I have re-worked the entirety of this story so if you haven't already I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you re-read or you may get lost from here on out.
Happy reading! Let me know what you think
Chapter 27
John frowned at the loud slamming of the front door He'd already had to deal with the deadly glare thrown to him by Jenna as she'd stormed into the house earlier after being escorted by her undead lover. He walked through the living room to greet whoever had just arrived, blinking in surprise at seeing the intense combination of rage and sorrow on his nephew's face.
"Jeremy, what-"
"Augustine."
John couldn't hold back the flinch at the name, telling Jeremy everything he needed to know. The teen sneered, barely able to look at his uncle as he began pacing the living room.
"God, what kind of people could do that? Were you in on it, too? Or was it just my dad," Jeremy spat, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. John's eyes pinched with frustration and concern.
"Jeremy, I don't know what you've been told, but-"
"Oh, trust me, I've been told enough by the very test subject the good doctor used!" Jeremy interrupted viciously. "What; was I supposed to be inducted into this anti-vampire club you and Grayson were in when I came of age?"
"He was your father," John interrupted firmly, anger starting to pool in his chest at the contempt shown to his dead brother. "You will talk about him with respect."
"Does he deserve my respect?" Jeremy spat. "The kind of man willing to torture and starve a man that had already been a captive for decades?"
"Not man, Jeremy. Vampire."
"And that makes it OK?" Jeremy demanded, stalking toward his uncle until he was inches from him. John absently noted how tall the teen was getting. "The fact that it wasn't a human makes it OK that my father was able to conduct inhumane experiments?"
"It was for the good of us all," John tried to explain. "What he was doing- he was trying to advance the medical field!"
"That still doesn't make it OK!" Jeremy bellowed, his face red with frustration before he stalked back across the living room toward the kitchen, scrubbing his hands through his hair as he went.
John made to follow him but the front door stole his attention, the wood being slammed shut again. The man prayed for patience as his daughter stormed into the room, her gaze barely touching him before she caught sight of Jeremy's retreating figure.
"Jeremy! When were you going to tell me, huh? When did I get to know that someone wanted to kill me?!"
"What do you know?" John demanded quickly before grimacing at the piercing gazes he was subjected to; Jeremy suspicious and Elena betrayed.
"You knew? I can't believe it," Elena rambled, running her fingers through her hair as she closed her eyes. "Is there anyone in town that doesn't know my life is the key to breaking some curse?"
"It's a lot bigger than you're imagining, 'Lena," Jeremy sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face. "Lia has it all worked out; the part you need to play and what the curse does and who it's for. We were-"
"I don't care, Jer! The fact is, you didn't tell me! So now, I've made my own arrangements with my life and made a deal."
That had Jeremy snapping to attention. "What? What deal? With who, Elena?"
"Doesn't matter, does it? All options lead to my death," Elena's face crumpled in grief.
"No! Elena, listen! Lia has it all sorted. The curse, it's not that simple! If you do this without her, you'll be signing yourself up for either permanent death or life as a blood bag!"
Elena frowned in confusion. "Jeremy, what-"
"Tell me what you know," John demanded, taking a step closer to his nephew and gripping his shoulder in a vice. "It's important, Jeremy."
Footsteps were heard marching down the stairs before a tired yet determined Jenna came into sight. She took stock of the scene in front of her before squaring her shoulders.
"Right. Where are we at?"
Jeremy was the first to jump in and catch his aunt up, making sure to highlight that Elena had made her own deal with someone.
Jenna narrowed her eyes at the girl who was standing with her chin held high with an indignant expression on her face. "It was Elijah, wasn't it?"
Elena was too obvious.
Jeremy scoffed. "That guy? Lia stole his eyeball during their first meeting. You want to put your trust in him? What did he promise you?"
"Yeah, well, better him than the town's succubus!"
Jeremy snorted a laugh. Even Jenna couldn't hide her exasperated amusement.
"So, you don't want to accept Lia's help because you're jealous?"
"No! I don't want to fall into the web that she seems to have caught everyone else in!"
"Look," Jeremy sighed, facing his sister fully and meeting her defiant gaze calmly. "Lia has a plan. She not only has multiple ways to resurrect you, but also the means to break the second curse right now as long as you give her a little of your blood. After Klaus has what he wants, he'll be gone and you'll get to live without the threat hanging over you. If you deal with Elijah…" Jeremy took a step closer, his eyes beseeching. "It will only get messy and difficult and you don't want to be in the middle of that. I don't want you to be in the middle of that." He sighed in frustration, tugging at his hair. "This isn't how we wanted you to find out. We wanted to sit you down and calmly explain everything, the why's and the how's and all. I am sorry you had to find out the way you did."
A knock at the door interrupted whatever Elena had to say.
"For the love of-" John cut himself off as he stormed to the door, reefing it open in his frustration only to freeze at who was on the other side.
"Hello, Johnathan," Isobel greeting blandly as she was wont to do ever since she'd flipped her switch. "Mind inviting me in?"
"Isobel, now is really not the time," John muttered, closing the door enough so that he remained inside but no one could see the woman standing on the front porch.
"You've had enough time, John. Given that Katherine is missing and you've lost the device, I'm obviously needed here. Now, are you going to let me see my daughter?"
The door was stolen from the Gilbert's grasp by Jenna, revealing the stranger to the rest of the family.
Isobel's eyes immediately honed in on Elena. "You look just like her, it's uncanny."
"You're talking about Katherine?" Elena asked, eyes narrowed at the suspicious woman.
"I'm your mother."
"You must be Isobel," Jeremy muttered, taking a step in front of Elena as if to protect her.
Isobel noticed. "How sweet, thinking that you could protect your sister from me. Or, rather, cousin, isn't that right, John?"
"What are you talking about?" Elena demanded, trying to get in front of Jeremy only to be held back easily.
"You didn't know?" Isobel's blank stare fixed on her daughter uncaringly. "You were adopted by Miranda and Grayson Gilbert. I dated John when I was 16 and ended up pregnant with you. I was too young to be a mother and so Dr Gilbert, at the behest of his brother, took you as his own."
"What?" Elena's voice was barely above a whisper. It seemed she couldn't catch a break with all the life-changing news that kept being thrown her way.
"Your parents wanted to tell you themselves," Jenna explained gently, feeling guilty that she'd kept the information to herself and angry that this was the time it was coming out. "I didn't know who your parents were, just that your mother's name was Isobel. I had no idea that he was your father," she jabbed a vicious finger toward John who couldn't make eye contact with anyone.
"Now, about my invite? The neighbours are starting to stare."
"Come in, Isobel," John sighed in defeat, preparing for an emotionally exhausting night.
Just as the door closed behind her, Isobel had Jeremy by his neck, holding him in the air effortlessly. "Now, I want to know Katherine's whereabouts and I have every reason to believe that your friend knows where she is."
Elena shouted for her to stop, John demanded his nephew's release and Jenna remained silently worried, trusting that Jeremy both could and would deal with the woman.
Jeremy laughed, halting Isobel's next words. He grabbed her arm with both hands and snapped her arm, reminiscent of Lia and Elijah's encounter before switching their positions, easily dangling the vampire in the air by her throat.
Isobel's eyes widened in shock as she choked in pain, her arm already healing from the break as she struggled for breath.
"You don't get to make demands here," Jeremy stated almost pleasantly before lowering her to her feet, leaning in till their faces were barely inches apart. "You know about my friend, you should know that she'd never leave me or anyone she cares about vulnerable."
He released the vampire, watching disinterestedly as she sped to the opposite wall, catching her breath with a hiss as she rubbed her sore throat.
"Jeremy," John took a slow step back. "Are you…?"
Jenna rolled her eyes. "Of course, he isn't a vampire, you idiot. Lia just made sure we could defend ourselves."
"We?" Elena immediately latched on to the word. "How?"
"Does it matter?" Jeremy asked impatiently, his eyes never leaving the now-recovered vampire. "I think we have more important things to discuss."
Elena paused, silently agreeing with her brother – cousin – and reflecting on the information she'd learned in the last few hours as she stared at the woman who was supposedly her mother.
"Why are you working with Katherine?" Elena squared her shoulders, trying to remain strong as she looked the woman in the eye. "Are you… are you here for me?"
Isobel's face quirked in a barely-there smirk that was full of condescension as she easily heard the hidden question. "Don't try to look for any redeeming qualities in me, Elena. You won't find any. I just want to know where Katherine is. You will tell me."
Jeremy scoffed before grinning with such malicious glee that it made his uncle wary. "I'm afraid you'll have to ask Lia for the whereabouts of your friend. John can show you the way if you don't know where to find her."
Jenna pulled out her phone as she side-eyed Isobel. "Better yet, I can give her a call now."
Isobel scowled before blurring out of the house, Elena and John only feeling the high-speed wind and hearing the door slam while Jenna and Jeremy were able to watch her leave.
Not sparing a second, Jenna whirled around on the father-daughter duo, hands on hips as she stared them down. "Now, we are going to have a civilised discussion in which everyone lays their cards on the table. On the couch. Now."
Without waiting for a response, Jenna turned and marched herself toward the recliner, Jeremy following and dropping himself into the other single chair, leaving Elena and John to share the couch.
Jenna withheld her sigh. She was sure it was going to be a long night.
*TVDM*
Lia hummed to herself, swaying in contentment as she once more sorted through the information the earth sent her, her fingers wiggling deeper into the soil. She'd had a thought little more than an hour ago, as the clock had struck 3AM, that if she tried to connect to the planet whilst connected to the vampire race, she'd be able to search through the planet's memories in a way she hadn't before. Of course, this – in theory – only related to anything vampire, which at the moment was exactly what she wanted. She was on the hunt for the missing Mikaelson children once more. So far, she'd seen a lot of Klaus, Rebekah and Elijah, her information yielding next-to-nothing on Finn and only a little more than that on Kol. She had, however, experienced more of Esther and ugh.
What a bitch.
Occasionally she'd receive something regarding witches or werewolves; a coven called Gemini intriguing and frustrating her as she realised that they had to be doing something to twins but she hadn't yet seen what, only that the new coven leaders were always the only twin left.
She grimaced as she watched another rough ending to one of Rebekah's relationships. Poor gal couldn't catch a break with the overbearing Nik on her tail.
A tingling sensation ran straight down Lia's spine, pulling a gasp from the mermaid. She absently recognised the wards covering Katherine were telling her something, but the magic it had sent her spiralled her consciousness onto another pathway in the earth. She watched as a witch that she recognised – Grace or Glinda or something – was looking at the contents of a shipping container, peering outside to make sure she was alone before stepping in and taking a peek into the closest coffin. The lid lifted, revealing the desiccated yet still handsome face of Kol Mikaelson. The witch hovered her hand over the dagger embedded in his chest before snapping out of whatever daze she seemed to be in, nearly slamming the coffin closed before leaving the container, locking it tight and strutting quickly yet confidently out of a warehouse. A warehouse that, according to the signage, was close.
Lia wretched her hands out of the dirt only to throw them in the air with a powerful cackle filled with pure glee.
"Oh! Mikaelson children, I see you~!" she sang merrily as she bounced to her feet, bolting into the house; quickly cleaning herself up and dressing in an adorable navy dress with black boots. She knew she would be visiting those coffins very soon, but for now, she had to go investigate the witch that had apparently crossed Katherine's ward.
Pausing at the front door, Lia huffed as she realised how annoying the situation really was. She may not remember the witch's name, but she did remember where she'd met her before. The supposedly impenetrable ward she'd erected had allowed the holder of her tear passage. She was just glad that it seemed to not allow the intruder to exit, realising that it wasn't Lia herself that had passed through. Lia would honestly be happy to leave her there, if she wasn't so obviously connected to Klaus.
Rolling her eyes, she went to take a step outside but froze at the sound of a throat clearing behind her.
Slowly turning around, she sheepishly met the gaze of a fresh-faced, newly dressed Caroline. The blonde stood, hip cocked with her arms crossed over her chest and her disapproving eyebrow raised.
"Where do you think you're going?" the cheerleader asked calmly.
"Uh, to visit Katerina…?"
If possible, the eyebrow climbed higher.
"Are you asking me or telling me?"
Lia twitched, her back straightening indignantly as she looked at her friend with betrayal. "What?! That's not fair! You know I've always wanted to say that!"
Caroline's disapproval thickened. "I'm going to say this once, you alien fish, so zip the lips and listen up."
The blonde stalked over to the mermaid slowly, reaching around her threateningly to close the front door with a sharp bang.
"You are going to follow me to the kitchen and watch as I eat a healthy breakfast. Then, you are going to follow me to my car. We will proceed to make our way to the school and finalise the decorations for tonight. At exactly 12PM, we will be returning to this residence in order to start on our own costumes. Do I make myself clear?"
"Uh," Lia swallowed, shrinking in on herself at the narrowing of those blue eyes. "Bu-but, the wards on Katerina's-"
"Even if you tell me she escaped, you will not be chasing after her until tonight is over. Do you understand?"
"But Klaus-!"
"Who's more important?!" Caroline snapped, earning herself a squeak from the siren. "Canine-to-be or me?!"
"You!" Lia wailed, hugging herself in fear. "You, I promise!"
Caroline straightened, flipping her hair in satisfaction and she spun on her heel and started for the kitchen. "I know. Come along!"
"Yes, Miss Caroline!" Lia shouted in a knee-jerk reaction, kicking herself at the smug smirk she received over the evil dictator's shoulder. "I'm supposed to be the supreme being," she muttered, pouting and frowning as she followed along.
"A little less whining, please!" Caroline sang as she started raiding the fridge, happily ignoring her sulking friend as she made good on her breakfast plans.
*TVDM*
"What the hell, Maddox?! You piece of shit! Get me out of here! God, this is the last time I listen to you!"
The warlock blankly watched on as the witch he'd been partnered with continued to bang on the invisible wall while cursing him out. The crystal had allowed the witch to pass through the barrier, however, it had immediately disintegrated as soon as she was clear. He was surprised that the crystal had not worked, though he supposed it made sense if the creator of the ward was the original owner of the crystal.
Maddox ignored her as he reached for his phone and immediately dialling Klaus.
"Speak."
"Greta was able to enter but the crystal disintegrated upon crossing the barrier."
"So, both Katerina and Greta are stuck behind the blasted thing."
Maddox kept silent, knowing that it was not a question.
After a minute of silence, Klaus growled, the sound of glass smashing heard in the background. "Return. I dare say this is the work of the creature. I'll deal with her tonight."
"Understood."
Sliding the phone back into his pocket, Maddox started walking away.
"Maddox?! Where are you going? Get me out of here!"
Pausing, Maddox turned his head slightly so that the seething witch could hear him. "Klaus has summoned me," Maddox did not look back as he soldiered on, ignoring the rage-filled screams that followed him.
Greta kept screaming until she heard the car drive away before huffing angrily, kicking a few loose stones across the floor. She dropped heavily, leaning against the uncomfortable rocky surface as she warily watched the vampire that was just at the end of the tunnel. She scooted closer to the barrier as she watched Katerina whisper to herself, clutch her head and then crawled out of sight in seeming panic. Greta shuddered, not wanting to be anywhere near the half-starved, half-crazed bitch; especially if she decided to snap out of whatever she was experiencing and focus on the blood pumping through her veins. Greta would almost be impressed if she was still on the other side of the fucking barrier!
Closing her eyes briefly, she sighed, trying to calm the fury and fear bubbling in her gut. She scowled as she thought of the reason she was here. If they were right and that little pixie bitch was the one putting Katherine in this place, she was going to kill her.
*TVDM*
Caroline rolled her eyes as she marched along, her perfectionist eye still managing to examine the Halloween decorations. "Oh, come on, you're being a baby. You knew what today was."
Lia sighed as she watched her feet walk through the school. "I know, but I was excited to rub it in that Gina's face. When we met at that coffee place, she was a real stuck-up bitch until I whipped out my tears. Plus, she's working with Klaus so it would have been nice to return her as an apology gift and an excuse to try the intro-thing again."
Caroline scoffed as she fixed some fake spider web hanging from some lockers. "I think you mean Greta. If she's as bad as you say she is, give her some time to cool off. She's probably in rage-mode at not getting her way. By tonight, Katherine will no doubt have finished the mental prison torture spell compulsion whatever that you have her in and be all emotional and starving. Greta will be begging to be released by the time you arrive."
Lia blinked before cackling in delight, clapping her hands once in excitement. "That sounds like fun!"
Caroline left Lia to her sadistic imaginings if only because she still listened to instructions when it came to helping with the final set up. After testing the sound system, confirming the playlist and leaving directions for the next students who showed up at 11, Caroline and Lia made their way home.
Lia paused as she climbed out of the car, not having expected to see someone sitting on the doorstep.
Caroline, however, knew that this was coming. She smiled and pat Jeremy on the shoulder as she passed him to enter the house behind him.
Lia was scared. She nervously tugged on her sleeved, shifting from foot to foot, unable to meet the teen's eyes.
Jeremy, of course, noticed all of this. He felt like the biggest dick for making Lia feel like she had when Caroline had left her side. It was something that he'd never intended to do, yet here he was, watching as the most powerful being to walk the planet braced herself for rejection. His face crumpled in regret as he took large, quick steps to her, wrapping his arms around his little mermaid tightly.
Lia's whole body trembled at the warm embrace of one of her best friends. She quickly returned the hug, feeling her body melt into his.
"I never stopped loving you," Jeremy pressed his lips against his hair as he squeezed her tighter, begging her to understand. "I was never leaving you. I just needed to process. I know you didn't do it to hurt me, I get it, I just couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that my dad and Enzo's torturer were the same person, you know?"
"I'm sorry you're hurting," Lia sniffled, reaching up Jeremy's back to stroke his hair.
Jeremy smiled. He really did love this little alien. He understood immediately; she would do it again if time were to rewind because Enzo had become a special part of her life, but she would forever regret how the loss of his dad would affect him.
"Thank you for being honest."
"Love you, Mimi."
"Love you, Lia."
They were tackled by an excited Caroline whose squealing sent the pair tearily chuckling.
"I'm so glad you guys are back to BFF's, truly," Caroline took a step back, clapping her hands twice before dropping them to her hips and staring them down with a superior glare. "Because it's time to get dressed. Come, minions."
"Yes, Miss Caroline," Jeremy monotoned as he marched after the blonde.
"Right away, Miss Caroline," Lia intoned immediately after, trailing along after her friends.
*TVDM*
Elena woke up late, grateful for the lack of school. She still felt strung out and exhausted from the 'family talk' that had happened last night. It was… disconcerting, being the one that was floundering while watching Jenna and Jeremy stay calm and collected, confident and informed. Her jealousy had spiked more than once and a small part of her resented Stefan for not knowing more. Or not telling her more. She honestly didn't know what he knew. Regardless, all the revelations of the night had left her emotionally spent. She wanted to skip the Halloween party entirely, not move from her bed and just lay there until everything made sense in the world again.
Just as she closed her eyes again, her phone rang on her bedside table. Slumping in defeat, Elena dragged herself into a sitting position before haphazardly reaching for the noisy device.
"Elena, hey."
"Bonnie," Elena's voice was hoarse.
"You ok? You sound…"
"Oh, no," Elena cleared her throat with a forced laugh. "Taking the opportunity sleep-in, you know?"
Bonnie's laughter trickled through the line. "Gotta love the weekend. I was just calling to see if you still wanted to get ready together for the party tonight?"
"Yeah, that sounds great," Elena wore a weak smile, not that the Bennett could see it, before it morphed into a frown. "Actually, do you want to come over earlier? I… a lot's been happening lately."
"Yeah, of course. I'll grab my things and head around now."
*TVDM*
Isobel pulled into the driveway of the Lockwood manor. So far, she didn't have a single lead on the whereabouts of Katherine and it was starting to frustrate her. Her last hope in this town was the werewolf boy-toy Katherine had wrangled in to play the part of the sacrifice for Klaus.
Knocking on the door, the vampire didn't have to wait long until a woman answered with a pleasant smile.
"Can I help you?" Carol asked the stranger.
"I'm looking for Mason," Isobel informed the mayor's wife blandly.
"Oh, come in! He's with Richard at the moment. Please, take a seat through there and I'll go get him."
Isobel didn't smirk at the easy invitation but waited as requested. She remained unmoving even as Mason came into the room.
"Who're you?" Mason asked with a frown.
Isobel had Mason up against the wall in a second.
"Where is Katherine?" she asked monotonously.
"I don't know!" Mason growled out against the crushing weight on his throat. "She's not answering my calls!"
Isobel's eyes pinched. Men were all so useless.
Dropping the werewolf to the ground, she walked back to the couch and took a seat.
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"A few days ago," Mason wheezed, climbing to his feet.
"And the moonstone?"
Mason's breathing stuttered as he eyed the vampire warily. He hadn't known Katherine had told anyone else about it.
"… I haven't found it yet."
Isobel sighed through her nose before climbing to her feet. "Congratulations, Mason. You've been completely useless."
Isobel walked out of the house without a second glance.
She might have more luck with the Salvatores, though, if what Jeremy had said was true, they were in league with a being that was a lot stronger than she'd anticipated and could potentially wipe her out.
She would have to take a step back and research first. Especially if this being could enhance humans with the strength and speed of a vampire.
Lost in thought, Isobel took no notice of Tyler who had watched everything play out before his eyes. He pressed himself around the corner and waited for her to leave before peeking back in on Mason. His uncle had his head in his hands and was sitting on the couch, practically oozing defeat.
Tyler hurried back toward his room, eyes wide and mind reeling when a hand clamped down on the back of his neck.
"There won't be any funny business tonight, will there?" Richard Lockwood didn't so much ask as he demanded.
"No, Sir," Tyler swallowed thickly.
Richard said nothing more, just gave an extra squeeze before releasing his son and walking away.
Tyler released a shuddering breath before glaring at his father's back.
The sooner he could move out, the better.
Maybe he'd crash at Matt's tonight.
*TVDM*
Stefan jogged down the stairs towards the incessant knocking on the front door, still towel-drying his hair.
His confused frown morphed into surprise as a familiar face he didn't expect to see greeted him behind the door.
"Lexi, he-OW! What-"
"You're with Katherine?" Lexi asked through gritted teeth, still aiming slaps at the eternal teen as she herded him through the front door. "Really Stefan?"
"What are you talking about? Stop hitting me!" Stefan tried to fend off the attacking hands, but only succeeded in getting himself stuck in a head lock.
"The girl you're dating!" Lexi snapped, grabbing her phone from her pocket and pulled up the photo Damon had sent her. "What the hell, Stefan?!"
"That's Elena- wait, how do you have that?" Stefan resumed his struggle after the shock of seeing Lexi with a photo of the girl wore off. "She's human, and also not-"
"I don't care!" Lexi cried, throwing the Salvatore onto the couch she'd dragged him to. "What were you thinking?"
Damon chose that moment to breeze through, heading for the liquor. He was dressed and ready for the Halloween bash, having been asked to chaperone for the night by the council. He was dressed to match Lia in black suit pants, a white button-up and a grey vest with a bow-tie. He was supposed to be the puppeteer to Lia's doll. Bottom line was he looked good and he was sure that together they'd look great.
"You kids look like you're having fun," Damon smirked, pouring a finger of bourbon. "Wonderful to see you, Lexi."
"Go jump off a bridge into a pit of stakes, Damon," Lexi replied pleasantly.
Stefan stared at his brother with a frown. "You're dressed up. What's the occasion?"
"I've been asked to chaperon the Halloween party as a responsible member of this community," Damon downed the rest of his drink before heading for the stairs. Pausing on the first step, he looked back in mock surprise. "Hey, isn't it at your school? As a student, I'm surprised you're not going." Damon casually shrugged before continuing his trek upstairs to grab his blazer and keys.
Lexi rounded on Stefan, a stubborn look firm on her face. "We're going. I'm meeting this 'Elena' and you can't say anything about it. Now, point me in the direction of something I can wear as a costume."
"Lexi-"
"I'm not asking, Stefan. Fill me in on everything while I get dressed."
Stefan gulped.
*TVDM*
Bonnie stared at Elena as the taller girl fixed the little nurse hat to her hair with some bobby pins, trying to process everything the Gilbert had laid out. Adoptions and sacrifices and ex vampire girlfriends that look exactly like Elena…
"Are you going to talk to Stefan?" Bonnie asked, slowly coming to her feet and reaching for her witch's hat. "See if he knew about the curse?"
"I don't know," Elena's shoulder slumped as her arms dropped to her sides. "I mean, we're not together anymore, so do I even bother? I mean, if he did know, I'd just be heart broken and if he didn't? It would just lead us to the topic of Katherine."
"And that leads to why he decided to date you in the first place," Bonnie continued, nodding her head in sympathetic understanding. "Do you want the answer to that question?"
Elena stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, trying to read her own expression.
"I… I think the not-knowing will eat me alive but the possible answer terrifies me."
"I think," Bonnie started slowly. "That you should at least ask him about the ritual and Klaus. I mean, if he doesn't know, he's the only supernatural in town that's being left in the dark about what's to come. And besides, he didn't break up with you because he didn't care about you, right? It would be nice, having at least one vampire in your corner."
Elena nodded with a shuddering breath.
"You're right," Elena turned away from the mirror to face her friend with a thin smile. "He should at the very least know what's coming."
*TVDM*
Damon's smirk fell as Lia opened the front door and he got his first look at her costume. She looked stunning, all Lolita dress and large eyelashes. A small, slim cross brace, worn like a backpack, was connected to each of her wrists and ankles by what looked like strands of yarn.
"Hello, Master," she demurred with a blank stare, a tilt to her head and a very puppet-esque bow.
"My most beautiful creation," Damon cooed, drawing her into his side.
Lia giggled. "We are going to bless so many eyes tonight."
Caroline chose that moment to come out, dressed in all her sexy Red Queen glory. She dragged Jeremy behind her who looked to be dressed as her playing card guard if the helmet, chainmail, sword and cape with a large ace of hearts on the back of it was interpreted correctly.
"Your Highness," both Lia and Damon curtsied and bowed respectively.
"Rise, my citizens," Caroline clapped her hands twice. "We have a party to get to."
The ride was uncomfortable for Lia, who grumbled about the wooden cross she wore on her back for half the trip. Luckily, the ride was a short one.
"Original in disguise, 3 o'clock," Lia mumbled to Damon as she threaded her arm through his. He casually looked around, only to frown and look toward the other side of the room. He couldn't stop the fond grin from spreading across his face as he looked down at his doll.
"I do believe you meant 10 o'clock," Damon's amusement earned him a frown with puffed out cheeks.
"Sorry I don't know military speak, soldier boy," Lia grumbled as they walked around the decorated hall.
*TVDM*
Alar-Nik glared into the ever-growing crowd of teenagers as he searched for Kaliope. Half of his magical prowess was currently stuck behind a ward of immense power with a ravenous Katerina who could only be held back so long. If he didn't need Greta for the ritual and to return to his own body, he wouldn't bother with the ridiculousness of having to negotiate her freedom.
Finally catching sight of her, he was once again in awe that such a beauty existed but he easily pushed his admiration to the side in favour of his frustration.
Luckily, she and her companion were already headed in his direction. He fought to quell his anger in the time it took for them to approach.
"What will it take for you to give me Katerina and return my witch to me?"
"An apology," Lia replies immediately before pouting slightly. "Though I've also been informed that I've overstepped the lines of propriety when it comes to you, so, I'll apologise first. I didn't mean to scare you or, you know, freak you out… I was just excited to meet you so I jumped and put my mouth on the gun."
Damon and Alar-Nik blinked before Damon chuckled. "That's not quite how the saying goes, my Little Snow," Damon cooed as he booped her on the nose.
Lia frowned though wasn't surprised. "I thought I got it wrong. I'm sure there was something about a foot that I was supposed to say. These sayings are very confusing."
Damon threw his arm around her shoulders. "The important thing is that you try."
Klaus, however, was reeling from his shock. "You're apologising?"
"Well, of course," Lia blinked. "I was wrong. I'm not stubborn enough to try to deny that. Plus," she shared a look full of mutual understanding with Damon. "Bull-headedness is so ugly."
"And look at us," Damon raised an eyebrow at the Original. "You couldn't call anything about us ugly."
"The very word doesn't belong anywhere near us," Lia proclaimed earnestly.
Klaus's lip twitched in amusement. "Right. Well, thank you, for the apology. I'm sure you can understand my behaviour was simply in response to what I perceived to be a threat."
Lia nodded. "Of course. I'd really like to try again, if you'll let me?"
Klaus raised a brow. "Try again?"
Lia nodded earnestly. "I'd like to be friends."
Klaus's smile was bordering on incredulous. "How about we try again once I have my body back, hm? And I can't do that until I have my witch back."
Lia blinked and cocked her head to the side in contemplation. "Really? That's oddly… trusting of you. What would you do if your witches turned on you while you were possessing someone? Or if they died?"
Klaus' smile turned sinister. "I always have some kind of leverage, love. And back up plans for my back up plans."
Lia took a small step further into Damon as she smiled blandly. "I'd really appreciate it if you'd refrain from any pet names until you wear your own face. This particular one gives me an extremely uncomfortable feeling."
Klaus conceded with a shrug, accepting that he wasn't nearly as charming in this body.
"Now, about my witch and the Petrova."
Lia shared a look with Damon in contemplation.
"Care will be so mad if we skip out early."
"We'll be back before she notices we're gone," Damon swore solemnly. "Besides, this seems like fun."
"It does, doesn't it?" Lia grinned giddily before her face dropped instantly into a frown. "We won't have time to deal with Katerina, though."
Klaus' eyes narrowed. "I want her in my possession."
Lia waved a dismissive hand. "You'll have her, but we'll have to wait till morning. Your witch will be tired from fending off the hungry vampire and you're not in the right body to handle a ravenous Katerina."
Klaus conceded the point.
"I'll drive," Damon offered as the three headed toward the parking lot.
*TVDM*
Lia skipped ahead, humming to herself as she went. Damon smiled after her, always happy to see her having fun.
"Yoohoo! Katerina~! Are you behaving?"
Greta watched in horrified curiosity as the viciously attacking vampire froze in her barrage against the barrier she'd errected, stark terror paling her already-pallid features. The vampire scuttled away further into the tomb like a half-starved dog.
"Hello again, Gina."
"It's Greta," the witch automatically corrected, shoulder slumping at the sight of Klaus in the history teacher's body.
"Right. What are you doing in my prison, Gemma?"
"It's- no, please, get me out of here."
Lia blinked before she just… stared.
"Kaliope," Klaus warned.
The siren rolled her eyes, not looking away from the woman. "You can't threaten me, Klaus. It's a futile endeavour seeing as I'm well over twice your age. Besides, we're friends-to-be. Friends don't threaten friends."
A beat of silence had Lia kissing her teeth in annoyance. "Hurry up, Gouda! I don't want to stand here all night!"
"I can't," Greta snapped. "You've spelled it shut!"
Lia's face turned deadpanned. "Are you dumb?"
"Take down the barrier!"
"She already has," Damon drawled, unimpressed. "Are you an idiot? Because you're doing a really good impression of one right now."
Greta blinked rapidly as she shuffled through the doorway. Feeling no resistance, she bolted further out, finally releasing her own magic that was being funnelled into her protection against the Petrova.
Lia thought the barrier back into existence. "Oh, my me. That took way too long."
"The youth of today," Damon sighed, shaking his head sadly. "They like to make everything so much harder than it needs to be."
"I think they live for the drama of it all," Lia nodded solemnly. "Oh well! Now that, that's done, we have a party to get back to!"
"You guys good here?" Damon asked, already walking away.
"You will meet me here tomorrow at 8 in the morning," Klaus demanded. "I will have Katerina in my possession."
"Dear me, so bossy," Lia grumbled. "You'd get along great with Care. Or you'd fight each other to the death for dominance…"
Damon hummed in agreement, cocking his head in thought. "I'd put my money on Queen Barbie."
Lia scoffed as they headed for the car. "Duh. That's a suckers bet."
*TVDM*
Stefan and Lexi, dressed as a mobster and his mob wife, walked through the decorated school.
Lexi whistled lowly. "Whoever did this did a good job," she complimented.
"Caroline," Stefan supplied. "She's a force to be reckoned with."
"Compliments? From Stefan Salvatore?"
The pair turned to see Caroline in all her royal glory, hip cocked to the side and arms crossed over her chest.
"Your royal highness," Stefan bowed gracefully, earning a chuckle from Lexi and a sniff from Caroline.
"You may rise," Care drawled. "I didn't think you were coming."
"I wasn't," Stefan admitted. "But Lexi decided a night out was in the cards for us."
Caroline turned her full attention to the other blonde then. "I assume you're Lexi?"
"That's me," the vampire grinned teasingly at her friend. "Forgive Stefan, his manners are getting worse with age. Nice to meet you."
Caroline smirked, hands dropping to her sides. "Something tells me you're the fun friend."
Lexi laughed her agreement just as Caroline focussed on something over their shoulders. Her amused face sunk into an unimpressed one. Snapping her fingers, Jeremy appeared next to her in his guard getup.
"Seize those two and bring them before your queen."
Jeremy chuckled, throwing a nod at Stefan before making his way over to the newly returned Damon and Lia.
"Uh oh," Lexi watched on. "What crimes did they commit against the crown?"
"Desertion."
Lia marched behind Jeremy, body language screaming 'defeat' while Damon grimaced.
"'We'll be back before she knows it,' he says. Ugh, why did I listen to you? I should have known Care has the senses of a submarine radar."
The pair came to a stop in front of Caroline. Before she could say anything, Damon threw his 2 cents in.
"I had her there and back within half an hour," Damon stated. "And she told Klaus that he'd have to wait until tomorrow for anything else, because she wanted to be here for you."
Lia looked up at Damon with sparkling eyes. "You got my back, bro."
The pair fist-bumped.
Caroline's eyes bounced between the two before she looked to the heavens and sighed heavily. "Oh, whatever. Now, tell me everything."
Lexi was reeling from the scent that had hit her like a freight train. The little woman in front of her smelled deliciously not to be messed with. She turned her wide eyes onto Stefan who seemed to understand exactly what she was experiencing.
"-Who's this?"
Lexi startled as the greenest eyes looked up at her with a curious tilt. In her costume dress, she was easily one of the cutest things Lexi had ever seen.
"Lexi," the vampire smiled warmly. "Friend of Stefan's."
"Kaliope," the woman introduced. "Friend of… nearly everyone else."
Lexi barked a laugh, elbowing the younger Salvatore beside her. "You're not one of the cool kids, Stef?"
"He wishes," Caroline mumbled, tucking some loose hair behind her ear.
Damon chose that moment to join in, throwing his arm over Lia's shoulder as he shook his head sadly. "We know a lost cause when we see one. The teen angst would have clashed with our artistically uncaring aesthetic."
Stefan rolled his eyes as Lexi's lips thinned. "Damon."
"Hello again, Alexa."
Lexi's eyes fell on the green-eyed girl again. "How do you put up with him? He's such an asshole."
Lia frowned. "He's my platonic soulmate. Don't disrespect my platonic soulmate."
"Yeah, Lexi," Damon chimed in. "Not cool. I guess you're not part of the cool club either."
Lexi just didn't understand, her gaze flickering between all present. Stefan was her best friend, a good guy who tried to be better every day. The look on his face showed that he wanted to be a part of this niche little group more than anything and yet they chose Damon?
"I just don't get it," Lexi shook her head, eyes settling back on Lia. "He isn't worth the trouble."
Damon's eye twitched before a sardonic smirk pulled at his lips. Lia's face turned thunderous as she felt Damon's grip on her tighten.
"Listen here, you bint. I get it; you've had a bad run with Damon. Sucks to be you. You don't get to say that he's not worth being around just because you don't like him."
Lexi drew back. "You don't know what he's done!"
"I know a lot more than you think I do," Lia snapped. "And guess what? We all stuck by him. You ever think that maybe you're the only one with the problem? That, just maybe, your opinion doesn't matter? Hold a grudge all you want, but don't expect people to band together under your banner when you seem to be the only one living in the past. Ugh, it was not nice meeting you. Don't call us, we'll call you."
And with that, Lia, Damon, Care and Jeremy moved along, leaving a dejected Stefan and a stunned Lexi behind.
"What even just happened?" Lexi asked no one in particular as she looked around the room.
*TVDM*
"Ugh, what an annoying little twit," Lia grumbled as she stepped up to the table serving punch just as Tyler was taking a step back. He backed right into her, tripping over himself as he tried to correct his footing. Lia remained as immoveable as ever, unimpressed eyebrow raised at the display.
He spun on his heel, prepared to snap at whoever had run up in his space, but the sight of Lia had his mouth snapping shut.
Lia's eye twitched. "Well? Aren't you in charge of transforming the teenaged population into a bibulous horde of slurred speech and mistaken steps? I'm here for inebriation," she snaps at him, her eyes glowing with something other. Tyler swallowed thickly as he scrambled to pick up a cup and pour her a drink.
Huffing through puffed cheeks, Lia finished her drink in a second before making a face and throwing the cup away. "That was gross."
"It's not meant to be good," Damon smirked as he grabbed up his own.
Lia's eyes narrowed as she looked into the crowd and spotted the twit and the other Salvatore heading towards Elena and Bonnie. "Ah, they're going to visit the Copy Kat."
Damon's eyes lazily scanned the area. "Lexi knows all about Katherine. No doubt she's curious as to whether Elena shares more than just looks with the bitch."
Lia hummed. "Oh well, soon Elena will be the only one with that face in town."
"Off to her new forever-home," Damon snarked. "Wonder how long 'forever' will be in Klaus' tender care?"
"The days do be numbered," Lia nodded solemnly as the pair left the punch table to find Care and Mimi. "May her reign of terror perish with her."
*TVDM*
On the other side of the room, Elena had spotted Stefan with a woman she didn't recognise. Jealousy shot through her before she squashed it, rolling her eyes at herself at how invested she was in a boy – vampire or not – who had broken up with her.
"Are you ok?"
Elena blinked before focussing on her friend. She smiled tiredly.
"Yeah, just lost in thought. Want to dance?"
Bonnie was about to reply but closed her mouth with a snap when she caught sight of who was approaching.
"Elena."
The Gilbert whirled around, coming face to face with Stefan and his friend. She straightened her back with a sweet, if forced, smile.
"Stefan, hey," she tucked her hair behind her ear before her eyes settled on the woman with him. She swallowed at the assessing look she was being given.
"This is Lexi, my best friend," he introduced.
"Hey," Lexi reached forward to shake her hand, still not quite believing that this teen wasn't Katherine. "It's nice to meet you."
"Oh, you too," Elena's smile faltered as she released the hand, attention turning back to Stefan. "Uh, so, I was wondering, if you're not- I mean… I need to talk to you."
Stefan frowned. "Are you ok?"
"I… I don't know," Elena's smile was a grimace.
"I'll come by tomorrow" Stefan's eyes showed his concern and the longing Elena had been ignoring pulsed again. "I'll text you when I'm on my way."
"Ok, and… thanks, Stefan."
Stefan gave his ex a concerned smile before bidding Elena and Bonnie goodbye.
*TVDM*
"She's…"
"Not Katherine?" Stefan concluded for his friend with a wry smile as they walked away.
"It's creepy," Lexi nodded, heading for the punch bowl. "She's an exact replica of Katherine but she's so shy and-and timid! It's weird!"
"Katherine could never be that innocent," Stefan murmured, lost in thoughts of the past. "Besides, she's still under the old Fell church."
"I want to go see her," Lexi admitted as she grabbed two of the plastic cups off the table, handing one over to her friend. "If she's really in the tomb like you said, I want to see with my own eyes that she can't escape. She's dangerous."
Stefan nodded. "We can stop by on the way home."
"I think I'm all partied out," Lexi finished her drink quickly, throwing the cup in the trash next to the table. "Let's go."
Stefan rolled his eyes at his friend's impatience. "Let's say goodbye to Lia first."
Lexi raised a brow. "I thought you guys weren't friends?"
Stefan fumbled with his cup slightly before throwing it away. "I want to be."
Lexi's eyes softened as she threw an arm around Stefan's neck. "Naw, you're so cute when you're insecure."
That earned her another eye roll.
"Don't think she likes me much, though."
"She's… protective of those she cares for," Stefan defended, his voice couldn't hide the longing if he tried.
They walked toward the crowd that included Lia, not knowing a certain Lockwood teen had caught most of their conversation.
Tyler put the ladle on the table and marched out of the school, pulling out his phone and dialling Mason.
What were the chances that this 'Katherine' was the same Katherine Mason and that woman had been talking about? A Katherine that had a link to the very bright-eyed, otherworldly being that was Kaliope and the supernatural strength of the unwelcome house guest.
"Ty?"
"I saw you, the other day," Tyler started firmly, climbing into his car and shoving the keys in the ignition. "I saw you get held up by a tiny-ass chick who demanded to know about Katherine."
"Ty-"
"You tell me what's going on," Tyler powered on. "And I'll tell you where Katherine is."
"What?! Tyler-"
"I'm not playing around, Mason. I want answers. I want to know what this moonstone is and why it's important. I want to know how the fuck a woman who weighs half of you is able to pick you up like you weigh nothing. I want to know why you're here."
Mason was silent.
"I'm coming home now. Be there, ready to talk, or you won't be getting shit from me."
Tyler hung up and focussed on driving, his knuckles white in their grip of the steering wheel. His heart was racing and his breathing erratic. He sucked in a deep breath and tried to release it slowly.
He wanted to be calm by the time he faced his uncle.