A/N: Hello and welcome back! Sorry for being a bit late again, I really need to try to get back on track with the updates. To be honest, life's just been very busy. But, here is the newest chapter. The downside is it's also very unedited, so... Sorry?

Anyway, thank you so much for all the kudos and comments. They are very much appreciated, even if I haven't had a chance to reply to all of your lovely words on the previous chapter. I won't keep you guys any longer, though, so, enjoy the next chapter, and like always, I'd love to hear what you guys think!

Lots of Love,

Anna^.^

o.O.o

Chapter Forty-Nine, Bones of the Lost

Afternoon turned into evening and Jenna and I drove up to the police station. John's car was already parked at the curb and I steered Jenna's red Mini Cooper into an empty parking sloth. Twilight had settled over the town of Mystic Falls, and I clambered (less than gracefully) out of the car. We'd scoured the entire house to find all the Gilbert journals and had pretty much cornered Meredith Fell in Mystic Falls' Hospital between the vending machine and the cleaning cart, demanding her to give back the journal she'd come upon. She reluctantly handed it over, allowing us to follow her to her apartment.

Perhaps she understood why we wanted it. After all, last time around Meredith had realized Alaric to be the killer, and a magical schizophrenic at that, by reading the journal.

"Elena?"

"Coming," I mumbled, slamming the car door closed, the Gilbert journal firmly lodged between my elbow and my side.

We walked down the pavement that led to the police station. I still couldn't phantom how the building blended with the rest of the neighborhood, and Jenna was silent, probably mulling over what to say when I noticed a black sedan with tinted windows and Tennessee plates. I had come to a stop without out conscious thought and my eyes widened in surprise.

Jenna stopped too, her eyes searching the street, "What is it?"

"I think—" I started, my eyebrows furrowed together. "I— don't know yet."

Tennessee plates? Did that mean Klaus had sent his hybrids here? Or had Greta come over? Greta Martin had spent most of her time with me when I'd been in Tennessee. When she wasn't in the Werewolf house, she was practicing her magic. I didn't think she had many friends. And I wasn't even sure if she saw me as a friend or as some potential lover.

Or something to play with, I supposed—

Running my tongue along my front teeth, I shook myself out of my reverie and hurried into the station. Jenna stalked inside as a woman who knew the way and I toddled behind her. I remembered that Jenna used to be a pod-smoking wild child. She might have been here before, taken in for reckless behavior and I felt a small smile pull my lips up. I could actually see Jenna Sommers sitting where I had been sitting last night, bundling a cup of coffee between white fingers and a petulant scowl on her face.

"Jenna? How do you want to do this?" I asked, fingers curling around the leather spine of the Gilbert journal. "I mean, Liz knows about magic, but with actual DNA proof and so many people already in the know it might be hard to do anything about it."

"There's always a way to spin this story," Jenna decided and I acknowledged that with a nod.

"I suppose."

I swallowed. Swallowed again. Raised my chin and stalked inside the station. The smell of coffee drifted through the corridors and the whirring of computers met my ears. My heart thrummed against my breastbone, I willed myself to calm down quickly moving through the maze of the station.

Liz was already waiting, her uniform ironed neatly and her gun holstered on her belt. Her face looked worn, her eyes a bit dull. I shouldn't forget that this all wasn't easy on her either. She'd actually known Jeremy his entire life. I hadn't.

"Hello Jenna," she greeted and her smile turned a degree warmer when she looked at me, "Elena."

"We brought you something," I said, holding up the journal.

"Is that—"

"Yeah, one of the journals you used for the vampire hunt," Jenna agreed leisurely.

Liz paled, her eyes furiously flitting around if anyone had heard her. When she found no curious glances or surprised colleagues peering our way, she pressed her lips into a tight line. "Not here. Come on, let's take this to my office."

"Where is John?" I wanted to know, as Liz led us through what appeared to be the waiting area, past the double doors, and into a less crowded corridor. Liz didn't answer immediately, suddenly stopping and pushing into a small windowless space. A mirror took up most of the right wall and a table with a metal bolt. I'd been in one of those last night and my eyes widened.

"An interrogation room? I thought you said your office?" I asked and Liz shuffled us both inside.

"Yes, but your uncle and the prosecutor are meeting there." She answered with distaste.

I wasn't sure who liz disliked more. My uncle or the prosecutor and I gave her a placating smile. It didn't really matter if John was present or not I supposed, and sat down on one of the chairs putting the journal in the middle of the table. Jenna soon followed my example, sitting close enough that our thighs were touching and in mere seconds, Liz had taken a seat in front of us. She sighed, gathering the journal in her hands, and flipping through it.

"So, why is this important for Jeremy?"

"Well, I assume you have his possessions right?" I asked, thinking about all the detective movies and series I'd seen. The police always took a suspect's possessions, keeping them locked up in evidence. I tapped my fingers against the tabletop and leaned forward. "Was there a large tacky blue ring?"

Liz looked thoughtful for a moment, "Yeah, I think there was."

"Okay, this is going to sound a bit bonkers, but do you believe in witches?"

"Caroline told me about them, Elena."

And that was good. It was easier to explain what the ring was supposed to do and what happened to those who wore it. What happened when you died with it and— my eyes widened.

"But Elena, I don't think Jeremy ever—"

"Perhaps it happened when we weren't around," I said awkwardly.

At the very least, I didn't think he would have told me. I knew for sure he hadn't told Aunt Jenna and Liz Forbes hadn't known until Uncle John was killed during some sort of presentation at Lockwood Manor. I knew from the previous happenings in the series, Jeremy would have died already. First at Damon's hand and then, later, at Katherine's (repeatedly).

"Even so, Elena, that doesn't change anything. A DNA expert will testify that the blood found is Jeremy's. That he is, without a doubt tied to the murders. A lab in Richmond handled the analyses— I can't just make those go away."

"No," I admitted. "But locking him up when this is not something he could have helped—"

Liz got up, squatted by my chair, and lightly placed a hand on my knee. "I understand. Of course, I understand, but none of this will be easy. I'm glad I know this now, but Jeremy isn't doing himself any favors. He's admitted to multiple murders."

"Can we speak to him? Jeremy I mean." I asked.

Liz straightened and took a deep breath. I could tell she wanted to deny my request. I was already preparing for something to say, watching as Liz looked away, met Jenna's gaze, and then quickly looked back at me. "Okay, perhaps he will be more open with you than with us."

Surprise colored my face a dark pink and Liz got to her feet, moving to the door. I scrambled after her, pushing my chair out of the way and out into the corridor again. Liz stalked through it with quick steps and I had to jog to keep up.

It seemed there were several interrogation rooms lining the corridor and after several seconds, we were led into a new one. It was similar to the last, perhaps a bit larger but apart from the one-way mirror a strange stripe was also visible. I wondered if it might be a panic button and after a moment — Jenna gave me a reassuring smile — I settled on one of the chairs.

It was odd, sitting in an interrogation room again. It was even odder that I would be playing the detective now and twiddled my fingers together.

I waited, breath still frozen in my throat as Liz and Jenna both disappeared, one probably safely hidden away behind the one-way mirror while the other went to fetch Jeremy. Drawing a leg up on the chair, I wrapped my arms around my knee. Breathing in sharply, I ground my teeth together, forcing myself to calm down before I could change my mind.

Soon the silence was interpreted by quick footfalls coming closer. Liz Forbes was the first to enter, followed by two deputies dwarfing Jeremy inside. He was different. I could tell immediately and I straightened in my chair. His eyes met mine.

"Elena!" He gasped, his eyes were wide and terrified. His face was gobsmacked. My resolve wavered.

"Are you you?" I asked, sounding confused.

Jeremy gave a curt nod. The deputies pushed him towards the iron chair, and he sat down on the bench. I watched with mixed feelings as they attached Jeremy's cuffed wrists to the bolt on the table. He drew a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Yeah Lena, I am me."

"Oh, okay, that's good." I bent my knees higher and wrapped my arms tighter around my legs.

"I don't understand—"

"I can understand, I suppose, but Jer, when did you start wearing that ring?"

"The ring?" He echoed, frowning. "You mean the supernatural ring Dad gave me?"

"He gave it to you?"

Jeremy nodded. "Yeah," and his face darkened, "after Christmas. He said he needed me to be safe. He explained that the ring would save me from supernatural death."

"It does," I admitted, my mind scrambling for what to tell him. "Did you— did you die before?"

"What?"

"I know this sounds ridiculous, but did you get killed?"

"I—" he started and after a moment let his breath escape in a long-suffering sigh, "—I think I did."

"When? Who?"

His nose scrunched up in thought, his mouth pressing into a thin line. "I don't know."

"But it only happened once?"

"I think so yes," he admitted, his eyebrows furrowing together. "I was at home— and suddenly the noise— I don't remember exactly but when I woke up, I was laying at the bottom of the stairs. I felt weird— really weird."

I wasn't sure what I should say about that. I remember how I felt when I woke up after dying. I was disoriented. Cold to the bone and terrified. But I remembered everything. Wetting my lips, I edged forward, wondering if I should try and take his hand. "I'm sorry any of this had to happen to you."

He shook his head, his hair falling over his eyes, and his lips pursed. "I'm not even sure what is happening."

"I think it was your ring."

"Yeah, I figured that when you started to ask about it."

"It's witch-made," I said, biting the inside of my lip. "It might mess with you. But I'm not sure how it works."

Jeremy didn't look overly surprised, but then again, why would he? In the last few months, he'd learned about the existence of the supernatural and had learned about his family which squirreled everything away behind secret cupboards, behind special bookshelves, or beneath loose floorboards. How far of a stretch would a 'dark magic ring' be?

"Killing because of a ring?" He asked absentmindedly, his voice lowering.

"I— I think so."

"Won't hold in court though," he said and I frowned. His pallid complexion was rapidly changing.

"What?"

And suddenly it hit me. The hairs on my arms stood upright, my body tensing while cold dread coiled in the pit of my stomach and stuttered up through my veins until the urge to run was almost overwhelming.

"—because someone had to—" Jeremy decided, his voice croaking, sounding deeper somehow. His eyes turned colder, his face pale, the light bulbs above throwing a sickly yellow over his skin. "And what did you do, Elena?"

"I tried to avoid casualties," I replied, taking a deep breath to keep down the rush of adrenaline.

"Right," he laughed, the cufflinks straining against the metal bolt on the table. His eyes flitted up and down and I wondered if he would like to strangle me with the cufflinks. With a shudder, I wondered if he could. After all, according to not only the police report but also to what I wore witness to, Jeremy had been capable to behead two adults. "Because you're such a good, little girl."

"You're not him, are you?" I asked,

"Whatever do you mean?" He taunted and sucked my lower lip between my teeth.

"This isn't solely due to the ring," I whispered, my eyes tracking over the boy in front of me. Everything about him was different. He didn't just act differently, it was as if he was an entirely different person and my fingernails cut into my palms. "I was so sure it was the ring, but this shouldn't happen after one death. Or— has someone been whispering into your ears?"

"You know so much, yet so little, little girl."

"Who are you?"

"Yet, you're still in a room with me."

"You're cuffed to the table." I pointed out drolly. "Why, do you want to kill me though?"

"I should," he told me leisurely and I cocked my head to the side. His eyes followed the motion.

"Then why didn't you? You had ample chance the last few months." I asked.

Jeremy didn't answer and I pressed my lips together. For a while, we sat in silence and I tried to think of what to say next. "Is a witch from the other side helping you?"

It was vague enough to not sound odd, but clear enough to let Jeremy understand I knew. Or at least I did when he was being manipulated by Esther. My stomach churned uncomfortably and I sat up straighter. Jeremy was looking confused again, face paling, but he'd seen lucid enough a few seconds ago and— he really was having psychological issues, wasn't he?

The door suddenly banged open and John dashed inside. His face was red and a vein was throbbing at his temple. I noticed a terrified deputy rushing in after him. John didn't seem bothered, not even when the deputy caught his shoulder. "This stops now! Elena, what the fuck are you doing? Get up, you're going home!" John snarled and when I didn't get up immediately, his face turned even redder. "Now Elena!"

"Fine," I snapped and shoved the chair back, nodding at Jermey. "I'll figure this out."

"I don't think you will," Jeremy muttered and his hands had started to tremble. "I don't even understand what's going on."

"Well, you will!" I promised him bleakly.

More deputies rushed in and within a minute Jeremy was being led from the interrogation room again. It only took a few seconds before he was out of my sight and another few until I heard his footsteps receding down the corridor.

John was standing beside me, trembling, muttering to himself. "Unbelievable, between you and Jenna—"

"Safe it, at least I am trying to remedy the situation. You think stuffing him full with pills and letting some shrink observe him, is going to help?" I asked. "This is not a mental issue. This is because of magic."

"Because of the journal?" He asked irritably, "Elena, be reasonable, you can't put so much faith—"

"Then what are we supposed to do, John?" Jenna asked.

His eyes bounced between Jenna and me and finally, he shook his head. "I don't know." He admitted and I felt the slight thrill of victory. It didn't last long. It was gone when he turned to me. "But I don't want you to involve yourself."

"By all means John," I grumbled.

Jenna put a comforting hand between my shoulder blades, steering me along. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

I wondered for whose benefit she was pointing this out but didn't comment. We left the station with a heavy feeling. Jenna wanted me to drop her off at the high school. I supposed she was going to complain to Alaric (could anyone really blame her) and I drove home with the same heavy feeling that I'd had when I drove away from it.

The night was moonless, and after washing off the makeup, and tying my hair up into a ponytail, I moved into my bedroom, curling up on the window seat. Curling up with a thin blanket, I pushed the curtain aside, staring outside. Jenna's Mini and John's SUV were gone, and instead, an unknown car was parked at the curb in front of our house. I couldn't be sure, but I thought there was someone behind the wheel.

Dropping the curtain, I almost toppled off the window seat and I scrambled for my phone, fingers curling around the device before— I realized I had nothing really to report. What was I going to say to whomever I called? 'There is someone parked in front of my house, alert the FBI and the army?'

A laugh formed in my throat and with sweaty, ever-so-slightly trembling fingers, I got to my feet, closed the curtains, and tiptoed out of my bedroom and into Grayson's and Miranda's. John used their room as some kind of war room, hiding vervain grenades (courtesy of Alaric, I was sure) and wooden stakes under the bed. I reached for the grenades, pushing them into the pockets of my vest, and held a taser between white-knuckled fingers.

As long as I stayed calm and remembered my self-defense lessons, I should be fine. Keeping my back to a wall I slowly ventured out of the bedroom, the door falling shut behind me and, after checking, locked the door to Jeremy's room. The guest room and Jenna's room were locked without much checking and soon I was tiptoeing down the stairs.

Technically, a vampire would hear me coming, no matter how silent I tried to be. Belatedly I realized I should have turned the radio on, but a vampire had to be invited in. Except for Elijah, I hadn't invited anyone inside. But of course, Klaus had been invited inside as well at some point. So it was quite possible another had been able to get access as well.

I struggled not to squirm, chewing on the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. My heart was pounding inside my head, my blood whirling loud in my ears, almost as if I was underwater. There was light coming from the living room and nudged the door open with the toe of my shoe, keeping the taser in front of me only to—

Klaus was sitting on the loveseat, feet propped up on the coffee table. A smirk tugged the corners of his lips up. "Hello, Elena."

"Klaus," I answered. What. The. Fuck.

Klaus jerked to his feet and with a smirk that was almost indecent, sauntered towards me. He appeared calm, but I could see the anger rippling beneath the surface, his blue eyes flashing. I had no idea what had warranted his ire. I didn't think I'd done anything (else) to warrant it, and I covered my unease with a frown.

"What are you doing here?"

"That seems rather obvious, Sweetheart,"

"Well, why don't you share with the class?" I replied drolly.

"A crazy teenager waging war against the families that apparently founded this town and my little Doppelgänger in the middle of it all? Seems reason enough for me to check in on you."

"Yeah, well, magic—"

"So I've been told."

I pursed my lips, "So Elijah told you?"

"Indeed, he did."

"Right, of course, he did. How stupid of me to assume he wouldn't go blabbing off."

Klaus waved his hand, turning towards the couch and after a moment, I followed after him. He flopped down, hands clasped behind his head and, at seeing my incredulous expression, scooted over to the side. Just enough for me to sit beside him, not enough to sit freely, and with a heavy sigh, I sat next to him, thigh touching his.

"You are aware Jeremy isn't here, right?"

"Of course, I am."

I frowned and then peered at his face again. "I am sorry for hitting you."

"What?"

"I shouldn't have. And I shouldn't have said the things I said." I told him. For my goal had been mainly to hurt him. And- well, he actually deserved to have his nose rubbed into the facts once in a while. However, fighting with the grenade without a pin, was not wise for someone's health, and I pressed my lips tightly together. "Even if you were acting like a massive Dick."

"Don't spare my feelings." He drolly remarked.

"Well, don't act like a massive arsehole on crack all the time and I could try and be genuine too."

"Pencil licker."

Pencil licker? Oh, he was on. A small smile pulled at my lips. "Impatient moron."

The shrill sound of the doorbell interrupted his comeback and I frowned. He didn't seem bothered, which, strangely enough, made me feel unworried as well. Moving to the front door, I unlocked it uncaringly. I wasn't sure who I was expecting, but, as the door creaked open, it wasn't the person standing on the porch.

The youngest male Mikaelson was tall and slender with thick, dark hair and fine-boned patrician features. His skin was pale, his cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of pink, and— I could only stare with a gobsmacked expression. With an arrogant smirk firmly in place, he ran his fingers through his hair, brushing back the waves that had fallen against his forehead. He threw me a wan-looking smile. "Hello, Luv."

"Kol?"

"You know of me," he grinned, "fantastic!"

"What?" I turned around peering into the darkened hall with a frown. Klaus had stepped out of the living room as well, unreadable mask in place. "What's your brother doing here?"

"Meeting big brother's pretty little girlfriend." He leered at me.

"Okay, you met her," I remarked and was about to slam the door in his face, not unlike what I'd done when I'd first met Rebekah when Klaus appeared beside me.

"Don't Luv." He remarked. "You'll want to invite him in."

"Why would I want to do that?" I asked, not keen on inviting another vampire into the house. Especially not one who was almost as psychopathic as his big brother.

"Because I've been told you need help with a curse and I'm a bit of an expert on magic."

My eyes widened, "Oh."

Fuck...

To be continued…

A/N: Updates will be regular again, but it will be every Saturday every two weeks. And perhaps I should've put a general content warning for Kol? But well, it was a surprise^.^

To be honest, I love the idea of Kol. The witch-obsessed Original has always been a source of amusement in TVD and TO to me. Although I find Kol disgustingly difficult to write, I love the sarcastic SOB. Sooo, be prepared for some Kol in the upcoming chapter(s). On another point, poor Jeremy. Rereading this, I realise how thoroughly I've screwed canon over...

Anyway, see you guys in two weeks!

Cheers,

Anna