nik."
"Speaking of…" Kol said, his eyes focused on Misha as he came up behind Rebekah and she handed him a blood bag—which he took one look at, then tossed over to Damon, "What time is it?"
Misha immediately lifted his arm and pushed back the arm of his jacket to reveal his watch.
"Uhmm…about 10:30," Misha said, studying the face
"And…that means we've got another six hours or so until the moon's axis makes it possible for Nik to return to human form," Kaspar offered, pulling out a bottle of Coke from the same cooler.
"Guess we're pulling out the parlor games..." Rebekah sighed as she handed a blood bag across to Caroline, then one to Kol
"I don't know about you guys…" Damon scoffed as he opened the top of his blood bag and crossed his legs under him on the vault, "But, I'm so tired of sitting around and playing games and passing time, just waiting for shit to go down. I say we get out of this creepy tomb, find Klaus, trap him, throw him in a dog kennel and skedaddle—leaving a trail of bread crumbs for hunter boy to follow."
Then, with a toast to everyone, he downed his blood bag as Caroline smiled in amazement and opened her own, "You just have no patience, do you Damon?"
"Nope. None at all, Blondie Bear…" Damon replied as he swallowed, "Especially when it means that more people are gonna die because of it…And oh, guess who that's gonna be?" he continued, putting a finger to his mouth with a pause before pointing it out toward everyone in the room, "Not to be morbid, but just about everyone here has a big target painted on their back right now."
"Well…" Kol quipped, rolling his eyes as opened his own bag, "He's just a breath of fresh air, isn't he?" then chuckled, "Thank god, I don't breathe."
"Look Damon," Misha said, stepping forward and eying the younger Salvatore, "I know you don't like this is—and it's only natural that you want someone to pay for what happened to Stefan—"
"I don't want them to pay…" Damon said, lowering his blood bag from his lips and his green eyes flashing with sadness and anger, "I want them dead."
Misha paused for a moment to take in Damon's words before he spoke again, this time more soothing, "Even so, I do understand your need for action and I do believe the time has come for that, but what you're suggesting is irrational given the circumstances of the moment. We can't leave town without Klaus—to do so would put him straight into Dominic's hands—and we can't leave with Klaus until he's back in human form and we can't do that for another six more hours…so, I suggest we sit tight, just one more night and try to stay alive."
Kol smirked as he downed the last of his blood bag, then crumpled it in his hand and turned toward the warlock, "Misha, you do know that your last statement is completely ironic given that we are vampires holed up inside a two hundred year-old tomb."
Misha narrowed his eyes as he turned back and focused them on Kol, "You never shut up, do you? You always have something snappy to say."
"It's a curse." Kol smiled with a shrug
"Nope. If you ask me, it's genetic," Rebekah sighed, taking a seat next to her brother on the vault and looking out to the others, "Niklaus…Kol…Elijah, they could never be quiet—even as children. And it only got worse after we became vampires and everything about us magnified. Just picture three prattling girls who never stopped to take a breath and then you'll have a nice picture of my life for the last thousand years…" she then stopped and looked back over to her brother, "You know, as much as I hate to admit it, I actually enjoyed the first few times when Nik daggered you and put you in that box—it got peaceful…you know...quiet…"
"Thanks for the love, there Bekah," Kol quipped again, then punched her hard in the arm, making her drop her blood bag
"Hey!" she cried in annoyance, then swiftly reached out and grabbed him by the neck, tossing him backward off the vault onto the floor
Kol quickly came to his feet, and immediately charged at her, but Caroline stepped in his path
"Seriously?" Caroline scoffed, narrowing her eyes, "Grow up…" then looked over her shoulder to Rebekah, "Both of you. I'm not going to sit here and spend the rest of the night watching the two of you squabble. I'm so-so tired of it."
"Sounds like someone was an only sibling," Kaspar whispered to Misha, causing the older warlock to smile
"Awww…you mean the Bobbsey Twins aren't going to fight?" Damon pouted good-naturedly, "But, that would have totally passed the time better than any parlor game."
Suddenly, a noise could be heard outside in the grave yard, interrupting the moment.
The sound of shuffling and then a soft clang…
Not horribly loud, but just loud enough that it caught the hearing of all of the vampires in the crypt, which soon alerted the two warlocks who barely heard it.
"Do you think it's, Nik?" Rebekah immediately suggested
Damon shook his head as the shuffling and clanging continued
"No," he said, "If it was Klaus or the hunter, they would have tracked us by now and they'd be trying like Hell to get inside."
"Damon's right," Misha said in a low voice, taking a step toward the door, "It's something else…"
"Stop! No!" Caroline cried loudly, sensing Misha was going to open the door, but Kol immediately put his hand over her mouth to silence her
"I'm going out there—" Misha started, turning back to them, but Damon quickly appeared at the warlock's side
"Uh…no…you're not," he said, swatting his hand away from the handle, "There's a good chance that whatever is out there is going to kill you. And we need your witchy skills to help take down our hunter friend. I'll go."
"Damon—" Misha protested
"Me, too." Rebekah offered, quickly appearing on the other side of the warlock as he stepped back
"Look, I got this, Barbie," Damon scoffed
"No…you're angry and hurt and grieving and you've practically got a death wish!" Rebekah retorted, "So there is no way I'm going to let you get yourself killed by going out there alone. Stefan would want someone to watch your back…So, ta da! It's me. Deal with it, Salvatore."
Damon seethed in anger for a moment before relenting.
"Fine!" Damon whispered harshly as Rebekah smiled triumphantly and pulled open the door open.
# # # # # # #
"Watcha doin'?" Elena asked as she plopped down on the couch next to Elijah with a plate in hand as the original flipped through the stations on the plasma TV with the remote in his hand.
"Nothing…" he replied with a sigh as he leaned back on the couch cushions
"You sound like my brother when he's all 'Mr. Mopey Pants'," Elena smirked as she adjusted herself on the cushions and took a bite of the chicken Kiev on her plate that Vivienne had made for them before she left.
"I'm fine," Elijah replied, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared blankly at the television, finally stopping his channel surfing on the Australian Football League Network.
"Really?" Elena asked as she chewed, following Elijah's gaze toward the television, "So, that's why you're watching…what is this, anyway?"
"Football," Elijah replied softly
"Uh…no…" Elena remarked, pointing her fork at the screen, "This isn't football. My ex-boyfriend used to play football in high school. I know what football is and this is not football." Then she leaned forward and narrowed her eyes in curiosity before taking another bite, "It seems to be some sort of weird cross between handball and soccer…People actually play this and get paid for it?"
"In at least ten countries," Elijah affirmed, not taking his eyes off the screen
Elena turned back and studied him again as she swallowed before taking up another piece of chicken with her fork and holding it out for Elijah.
"Want a bite?" she asked, hopefully
"No," Elijah answered
Elena lowered the fork onto her plate, "Are you still upset over our conversation with Vivienne."
"Yep…" Elijah replied quickly, offering no other words
"Elijah," Elena sighed, her eyes softening as she placed a hand on his arm, "I know this is difficult for you. I know what she means to you and I know how hard it is to imagine that she had a hand in setting this all in motion, but I really don't think she meant to keep anything from us…from you. You were gone—daggered in a box and she did what she thought was right at the time to save herself and her sister. I don't think she could have possibly foreseen how it could have affected you and your family and I don't she could have possibly known right off that Dominic was connected to the hunter she took down in 1857. I think we should give her the benefit of the doubt here and let the water flow under the bridge. What's done is done—but at least she is going to help us—"
"You mean by reversing the spell on the compass and making my former apprentice and my friend's little brother mortal—so we can kill him to save my family and your friends?" Elijah answered, turning to face her with sad eyes
"Elijah—" Elena started, clearly taken aback by his reaction, but the original continued
"And don't forget that a life has to be taken in order for all this to happen—a mortal life—for the scales to balance…I wonder who that is going to be. Who else has to die for this to all finally be over, Elena? But, wait… Will it really ever be over?"
Then with a lingering look of haughty sadness, he looked away again and focused his eyes on the television
Elena took in a deep breath as she realized what was troubling Elijah so…
"You're thinking you should have just gone back to Mystic Falls, aren't you?" she whispered, the shock and fear apparent on her face, "That you should have let the hunter kill you so that it would all be over."
"Maybe…" he replied in a low voice, looking down to the remote in his hands,
"Elijah," Elena said, placing the plate on the coffee table in front of them, "You can't ever think like that—"
"Why not?" Elijah asked, "It's true. You heard Bonnie on the phone just now and what I told you Misha said, the hunter wants me, Elena. This is nothing but revenge, plain and simple—"
"It's not just about revenge," Elena offered, sliding closer to him, "You heard what Bonnie said. He wants something else—his soul…well, grant it souls—plural—but, he wants them, too, not just you. And don't you think that there is some part of him that perhaps wants the end to come? For it to all be over?"
"No one would want the end to come—" Elijah replied
"Apparently you would…" Elena shot back, her eyes immediately filling with tears, "I can't believe you would even say-how could you say such a thing to me…"
Suddenly, she trailed off, overcome with emotion
"Elena…" Elijah whispered, turning quickly to face her and taking her face in his hands, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just laid that all on you. I was upset—Vivienne said some things after you left that sort of put me over the edge and—"
"If you had gone back to Mystic Falls and sacrificed yourself like that I would have never forgiven you…" Elena interjected, her voice low and her lip trembling as he gazed at him with intense eyes
"Why? For sacrificing myself for those I love like you have offered to do a hundred times over in the last four years?" Elijah replied, as he stroked the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs
"No…" Elena choked out, sobbing, as she threw her arms out, gesturing around them, "For this!"
"What?" Elijah mused under his breath, still baffled as he tried to understand what she was trying to say. When it was clear that he was so confused, Elena continued.
"For the last few days we spent together..." Elena cried, sobbing, "For making me fall in love with you!"
Elijah's face immediately crumbled as he took in her words, then without another thought, he immediately he leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers before bringing his lips down to hers.
Immediately, their connection ignited and he felt Elena returning the kiss passionately, even through her sobs.
After a few moments, Elijah pulled back and helped wiped her face again before kissing her forehead and taking her into his strong arms, her head falling against his chest as he sighed, closing his eyes in undiluted pleasure as rested his chin on the crown of her head.
# # # # #
The door to the Salvatore crypt opened slowly and Damon stepped out first, immediately taking point as he looked around, assessing the front part of the cemetery. When he noted that it was all clear—that the noise was not coming from there, he quickly signaled to Rebekah over his shoulder.
She nodded, following his lead and they immediately fanned out and walked around the other sides of the rectangular crypt, taking in the wings of the cemetery with cautious eyes as they made their way toward south entrance.
Suddenly, just a they made it to the back of the crypt, they heard a startled cry and a spotlight immediately shone on them, causing Rebekah to lift her hands to shield her eyes and Damon to vein out and bare his fangs.
"Ugh…It's you!" Damon immediately cried with a scoff, his features receding as the light pulled away and Rebekah was finally able to see what had caused all the commotion.
When her eyes finally adjusted back to the darkness, they widened when they took in the sight of Bonnie Bennett, standing, with a large flashlight in hand, next to an open grave that Jeremy Gilbert was about waist deep in.
"Well…this isn't at all awkward…" Rebekah mused with a raised eyebrow as she looked to Damon, then back at the witch and Elena's little brother.
"What are you doing here, Bonnie?" Damon asked as he walked toward them and taking in the sight of the open grave
"We're digging up John Gilbert's body," Jeremy said as he twirled his shovel, then resumed his labors, "We broke the cardinal rule and called Elena—"
"You…what!?" Damon cried, turning back to Bonnie, "Misha specifically asked you not to!"
"I know," Bonnie replied, defensively, "But, when we found out that the hunter's soul might be in the Gilbert compass, we knew we had to find it if we had any hope of freeing you guys and Elena was the last person to see it!"
"And she thinks it's buried with John Gilbert?" Damon asked, narrowing his eyes
"Yep." Bonnie answered matter-of-factly
"Hold on…wait…" Jeremy observed, suddenly stopping his digging and leaning forward on the shovel to face Damon, "You're here… If you are here, that means that you got free from the hunter. Last we heard you were under house arrest."
"He's right…"Bonnie whispered in sudden realization, her voice rising, "Are the others with you? What happened?"
"Uhh…long story…" Damon replied quickly, sharing a look back at Rebekah, who immediately interjected as she came to his side
"To make it short—some crazy stuff happened and then the boardinghouse caught fire…" she offered
Suddenly, Damon created an explosion gesture with his hands, adding sound effects and slow motion impression of their reactions
"Oh…" Bonnie mused, reeling back, "That doesn't sound good…"
"Well, there is some good news. We are free now and the hunter has disappeared..." Rebekah replied, "At least for the time being. But, he'll be back and we're laying low in the Salvatore crypt until daybreak when we can rendezvous with Nik and make a run for it…We are thinking of surprising Elijah and Elena. I can't wait to see their faces..."
Suddenly, Rebekah's eyes widened and she immediately took hold of Damon's arm as she trailed off and he followed the Original's gaze toward the far entrance to the cemetery.
"What do you mean, rendezvous?" Bonnie asked with a raised eyebrow, looking at the odd expressions that were now crossing the vampire's faces, "Where is Klaus?"
"Haven't you been watching your horror movies, Bonnie?" Jeremy quickly said in a quiet tone as he slowly laid down his shovel in the grave and began to climb out even slower as if trying not to be seen, "I'm guessing that he's right behind us…"
"Okay..." Bonnie breathed, genuinely confused, "You guys are totally freaking me out here...what's going on..." then finally, she looked back over her shoulder, just in time to see a large black wolf with gold eyes, come through the trees on the outer edge of the cemetery where he had been stalking them.
"Run! Go!" Damon cried as he pushed Rebekah toward the tomb, then raced forward and grabbed Bonnie and Jeremy, throwing one over his left shoulder and one over his right, before taking off at vampire speed after Rebekah, the force knocking the large flashlight out of Bonnie's hand and onto the ground.
Seconds later, the werewolf dashed over it, knocking the lit flashlight into John Gilbert's open grave as he took up pursuit of the two vampires and their human companions.
And mere seconds after that, Kol, Caroline, Misha and Kaspar all came to attention as the iron door to the crypt came flying open and Rebekah rushed inside with Damon on her heels, towing Bonnie and Jeremy.
"What's all this?!" Misha cried, taking in the situation and their new guests
"Apparently, there was an invite for a party in the graveyard tonight!" Damon quipped hurriedly as he crossed the threshold, "And everyone was invited!"
"And we mean…everyone!" Rebekah added as she immediately pushed the door shut as soon as Damon was in the clear.
Moments later, a deafening bang sounded against the iron door as Klaus made impact.