Elena sat down outside of school for lunch with Bonnie and Caroline. She wasn't in the best mood. It had been almost a week since her conversation with Elijah, and she'd made no headway in finding an alternate solution to her problem. She'd been trying to get Damon and Stefan to back off. That would at least solve part of the problem, but her efforts were fruitless. They both remained determined to find and take on Klaus.

"Hey, Elena. Everything okay?" Caroline asked.

"Fine," Elena bit out.

Just then, Stefan made his way over. "Hey."

"Hey, Stefan," Caroline said.

"You know what's bugging Elena. She's been kind of irritable the last few days," Bonnie said.

Stefan sighed. "She's mad at me."

"Why?" Caroline asked.

Elena turned and glared at Stefan. "Yeah, tell her why, Stefan. Could it be because you're being an idiot for no good reason?"

"No good reason? I'm trying to save your life. That's not a good reason?" Stefan asked in disbelief.

"Tell me, Stefan, how does provoking an unkillable vampire save my life?" Elena asked in a harsh whisper. Honestly, Stefan wasn't just arrogant, he was stupid. His logic made no sense. His plan was to direct Klaus' attention to them. If Elena was truly human, that wouldn't save her. It would probably expedite her death if anything.

"Wait, what's going on? Is this about Klaus and the curse?" Caroline asked.

Elena sighed and turned to them. "Stefan and Damon want to seek Klaus out and kill him, which will only result in their deaths instead."

"It's better than waiting around for him to find you. He'll find you eventually, Elena, or some other vampire will, like Rose and Trevor did, and they'll go to him," Stefan said.

That point was hard for Elena to argue. Mystic Falls was pretty much vampire central. Eventually, someone probably would find her. However, it wasn't any better to go after Klaus. That would most definitely end in death.

"Wait, Elena, you said unkillable. What did you mean?" Bonnie asked.

"I spoke to John about Klaus. He said he can't be killed with a normal stake. It has to be a specific kind, and it no longer exists. He can't be killed," Elena said.

"Oh, wow. That's not good," Caroline said.

"Okay, we don't know John's right about that. I know he's a vampire hunter, but he's still only human and hasn't met Klaus. No one really knows the truth about Klaus. That could just be another myth. There are a lot of stories about Klaus, and I'm pretty sure most of them aren't true," Stefan said.

"Do you know why the stories about Klaus can't be substantiated, Stefan? I'm guessing it's because most of those who go up against Klaus don't survive the encounter," Elena said. Actually, it was much more than a guess. She knew for a fact that no one lived after challenging Klaus.

"Okay, I refuse to believe this guy can't be killed," Bonnie interrupted. "Elena, even if you're right about the traditional ways not working, there is a way to kill him. I can take on vampires. I'll kill him if I have to."

Elena looked at Bonnie as if she grew another head. Did every supernatural being turn this arrogant once they learned what they were? Bonnie was even worse than Stefan. She'd been a witch for less than a year. Granted, she was more powerful than vampires, and it was entirely possible that she could kill Klaus, but he would take her down with him. Not that Elena would allow that to happen anyway. If Elena wanted Klaus dead, she'd do it herself. "Wow. I don't know which one of you is more arrogant and stupid."

"Elena!" Caroline chastised in disbelief.

Elena ignored her. She was passed pretending to be her sweet and nice descendent at the moment. "Even if you could kill Klaus, Bonnie, you would die too!"

"You don't know that," Bonnie said. Inwardly though, she had to admit that Elena was most likely right, at least if Klaus was as powerful as she believed, but no one knew anything for sure.

"Yes, I do. We've both seen that too much power can kill witches. Your grandmother used too much power and it killed her, and she'd been at it for decades. That spell wasn't even a tenth of what you'd most likely need to kill someone like Klaus. It would kill you, and that's if you managed to channel that much power," Elena said.

"What's the alternative, Elena? Waiting for this guy to show up and kill you?" Bonnie asked as if it were crazy.

"Better than poking the bear and everyone getting killed," Elena said before getting up and walking away.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

When Elena got home, she found Elijah waiting on the porch. "I thought we agreed that I would call you."

"Yes, well, I didn't think it was a good idea to wait any longer. This town appears to attract vampires," Elijah said.

"I know. That's why half the town is on vervain," Elena said.

"It is also why there is little time to waste. It is only a matter of time before another vampire who is aware of Niklaus' cause finds out about the 'doppelganger'. If you still wish to save Stefan Salvatore's life, we must act quickly," Elijah said.

Elena sighed. She knew he was right. Klaus' arrival was unavoidable, and not just because Stefan and Damon insisted on going after him. Elijah had a point about someone eventually seeing her and reporting to Klaus. "Alright. We will go with your plan. I will leave and return to Klaus. You will compel the Salvatore's to live Mystic Falls. I still need a couple of days though."

"Eleanor…"

"I'm taking a couple more days, Elijah. I can't just leave tonight. There are people here who know about Klaus and will be suspicious if I just disappear, and they can't be compelled at the moment because of the vervain. I'm going to have to convince most of them that I'm leaving on my own," Elena said. Jenna would be the exception. She'd have to get her off the vervain and compel her, as she'd never just let Elena leave.

"Very well. I can see how it would be difficult to just leave, but you must go as soon as possible," Elijah cautioned.

Elena nodded. "There's one more thing I want done before I abandon my resolve to never return to Klaus."

"What is it?" he asked.

"Katerina Petrova. I want that woman neutralized once in for all," Elena said. Her doppelganger had been a thorn in her side for too long. When her husband wasn't obsessed with his damned curse, he was obsessed with tracking down Katerina. Elena had had more than enough of it. Plus, she hated the bitch for what she did to Stefan and Damon. She'd played games with their lives just because she was bored. She needed to pay for that.

Elijah frowned. "I don't know where Katerina is. She has been running for centuries."

Elena smirked. "Not anymore. She's in Mystic Falls. She's trapped in a tomb due to a powerful spell. The bitch thought she was going to sacrifice me to Klaus to save herself."

Elijah chuckled in response. He could certainly see the humor in that. Katerina never stood a chance against Eleanor, and even if she did, Klaus would make her suffer even worse for thinking she could sacrifice his wife. "Alright, but what do you need me for? You're more than powerful enough to take on Katerina, and no witch's spell could stop you either."

"True, and I will, if necessary, but I thought you might like the honors. Katerina made a fool out of you. You've earned the right to end her yourself. Consider it a gift, Brother," Elena said.

Elijah considered it for a few moments. "Niklaus will not be pleased."

"Good. I'm certainly not pleased. If I'm not going to be happy, I damn well plan to make sure he's not. He'll get over it eventually. Katerina dies before I leave this town one way or another. That woman has been a part of my life and marriage for centuries, and it ends now," Elena said firmly.

Elijah nodded. "Very well. I graciously accept your gift."

"Good. At least one good thing will come out of this," Elena said.

"Eleanor, I know you're unhappy, but is it really so terrible to go back to Niklaus. I know you still love him. Your reaction to me wanting to kill him proves it," Elijah said. Eleanor might care deeply for Stefan Salvatore. She might even love him, but she also loved Niklaus, and Elijah doubted her love for the Salvatore boy was greater than her love for his brother.

Elena sighed. "Yes, I love him, Elijah. I probably always will, but I do not love the non-stop obsession he has with finding another doppelganger. He has made it his whole existence. And I get it to an extent, but I do not want to come in second to an obsession any longer. He cares more about it than he does me. I'm not okay with that."

"I don't believe that's true," Elijah said. He had issues with his brother, but he did not believe for a second that Niklaus loved anything more than he loved his wife. She was the one person in the universe he loved more than himself.

"Elijah, I looked him straight in the eye and told him that if he did not stop his obsession that I would leave. He refused," Elena said.

"He didn't believe you," Elijah said. That much he knew. Niklaus had expressed to him that he had been shocked when his wife followed through with her threat. He believed she was bluffing.

"That is his problem! The fact is that he was willing to risk it. That is enough for me to know where his priorities lie. But I will go back. I don't know how long I'll stay, but I will at least go back long enough to protect Stefan," Elena said.

Elijah nodded. "Alright. I should leave before the humans return. Call me when you're ready to deal with Katerina."

Elena nodded and watched him leave.

Klaus smiled as he prepared to leave for Mystic Falls. He'd gotten word that not only was there another doppelganger finally, but Katerina was likely there as well. He could finally end his curse and take his revenge on Katerina. Originally, he was planning to wait until closer to the full moon to make his appearance, but there was too much at stake for him to take any chances.

Breaking this curse would solve all his problems. Not only could he finally become a hybrid and create others like him, but he could make things right with his wife. Once he broke the curse, his lovely Eleanor would have no reason to stay away. As soon as the curse was broken, he would make sure to find her. No, he couldn't take any chances with this doppelganger. He would not have another situation like Katerina. He was going to get back everything that was his.