[2x21; The Sun Also Rises]

Lucy had always heard that when someone was faced with a dangerous situation adrenaline would kick in and if you were injured, you wouldn't be in pain because you're body's working so hard for you to fight. She wasn't sure that what she heard was correct, though; she was a math and history girl and didn't pay much attention to her biology class.

Lucy wasn't injured, of course, but she was in a dangerous situation. If adrenaline was pumping through her veins at that very moment, she wouldn't feel it when she had to cut herself for this stupid sacrifice. There would be no pain.

She wondered if adrenaline numbed your emotional pain as well.

"Oh, my head," Jenna groaned loudly, brushing her hair out of her face. "What's wrong with me?"

Lucy inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to calm down as she rubbed Jenna's back, trying to comfort her. She couldn't afford to freak out right now, she had to be strong for Jenna.

She understood what Joel meant during their talk earlier. If she couldn't protect Jenna, she had to be strong for her. It wasn't really the same but it still was something that comforted her, even for a minute.

"Do you remember what happened?" Elena asked Jenna softly.

"Lucy and I were watching a movie and then you called me," Jenna recalled, looking at Lucy for confirmation; Lucy nodded. "Ugh, I should have realized it wasn't you. The second we walked out of the house, someone grabbed me. A vampire."

"It was Klaus," Lucy whispered.

Jenna nodded. "He made me drink his blood and I don't—" she shook her head. "I don't remember anything after that. Where are we? What happened?"

"We're at Steven's Quarry," Lucy told her. "He brought us here."

"Why don't I remember anything?"

Lucy sighed and looked to Elena, hoping that her sister would be the one to tell Jenna what had happened.

"Jenna, do you remember when I told you how someone becomes a vampire?" Elena asked.

Jenna nodded. "Yeah, if you die with vampire blood in your system, it…" she trailed off in realization. "Oh, God. He killed me."

Tears pricked Lucy's eyes as Jenna freaked out. "Jenna, listen to me," she grabbed her aunt's hands and squeezed them tightly. "Everything's going to be okay. Elena and I…we'll get you out of here, okay?"

Jenna couldn't seem to focus and Lucy couldn't blame her; it was a lot to take in.

"I'm a vampire?" she whimpered.

"And I bet you're hungry."

Lucy, Jenna, and Elena looked over as Greta walked over to them. There was a smirk on her lips that made Lucy's blood boil and would have loved to do nothing more than to wipe it off the witch's face.

Elena suddenly lunged to the side, reaching for a large rock she had spotted; Greta held up her hand and Elena went flying twenty feet away, groaning as she hit the hard ground.

And then Lucy was soaring through the air, too. When she hit the ground, a circle of fire erupted around her.

Lucy scrambled to her feet and saw that Elena was surrounded in a ring of fire, as well. Lucy got close to the flames and flinched away from the intense heat as they flared up.

"Don't bother trying to get through," Greta hummed as she picked up the rock Elena was trying to get. "I spelled the circles. You're both trapped, no matter what you do."

"Greta, please just let her go," Elena pleaded as Lucy bit her lip worriedly.

Greta sliced her wrist horizontally. "Klaus chose her," she told them as she held out her arm for Jenna. "Drink it."

"Jenna, don't!"

Jenna stared at Greta's wrist hungrily, breathing in the delicious scent. "I can't…"

"Let her go!" Lucy shouted at Greta.

Elena shouted as Jenna chomped down on Greta's wrist, sucking the blood from her flesh. Jenna moaned as she continued drinking the blood and, when Greta pulled her wrist away from her, growled in anger, dark veins trailing from her eyes.

"That's enough," Greta scolded her before walking away and igniting a circle of fire around Jenna.

Eventually, Greta left them and Lucy assumed that she was going to get the werewolf that Klaus was going to sacrifice. Jenna had calmed down from her bloodlust for the moment was sat in the middle of her circle, hugging her knees to her chest.

"How are you feeling, Jenna?" Lucy asked.

"I feel like myself, only not," Jenna breathed. "Everything is brighter. The fire's hotter. Part of me is terrified but there's a part of me that doesn't want to feel anything."

"Vampires can turn off the part that's human," Elena informed her. "That's the part that hurts."

Jenna nodded slowly and Lucy could see that she was starting to cry. "I'm gonna die, aren't I?"

"No! Jenna, we're not gonna let that happen," Elena promised her. "I don't care what we have to do."

A twig snapped as Greta came back to the clearing, causing them to look over at her. She was pulling a screaming woman behind her and when Lucy got a closer look, she saw that the werewolf Klaus was sacrificing was Jules, the woman who tortured Caroline and threatened to kill her.

"Who's that?" Jenna asked fearfully when Greta threw Jules to the ground a few feet away from her.

"It's the werewolf," Elena whispered.

"What's happening to me?" Jules cried while her bones snapped gruesomely under her skin.

"I cast a spell to slow down your transformation," Greta informed her matter-of-factly. "Your insides are trying to tear themselves free."

She raised her hand and a ring of fire surrounded Jules.

Lucy shook her head in disgust as Greta smirked at the pained werewolf. "Witches are supposed to maintain the balance in nature," she spat at the witch. "It's your duty to them to keep this curse sealed."

"My duty is to Klaus!" Greta snapped. "The new order."

Lucy rolled her eyes when she saw Klaus walk into the clearing. As if this man needed a bigger ego because of some stupid witch that was probably in love with him for no reason.

"Glad to know I still have a dance partner," Klaus commented before looking around at Lucy, Elena, Jenna, and Jules. "Hello, my lovelies. Are we ready?"

"The reincarnation first," Greta said as she walked to the outside of the clearing where she had placed a stone basin. The fire around Lucy faded away; Lucy sent a fearful look at Elena, who nodded and gave her a reassuring smile.

Lucy appreciated how strong Elena was being because she was currently faltering.

"Well, Luciana, it's time to help your big brother break his curse," Klaus stated as he walked over to Lucy, holding out a hand for her to take.

Lucy narrowed her eyes at him and ignored his hand, scrambling to her feet by herself. Klaus simply rolled his eyes as they started walking over to Greta together.

"Why did you turn Jenna?" Lucy asked him bitterly. "We did everything you wanted us to do."

"Well, you can thank Damon for Jenna's involvement," Klaus told her. "He took the werewolf and vampire I had originally planned to use, so I had to go with my backups. Backup werewolf, backup vampire…"

Only a few feet away from Greta and the stone basin, Lucy grabbed Klaus' arm to stop him. "Let Jenna go," she pleaded. "I can't lose my sister and my aunt. Please, Niklaus."

Klaus' eyes softened for the briefest second before Lucy saw the emotion flit away. He gently pulled her hand off of his arm and placed it back at her side before pressing against her upper back so she would start walking again.

"Do this without any complaints and I might let Jenna go."

Lucy pressed her lips together and turned her head, looking back at Jenna and Elena; they were both watching her and she nodded at them. If all she had to do was go along with her part to save Jenna, she would do so without a word.

They stopped by the stone basin and Klaus took the moonstone out of his pocket. "I spent five hundred years looking for this," he said as he handed it to Lucy. "I hate to part with it."

"Take off your necklace," Greta ordered Lucy, gesturing to her locket. "After I cast the spell to release the magic, you will have to siphon the curse from the moonstone and the locket. Once it's released, you're going to have to donate some blood."

Lucy nodded with a grimace, reaching behind her neck to unclasp her locket.

Greta turned her attention to the sky and grinned when she saw the light of the full moon. "The moon has passed its apex," she smirked at Klaus. "Remember everything you need to do?"

Klaus nodded. "I remember."

Greta held out her hands toward the moonstone and locket in Lucy's hands. She closed her eyes and declared, "Ostendo!"

The moonstone sparked in Lucy's hand and the locket followed a second later, both of them glowing brightly and then fading. Lucy closed her eyes and started siphoning, feeling the tell-tale wave of power flowing into her veins.

The last time Lucy had felt power like this was when she was trying to siphon the seal from the tomb. This curse, though, was more powerful—and it was taking a lot out of her.

Tears dripped down Lucy's face and her body shook from the force of the magic entering her body. It was painful—so, so painful—but there was a euphoric element to it as well. Underneath all that pain, Lucy felt powerful.

And then, she stopped. The curse had been successfully siphoned from the moonstone and the locket. She opened her eyes, looking at Greta expectantly for her next move.

"Place the moonstone and the locket in this basin," Greta ordered her.

Lucy did as she was told and when the moonstone and the locket were at the bottom of the basin, her arm was forcefully grabbed and pulled toward Greta. Lucy grunted in pain at the tight grip Greta had around her wrist.

Klaus clicked his tongue as Greta pulled out a knife. "Careful, Greta."

Greta didn't seem to heed Klaus' order; she harshly sliced Lucy's wrist, drawing a squeal of pain. Lucy gagged as blood started to pour out of the wound, dripping down on the moonstone and the locket. Both of them were fully submerged and Lucy was getting lightheaded when Greta let go of her arm.

Before Lucy fainted, all she saw was the basin bursting into flames while Greta chanted.

When Lucy came to, Jules was dead.

She lifted her head from where it was resting on the grass and saw that she was, once again, surrounded by a ring of fire. Jules' dead body was lying on the ground a few feet away from her, Klaus was by Greta's side, and Elena and Jenna were waiting for Lucy to wake up.

"Are you okay?" Jenna asked her worriedly.

Lucy groaned and sat up, her vision going blurry for a brief moment. "I'm fine," she finally answered. "Just a little lightheaded."

Jenna sighed in relief and braced herself on her knees. "The day that the lawyers called to tell me that I was going to become your guardian, you know what my first thought was?" she glanced between Elena and Lucy. "Isn't there someone else who can do this?"

Lucy sighed, tears welling up in her eyes. "Jenna, there was no one else who could have gotten us though all of that."

Jenna shook her head sadly. "Just the thought that I almost passed up taking care of you."

"But you didn't," Elena said soothingly. "You put your entire life on hold to help us."

"Look around, Elena," Jenna's voice was firm. "I failed you."

"No, you didn't," Elena disagreed. "I failed you and I'm so sorry."

Jenna pressed her lips together sadly; Lucy wished she would have done more to assure her aunt that she was great for her and her siblings. She told the truth before; without Jenna, who knows where they'd all be?

"Jenna, listen. Being a vampire, it intensifies you guilt but it also makes you stronger and faster," Lucy said quietly, hoping that Klaus was distracted enough that he would overhear. "You can fight back."

She didn't trust that Klaus was going to just let Jenna go.

"We're gonna get through this," Elena added. "We'll be okay. I need you to believe that. Just promise, when you get the chance, run."

Jenna nodded, silently promising to fight.

It was only moments later when Klaus made his way over to Jenna's circle.

"Hello, Jenna."

Jenna slowly rose to her feet, staring Klaus down.

"Let her go," Elena begged Klaus. "I understand that I have to die but she doesn't."

She walked closer to the flames surrounding her and the flared brightly; Elena reared back from the heat.

"Careful," Klaus chided her.

"Elena," Jenna gave her a warning look. "don't."

"Klaus," Lucy spoke up when Elena clenched her jaw angrily. "You said you wouldn't use Jenna if I cooperated."

Klaus cocked his head thoughtfully. "I said I might let her go," he corrected her. "It's too late to find a replacement vampire now, love."

Lucy felt her heart drop; even though she thought that Klaus wouldn't go through with his words, she still held out hope that Jenna was going to get out of this mess. She felt sick to her stomach and she was pretty sure it wasn't from the blood she lost.

Lucy scrambled to her feet, giving Klaus a furious look. "Klaus, please don't!" she pleaded. "Please."

"I followed your rules and I did everything you asked!" Elena joined in tearfully. "I didn't run. Please."

Klaus' gaze was critical as he looked from Elena to Jenna and, finally, to Lucy. He cocked his head and Lucy hoped that he was coming around.

"Well, well," he drawled, turning to stare at the cliff overlooking the quarry. "I don't recall you being on the guest list."

Lucy gasped when she saw who he was talking to. Stefan stood on the cliff above them and was apparently speaking because Klaus made a comment and disappeared from the clearing. Seconds later, he was right next to Stefan.

"What's going on?" Jenna asked worriedly as all three of them stared up at Klaus and Stefan.

Lucy shook her head. "I don't know."

"You can hear them," Elena remembered, looking over at Jenna. "Your senses are heightened. You can hear anything. Just focus on them."

Lucy stared anxiously at Jenna as she concentrated, staring up at Klaus and Stefan.

"What are they saying?"

"I can't—" Jenna shook her head. "I can't make it out."

"You can do this," Elena breathed. "Just relax."

Jenna nodded and narrowed her eyes, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I can hear him. I can hear Stefan…" she trailed off, listening to their conversation before gasping. "Oh, my God."

Lucy stiffened. "What is it?"

"He wants to take my place."

Lucy paced around her circle of fire, biting her bottom lip so hard she could taste a nauseating hint of her blood. She ignored Jenna trying to comfort Elena as she thought about what she could possibly do to get all them out of this mess.

No matter how many scenarios she ran in her head, nothing came out right. She couldn't siphon the fire around her without being injured, so she couldn't get out. None of the curse that she siphoned was left, so she couldn't do magic to do anything.

She couldn't save Jenna. She couldn't save Stefan. She was useless.

"Quite the predicament," Klaus spoke up as he walked into the clearing, Stefan trailing after him. "You know, it's funny. All this talk about preserving family and here's Stefan, granting your wish."

"Stefan…"

Stefan smiled at Elena. "It's okay."

"Well," Klaus looked at Elena for a decision. "Who's it going to be, Elena?"

Elena shook her head. "No."

Klaus clicked his tongue. "Oh, don't worry," he said softly. "There's actually no choice."

Klaus was a blur as he sped over to Stefan, pulling out a stake and plunging it into his back. Lucy and Elena shouted in surprise as Stefan grunted and fell to his knees, unable to fight back.

Lucy's heart raced in her chest as her vision of Stefan blurred. She could feel the start of a panic attack coming on but she had to focus. She couldn't freak out right now. She could do that later.

"I have other plans for your boyfriend," Klaus told Elena, breaking the stake in Stefan's back so he couldn't get it out. "but, for now…" he swiftly snapped Stefan's neck, rendering him unconscious.

"Whenever you're ready, Greta!" Klaus called to his witch, staring down Jenna. As the fire around Jenna died, he smirked. "Your turn."

"No," Lucy breathed shakily, her chest aching. "No, Jenna…"

Jenna looked at Lucy and Elena, a look of resolve starting in her eyes. "It's all right, girls," she assured her nieces. "I know what I have to do."

Lucy watched, tears streaming down her face, as Jenna sped away, appearing right behind Greta. She chomped down on the witch's neck and drank as much as she could, ignoring her victim's screams. Jenna was only with Greta for two seconds before Klaus appeared behind her.

Klaus stabbed a stake through Jenna's back as he pulled her off Greta. Jenna screamed in pain and a sob ripped out of Lucy's throat as she collapsed on the ground. She looked at Elena and Lucy with wide eyes.

"Turn it off," Elena cried over Lucy's sobs. "Turn it off. You won't be scared anymore."

Klaus stepped toward Jenna and turned her over, hovering above her. He held up the stake and plunged it into her heart, causing her to gasp loudly.

"No!" Lucy shouted through her cries as Jenna's body slowly turned a sickening gray. "No, Jenna, no!"

She fell to her knees and clutched her chest, almost hyperventilating from the strength of her sobs. Unable to watch as Klaus pulled the Jenna's heart from her chest, she ducked her head and covered her eyes with her bloody hands.

Jenna was dead. She was dead and Lucy would never see her again. Never again would they have game nights and watch rom coms together. Never would Lucy hear Jenna's sarcastic comments and playful quips. She loved Jenna so much and now she lost her.

Now she knew that adrenaline didn't numb pain the way everyone said it did.

Lucy didn't listen as Greta continued chanting to break the curse and she didn't notice when Stefan woke up and apologized to Elena. She didn't care when he told her sister that they were going to kill Klaus.

When the fire around Elena dimmed, Lucy looked up, glaring at Klaus with hatred.

"It's time," Klaus announced, holding out a hand to Elena.

Elena glowered at him and ignored his hand, standing up by herself. She walked past him without a word, causing Klaus to roll his eyes in annoyance.

Lucy knew that Elena would come back, thanks to Damon's blood, but it was still nerve wracking to watch as she stood next to Greta to await her fate. She buried her head in her hands as Klaus approached Elena and whispered something to her.

It was only seconds later that she heard a body drop to the ground.

"No, no, no," Lucy whimpered wetly, pressing her palms forcefully against her eyes.

Now Elena was gone, too.

The fire in the basin disappeared but Lucy could still feel the heat surrounding her. She kept her hands over her eyes as Klaus started to shout in joy and his bones stared cracking disgustingly. The first hybrid was shifting.

And then he was screaming and someone was chanting.

Lucy looked up to see Bonnie stalking toward the clearing, her hand held out in front of her as she shouted curses at Klaus, who writhed in pain. The wind was blowing furiously around them and thunder boomed as lightning touched down.

The ring of fire around Lucy disappeared as Damon sped over to Greta and snapped her neck. As Damon picked up Elena's body, Lucy was on the move, running to Jenna. Joel appeared next to her, his eyes shining as he pulled Lucy into his chest and stared down at his aunt.

While Damon left the quarry with Elena and Bonnie stopped chanting, Joel stood and picked up Lucy, cradling her to her chest. He was about to speed away, but Lucy protested strongly.

"No!" she cried desperately. "What about Jenna? We can't leave her here."

"I need to get you out of here, Luce," Joel told her. "I will come back for her. I promise."

"You promise?"

"I wouldn't leave her."

Lucy stared blankly at the shiny black pumps Caroline had put out for her, wishing that she didn't have to wear them. After her parents died, she had never wanted to go to another funeral, but here she was. They were burying Jenna and John—who gave his life to Elena—today.

She felt sick to her stomach. She didn't want to do this but she owed it to Jenna and John to be there. They protected her and her siblings. They loved Lucy, Elena, Joel, and Jeremy and they took care of them. The least they could do was give Jenna and John a funeral to say goodbye.

Lucy looked up as Caroline walked into her room, dressed in a nice outfit and a small frown. Caroline didn't say a word as she walked over to Lucy's bed and sat down next to her but Lucy could tell she wanted to say something.

It didn't take long for Caroline to crack. "I'm so sorry, Luce."

Lucy shook her head and leaned to the side, laying her head on Caroline's shoulder. No tears had come to her eyes and she was glad; she didn't want to cry anymore. From this moment forward, she wanted to heal. She knew Jenna and her parents would want that.

"Life's too short," she sighed as Caroline leaned her head against hers. "You think you have forever with people and you don't and it sucks. Jenna's not coming back and it hurts but I don't want to dwell on the fact that she's not here anymore. I just want to remember the times she made me smile or laugh or when I felt loved by her. Does that make sense?"

Caroline sniffed wetly—Lucy's words had made her tear up. "Yeah, it does," she agreed. "When did you get so smart, Luce?"

Lucy chuckled and Caroline giggled along with her. Their laughter trailed off when Joel entered Lucy's room, eight red roses clutched in his fist. He smiled slightly at the sight of Lucy and Caroline pulling themselves together and looking at him sheepishly.

Even when most things changed, some things stayed the same.

"Are you ready?" he asked his little sister, holding four of the roses out to her.

The roses were for Jenna, John, and her parents. Joel, Jeremy, and Elena would have their own to give, as well. Lucy was so grateful Caroline had stepped up to plan a funeral for Jenna and John overnight.

Lucy took the roses and brought them to her nose, inhaling the sweet scent that reminded her of Jenna's perfume.

"I'm ready."