Written by: Peter
Disclaimer: The Vampire Diaries are the property of L.J. Smith and the CW Network. I’m just writing about them for the fun of it.
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Post-season 3 finale.
Pairing: Stefan/Elena
For the rest of my life, I'll have to live in secret
I'll hide in the shadows...alone in the world.
Alone with him.
I should have left home. I know the risk.
But I have to live my life!
I am a vampire—this is my story.
-Elena Gilbert
Mystic Falls High School. To say this had been the place of several unusual occurrences would be an understatement, yet the general populace still remained completely in the dark as to exactly what went on in the unassuming little town.
So why did it seem so odd to see one of their own arrive at school in the middle of the day, without her usual entourage? Maybe it was the fact she seemed to carry herself differently, or the pair of sunglasses that were covering her eyes? Whatever the case, everyone kept their distance.
But they couldn't help but stare. Something was different about her. If only they knew just how different.
*****
“How can you not have health insurance?!?”
Matt groaned, as Caroline Forbes looked at him as if he were a crazy person. He supposed he needed to add financial problems to the list of 'things never to discuss with your overprotective super-powered ex-girlfriend.
“The Grill doesn't exactly have a benefits package, you know?” he explained, struggling to open his locker one-handed. “Ever since mom took off, I've had to fend for myself.”
“Sorry,” Caroline apologized. “I've been so wrapped up in my own problems this past year that I forgot...”
“I think your problems are a bit more severe than mine, Care,” Matt laughed. “I mean, life and death—kind of puts things in perspective, you know? Having a deadbeat mom and a mortgage to pay seems kind of petty compared to people trying to kill you every other week.”
“I'd prefer petty,” Caroline said matter-of-factly. “Who knows—maybe things will settle down a little now that Klaus is gone. I can focus all my energy on keeping my crown.”
“You're going to run again?” Matt asked, dumbfounded. “Ms. Mystic Falls, two years in a row?”
“Why not?”
“Well, you have my vote,” he laughed. “Hey, have you talked to Elena?”
“Not since she got back from the hospital,” Caroline replied. “Why?”
“I don't know—” he said. “It's just—she came to visit me in the hospital. She was acting kind of weird. Distant.”
“Almost getting you killed probably has something to do with it...”
“Caroline!” Matt scolded her.
“Hey, I'm sorry,” she apologizes. “Elena's my friend, and I love her to death, but she's kinda a magnet for this kind of thing. Price of being a magical clone, I guess.”
“Doppelganger.”
“Same thing,” Caroline groaned, rolling her eyes. “I'm just glad you're okay.”
“That makes two of us.”
Caroline and Matt almost jump as they realize Elena is standing right next to them.
“Elena!” Caroline exclaimed. “How—I must be out of it if you're sneaking up on me. How are you?”
“Never better,” Elena assured her. “I just—needed to take a few days off school. You know—after everything.”
“No explanations necessary,” she replied.
“What's with the shades?” Matt laughed. “You undercover or...?”
He reaches for them, but Elena flinches away.
“My eyes—they're kind of sensitive,” Elena mumbled. “You know—head injury. I'm still getting headaches.”
“If it's that bad, maybe you shouldn't be at--”
“I said I'm fine, Caroline!” Elena snaps.
Both of them stare at Elena, confused by her uncharacteristic behaviour.
“How are you holding up?” Elena asked, quickly changing the subject. “I mean, after what happened to Tyler—if you need someone to talk to...”
Caroline grins at her.
“Tyler's alive,” she announced.
Matt's face lights up.
“Say what?” Matt demands. “How? I thought—but--didn't Klaus...”
“It's like a miracle!” Caroline cheered. “You know how those silver daggers didn't work on Klaus, because his werewolf side healed him? Well, Tyler thinks that maybe something like that happened to him. Even thought Klaus is dead, his wolfy healing powers let him survive.”
“That's—amazing, Caroline,” Elena told her. “You must be so relieved.”
“I can't believe you didn't tell me!” Matt said, annoyed. “I thought my best friend was dead—you couldn't come by the hospital and fill me in?”
Caroline looks confused.
“I—thought he already told you,” she confessed. “He just showed up at the front door, so I thought—that's wierd. Why wouldn't he say anything?”
“The important thing is he's alive, right?” Elena pointed out. “That's what matters. We didn't lose anyone else.”
“Yeah, I guess...” Matt agreed. “I'm just glad it's over.”
He hugs Elena.
“I was really worried there for a moment,” he whispers in her ear. “I'm really glad you're okay.”
Elena froze, as a pounding noise sounded in her ears. Her throat felt dry—parched. She wanted—she needed...
Quickly, Elena moved away from Matt, turning her back towards him.
“What's wrong?” he asks, concerned. “Did I say something?”
“No,” Elena replied, her voice an octave too high. She could already feel her still-new fangs growing into place. “It's nothing. I'm just—not feeling like myself right now. I'll see you both in class.”
Elena took off down the hallway, making sure to keep her mouth shut tightly, just in case somebody looked too close. The hallways were crowded, with people moving on both sides of her. All human, with veins filled with fresh blood. The smell made her mouth water. The constant pounding of their heartbeats was almost hypnotic to her.
It was like they were calling out her name. 'Elena—Elena...'
“Elena!”
Elena gasped, as someone grabbed her arm roughly, dragging her inside the restroom. She turned to see Jeremy standing in front of her—looking completely freaked out.
“Jeremy?” she breathed. “What are you doing?”
“I could ask you the same thing!” he scolded her. “Bonnie called me in a panic, saying you just disappeared on her after an hour. What was I supposed to think?”
“You know, for two people who are supposed to be broken up, you're sure seeing a lot of each other,” Elena scoffed. “She wanted to skip school, I didn't—so...”
“Have you gone mental?” Jeremy asked.
“It's senior year,” Elena reminded him. “I've missed enough classes as it is.”
“Have you taken a look in the mirror?” he pointed out, ripping the sunglasses off her face. “How are you gonna explain those to your teachers?”
Elena turns towards the mirror, seeing her reflection. Her face is partially transformed, with the smallest trace of red and black around her eyes. She takes a deep breath, trying to relax.
“There--” she says out loud. “Nothing to worry about. It's like I said, I'm...”
“Who are you trying to kid, Elena?” Jeremy scoffed. “I saw you out there! You were like an addict craving a fix.”
“And you would know all about that, wouldn't you Jeremy?” she responded harshly.
Jeremy flinched. Immediately, Elena felt guilty.
“Jeremy, I didn't mean...”
“Yeah, you did!” Jeremy cut her off. “But it's ok—because you're right. I do know. I know how easy it is to convince yourself you've got a handle on it. Out of the two of us, you're supposed to be the responsible one, remember? Think for a moment, Elena--what if it's too much for you to handle?”
“You're worried I'm going to hurt someone?” Elena asked in disbelief.
“I'm worried about you!” Jeremy insisted.
He shook his head, trying to calm himself down.
“You and me—we're all either of us has anymore,” he reminded her. “We have to look out for each other.”
Elena's face softens at his words.
“When did you become the responsible one?” she asks him.
Jeremy smiles.
“Like I said, I've kinda been there,” he admits. “I just want to help you out any way I can. Even if it's just feeding your habit.”
With that, he reaches into his backpack and pulls out a sports bottle, handing it to Elena. It doesn't take a genius to realize its contents isn't water.
“Tell me this isn't...”
“It's not mine,” Jeremy reassures her. “I stole it from Damon. If the cravings get to be too much, just excuse yourself and take some of this.”
“I...” Elena whispers, trying to find the words. “Thank you, Jeremy. For being so understanding. I know this isn't easy.”
“Just be careful, ok?” he tells her, before leaving.
Elena stands there a moment, looking at her reflection in the mirror. It's the first time she realizes how tired she looks. How worn out—it's no wonder someone would confuse her for an addict. Experimentally, she takes a sip from the bottle, and watches as the smallest traces of black appear around her eyes. Quickly, she replaces the glasses.
“I can do this!” she tells herself, taking a deep breath, before heading out the door.
The moment she exited the restroom, Elena bumped into someone.
“Sorry,” she said.
To Elena's surprise, she looked up to see Stefan looking down at her.
Her breath caught in her throat. Why was it that just looking at Stefan Salvatore had that effect on her? It didn't used to be this bad. Elena used to be able to think rationally around him, but ever since the moment she changed—since a completely new world of emotions and sensations were opened up to her—just being close to Stefan made her soul flutter. It was like everything she felt for him when she was alive was multiplied by a hundred—a thousand, even.
It was everything she could do not to throw herself into his arms.
“Hey,” Stefan greeted her. “We really need to stop meeting like this.”
“Huh?” Elena asked, snapping out of her daze.
“Men's room?”
Elena looked over her shoulder, realizing where she had just exited.
“Right, right...” she laughed. “I mean, people are going to start talking.”
“How are you feeling?” Stefan asked. “The cravings?”
“Completely manageable,” Elena assured him. “Did Bonnie send you to check on me?”
“She's just concerned,” he replied. “But she's not the only one. I just wanted to make sure you're ok.”
“Aww—you were worried about me,” Elena teased Stefan, scooting closer to him. “That's sweet.”
“Are you sure school is the best idea right now?” Stefan asked her. “This high of a volume of people in this confined of a space—it makes it that much more difficult to control...”
“You seem to be managing.”
“Ok, ok...” Stefan responded, putting up his hands defensively. “I can see you're determined to do this. But—I'm going stay close. Just as a precaution.”
Elena smiles, batting her eyelashes at Stefan.
“So you're going to be my personal parole officer?” she whispers suggestively. “I'm not seeing the downside.”
Elena's forwardness doesn't escape Stefan's notice. Suddenly, he found himself breathing heavy—Elena's intense gaze drawing him in like a moth to a flame.
“Class,” he reminded her, breaking the spell temporarily.
“Right,” Elena sighed. “Class.”
They made their way towards first period.
*****
“Hey, any idea what's up with Elena?” Matt asks Bonnie, as he hurries to catch up with her down the hall.
“What do you mean?”
“She seemed a bit—I don't know—jumpy,” he remarked.
“She's going through a lot,” Bonnie mumbles, looking somewhat uncomfortable. “How are you? What's this I heard about you being in the hospital? You could have called me, you know?”
“Didn't want you to worry,” Matt explained. “It was just for observation. I swallowed some water—no big deal.”
“You almost died, Matt!” Bonnie scolded him. “That's a pretty big deal.”
“Wouldn't be the first time,” he recalled. “I'm just glad everything worked out. Speaking of which...you're looking pretty good for a dead guy.”
“Oh, you know me,” Tyler announced his presence. “Just keep bouncing back.”
Bonnie's breath caught in her throat. What was he doing here?
Furthermore, what was his arm doing around Caroline's shoulder?
“What's the matter, Bonnie?” 'Tyler' asked. “You look like you've seen a ghost.”
“I'm just—surprised,” she lied. “To see you here, I mean. Are you feeling any side-effects?”
“About the bloodline thing?” he shrugged. “Nope. Maybe a little, uh—weakness--but other than that I've never been better. You'd almost say I feel like a new man.”
“I bet you do,” she muttered.
Caroline and Matt stare at them, confused.
“What's going on?” Matt asked.
“Nothing,” both of them say in unison.
“Okay...” Caroline laughs. “We'd better get to class.”
“Class?” Tyler asks her. “You're kidding right?”
“Considering how much you missed while you were off getting de-sired, I wouldn't risk skipping too many classes,” Caroline laughed.
“I could always just compel the teachers to give me passing grades,” he suggested.
Bonnie gave him a warning look.
“I won't, of course,” Tyler continued. “Because that would be wrong. And I'm all about doing the right thing.”
“I don't know,” Matt laughed, patting Tyler on the back. “Personally, I'd be tempted. It's got to be tough being able to do those things and not taking advantage of it.”
Tyler smirks, suddenly finding a new-found appreciation for young Mr. Donovan.
“Caroline, Matt—you two go ahead,” Bonnie suggested. “I'll meet you in class. I have to talk to—Tyler--a moment. In private.”
Caroline and Matt shrug.
“Later,” Matt waves, before they take off.
“Make it quick, Bonnie,” Tyler suggested. “I wouldn't want to be accused of tardiness.”
“What the hell are you doing here, Klaus?” Bonnie asked him, coldly.
At that moment, 'Tyler's' mouth twisted into a smirk.
“I never experienced high school, you know?” he mentioned, an uncharacteristic accent accompanying his voice. “It didn't exactly exist when I was a boy.”
“I expected you to be long gone by now,” Bonnie reminded him. “That was the deal.”
“No, that was your demand—a demand I never agreed to,” he reminded her. “Look at it this way—by staying, our lovely mayor is able to keep her son, and Caroline her loyal, committed boyfriend. You intended to let them believe Tyler was dead.”
“You're not Tyler,” Bonnie reminded him, becoming angry. “I swear, if you even think of hurting Caroline...”
“I have no intention of harming her,” he said, defensively. “On the contrary—I happen to enjoy her company. But—if you feel she deserves to know the truth about me, then please—by all means...tell her what you did.”
Bonnie's blood ran cold.
“I thought so,” he commented. “Don't worry—I don't plan to stay in this body for too long. Once I'm restored to my former self, Tyler will be free to resume his life. In the meantime—I'm just going to enjoy this.”
“You have a lot of enemies Klaus,” Bonnie reminded him. “A lot of people who want you dead—some of which don't care who's bloodline you started.”
Klaus froze.
“So I'd suggest you remember to act exactly how Tyler would act,” she warned. “Just a little helpful advice.”
Bonnie walks around him. 'Tyler' gives her a cold stare as she goes.
She was right, of course. He was vulnerable now, and if he wanted to survive long enough to regain his body, he would have to be careful. It was in Bonnie's interest to keep him alive, so he would play by her rules—for now.
*****
Meanwhile, at a storage building outside of Mystic Falls, Damon Salvatore waited impatiently. He was just about to check his watch again when a car pulled up in front of him.
“You're late!”
“Not all us have a free schedule like you, Damon!” Meredith Fell complained. “I couldn't exactly drop everything in the middle of my shift. Do you even have a job?”
“Nope.”
“What do you do for money?” she asked. “Or do you just steal from places other than my workplace?”
“And I'm sure you paid handsomely for all that vampire blood you happened to have,” Damon retorted. “Glass houses, doc!”
“What do you want?” Meredith questioned him, cutting to the chase.
“This is where we were keeping Klaus' body,” Damon explained, leading her into the storage area. “Alaric caught up to us and staked him before we could move him.”
“So he's dead?” Meredith concluded.
"That's what I thought,” Damon continued. “But see, here's the thing—when an original dies, every vampire their blood created dies with them. And every vampire they created, and so on. Klaus turned Tyler Lockwood into a hybrid. Tyler's alive—ergo...”
“You don't think Klaus is dead?”
“Someone took it,” he told her. “The coffin. The one we were keeping Klaus' body in. So tell me—why would somebody steal a coffin filled with dust?”
“Coffins are expensive?”
Damon groans in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I still don't see why you need my help on this,” Meredith wonders. “I'm a doctor, Damon, not a detective.”
“Dammit, Jim!” Damon jokes.
“Oh, you're hilarious,” she comments sarcastically. “What I mean to say is that, unless you have some mysterious illness you need help treating or need to find out the cause of death—which, in this case, would be stabbing with a large pointy stick—my skill set isn't exactly useful.”
“You're a founder!” Damon scoffed. “You mean to tell me your parents never trained you for this sort of thing.”
Meredith goes silent for a moment.
“Well?”
“They tried,” she said bitterly. “I said no.”
“Weren't you the rebellious little girl?” Damon teased.
“I didn't like the idea of killing people,” she said angrily. “Not even people who might deserve it. I don't like vampires, Damon—but that doesn't mean they don't have as much of a right to live as anyone else.”
She turns to leave.
“Wait,” Damon called out to her. “I wanted you here because—because I thought you'd bring Alaric with you.”
Meredith spun towards Damon, a look of disbelief on her face.
“Oh, so apparently there is a medical situation,” she laughs. “You have brain damage too. Alaic's dead.”
“Yeah, but he's still around.”
Meredith freezes.
“There's no such thing as ghosts...” she tries to argue.
“Right—because vampires and werewolves are so much more believable,” he mocks her. “We've had a little haunting problem in Mystic Falls the past couple of months. Jeremy Gilbert got shot, his witchy girlfriend used magic to bring him back—and it tore some kinda hole in the afterlife.”
“And you think Ric's—spirit--came through that hole?” Meredith questions him, trying desperately to hold on to her scepticism.
“Jeremy says it's him,” Damon replies. “And , this particular ghost pulled a few wooden bullets out of me the other day.”
“I can't handle this...” she muttered, shaking her head. “I can't—this is crazy! People being turned into monsters is one thing, but the dead rising? It's too much.”
Suddenly, a storage container slides across the lot, the door swinging open on its own. Damon and Meredith stare at it.
“Was that...?”
“How should I know?” Damon shrugged. “Jeremy's not talking to me, so my line of communication is kind of shut down.”
A loud banging noise sounds on the inside of the storage container.
“I think he wants us to go in.”
Meredith nods, trying not to hyperventilate.
Cautiously, the two of them enter the storage container. In the back is the missing coffin.
“See!” Meredith sighed in relief. “There you go! Missing coffin. Thanks, ghost-of-Ric!”
She jumps as the banging his heard again—this time louder.
“Something's wrong here,” Damon wondered, before walking over to the coffin. “Let's just take a look...”
He opens the coffin, finding the charred insides. Suspiciously, though—the centre of the coffin was completely untouched. There was an outline there—as though the fire had been pushed back somehow
“There's no ashes,” he realizes.
“Look!” Meredith pointed out. “It's like the flames never reached the bottom. That outline—it's the shape of a body.”
“Klaus caught fire!” Damon insisted. “I was there—I saw it!”
“Did you see it turn to ash?” Meredith asked him. “Maybe Klaus caught fire, but if this is anything to go by he wasn't destroyed.”
“Then were is he?” Damon demanded. “He couldn't have walked out of here under his own power.”
“Which means somebody took him.”
Damon slammed the door to the coffin angrily.
*****
Mystic Falls High School...
Reluctantly, Tyler Lockwood walks into the history class. He sees Caroline over on the other side of class, having saved him a seat.
“Maybe this won't be all bad,” he says to himself, before joining her.
“What was that about back there with Bonnie?” she questioned him.
“She's just worried,” Tyler assured her. “Getting a little overprotective.”
“She seemed angry.”
“Because I won't let her give me a magic physical just to make sure there's no delayed reaction to Klaus dying,” Tyler explained.
“Bonnie worries too much,” Caroline reminded him. “Remember sophomore year, when she had that 'psychic premonition' that Tanner would catch you and Matt trying to spike the punch?”
“Vaguely...” he lied
“Probably because you were totally wasted,” Caroline laughed. “He might have suspected you two—but not little old me.”
Caroline clasps her hands together, making an 'innocent' expression. Tyler smirks at her.
“Weren't you the troublemaker,” he teased her. “I guess you have something of a dark side yourself, don't you?”
A moment later, Elena and Stefan enter the classroom. Elena is moving slowly, seeming a little unsure of herself. Noticing this, Stefan takes her hand—giving it a gentle squeeze.
“One step at a time,” he whispers to her. “I'll be here—every step of the way.”
Elena gives him a shy smile. Just having Stefan there was giving her a boost of confidence. They make their way to their usual seats, only to find someone else sitting in Stefan's spot.
“Uh—excuse me?” Stefan asks.
The boy almost leaps out of his seat, eyes wide.
“I'm moving, I'm moving!” he says, before practically running to the other end of the classroom.
Stefan just looks confused.
“I'll explain later,” Elena assures him, before the two of them sit down.
“And here I was wondering where Elena had been the past two days,” Caroline giggled. “Obviously they were making up for lost time.”
“Maybe we should congratulate them?” Tyler suggests.
However, Tyler's mood quickly changes as he sniffs the air. He tenses.
“Something's wrong...” he mutters.
Before Caroline can ask him to elaborate, someone else enters the classroom, carrying a briefcase.
“Good morning class,” the newcomer announces. “Allow me to introduce myself—my name is Elijah Mikaelson, and I will be your instructor until the school board is able to find a more—permanent--replacement for Mr. Saltzman.”
Stefan, Elena, Bonnie, Matt, Caroline, and especially Tyler all stare blankly at him.
“This is not happening...” Bonnie groans, lying her head down on her desk.
Elena goes stiff, trying her best to maintain her composure. Stefan's reassuring arm was the only thing stopping her from standing up and asking how dare Elijah show his face there.
“Easy—easy...” Stefan said, trying to calm her.
“Are you even qualified to be teaching this class?” Tyler chuckled, causing some of the less-informed students to give him a look.
“Mr. Lockwood, isn't it?” Elijah remarked. “For those of you not aware, I'm done some work for the historical society with our esteemed mayor, which is where Tyler here knows me. I'm quite an advocate of history, and do have the credentials if you wish to see them?”
Tyler and Elijah lock eyes.
“That—won't be necessary.”
“Now—a little bit about myself,” he refers to the rest of the class. “I was born and raised right here in Mystic Falls, though I've spent many years living overseas. I've visited many historical sights, including the seven wonders—I'd be perfectly willing to regale you with tales of my travels if you wish. And, before anyone starts to gossip, I also happen to be the older brother of one of your classmates...”
As if on cue, the door opens...
“Who, may I add, has difficulty telling the time.”
Some of the other students start to laugh. Stefan, Matt and Bonnie aren't among them.
“Sorry I'm late,” Rebekah apologized cheerfully. “This school is a maze.”
“Then you had better leave earlier to avoid such problems in the future,” Elijah commented, gaining a look of annoyance from his younger sibling.
Tyler chuckled in amusement, as Rebekah sat down at her desk.
“What are you looking at?” she asks.
On the other side of the room, Elena started shaking with rage. Her desk was rattling—the wood splintering where her hand gripped it.
“What is she doing here?” Stefan practically growled.
He snuck a look towards Bonnie, who nodded in agreement. They had both thought they had seen the last of Rebekah—that she wouldn't dare stay in Mystic Falls after what she had done. They only had one possible answer to why she was there—Elijah.
“Elena, you have to calm down...” Stefan warned her. “Please...”
However, Rebekah overhears Stefan's whispering. She turns her attention towards them—her mouth hanging open when she sees Elena there.
“Impossible...”
“I can't do this...” Elena whispers, before standing up and heading out the door.
Rebekah watches her go.
“Why isn't that @#$% dead?”
*****
Elena bursts through the gym doors, barely able to stand. She's hyperventilating, almost in tears.
Collapsing against the gym wall, Elena starts to cry. Rebekah—she was here. She was still here. She wouldn't even let her live what was left of her life in peace, without her presence being a constant reminder of the person who took everything from her. She wanted to cry—she wanted to scream. It wasn't fair. For Rebekah to just—to just get away with it? It was like the universe wasn't done toying with her.
“I have to hand it to you, Elena...”
Elena turned to see Rebekah standing in gym doorway.
“I've never met someone as difficult to kill as you seem to be!”
“Stay away from me...” Elena pleaded.
In response, Rebekah took a step forward.
“I really thought I'd seen the last of you, you know?” Rebekah taunted her. “That Stefan Salvatore—somehow, I keep underestimating him.”
Moving at vampire-speed, Rebekah grabs Elena by the neck, slamming her against the wall. The impact causes her sunglasses to fall off her face, shattering on the floor.
“Let her go!”
Over her shoulder, Rebekah sees a furious Matt—accompanied by Caroline and Tyler on either side.
“You lot just don't give up, do you?” Rebekah commented.
“I'm only going to say this once, Rebekah...” Tyler snarls. “If you even try to harm her...”
“You don't scare me, boy!”
“Get away from me...” Elena struggled to say. “Haven't you done enough?”
Rebekah ignores her.
“So where's Stefan?” she asks the others. “I really want to see his face when I squeeze the life out of his little doppelganger. Let's just see him try to pull off a miracle this time...”
On the opposite side of the gym, the doors swing open—revealing Stefan and Bonnie standing there.
“Let—her—go--NOW!” Stefan ordered, his voice dripping with bile.
“You are annoyingly committed,” Rebekah commented. “And Bonnie—are you still protecting this one? You would think you'd have learned your lesson after last time.”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than every single light bulb int he gym shattered.
“You really don't wanna bring that up!” Caroline warned her.
Rebekah shook her head.
“You really are more trouble than you're worth--”
But as Rebekah looks back at Elena, she freezes in place. Elena's eyes have began to fill with blood.
“I said...” Elena growls—her fangs growing into place. “GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!!”
Then, with an astounding display of strength, Elena tosses her across the gym. Rebekah slides across the floor, a look of disbelief on her face.
Off to the side, Elena's friends stare in shock.
“No...” Tyler growls. “It's not possible.”
“Oh god...” Caroline gasps, covering her mouth.
“Elena?” Matt says, shaking his head in denial.
Elena gives an inhuman roar in Rebekah's direction, bearing her fangs--displaying a ferocity that takes every single person in the room—even the ones who had been aware previously—by surprise.
Rebekah merely smiles in amusement.
“Well, now,” she laughs. “I suppose that explains it.”
“You did this to me!” Elena accuses her.
“I needed to stop mother's invincible assassin,” Rebekah pointed out. “It was nothing personal.”
“You KILLED me!!!” Elena roared in fury.
“In case you've forgotten, you killed me first,” Rebekah reminded her. “Consider us even.”
“You did this?!?” Tyler demanded.
Enraged, the hybrid launches himself at Rebekah. She effortlessly manages to backhand him across the gym, where he crashes into the bleachers.
“Tyler!”
Everyone moved at once. Elena attempted to follow Tyler's example, only to be held back by Caroline. Matt found himself flung backwards out the door by some unseen force, before the doors magically locked themselves.
“I didn't do that!” Bonnie admitted.
“Alaric,” Stefan explained. “I'll fill you in later.”
Bonnie focused on the broken shards of glass that remained on the floor, causing them to levitate into the air—swirling in a spiral pattern. It was the same trick she had used on the feathers, or the leaves. Only, in this case, the results were much more deadly.
She sent the funnel of glass shards towards Rebekah, where they managed to imbed themselves in her skin.
“Cute!” Rebekah mocked her. “That the you've got, witch? Going to make it rainstorm next?”
“Not rain,” Bonnie responded. “Just the lightning!”
Bonnie focused up towards the broken lights, as electricity arced out from them. They struck Rebekah, electrocuting her.
“AGH!”
“My turn!” Stefan announced.
Bonnie gave a nod, and focused her power directly on Rebekah. It wasn't nearly enough power to harm her, though—just enough to hold her still.
That was all Stefan needed.
Reaching down into himself, Stefan brought out the darkest part of his nature—the deadly, merciless force of destruction that had been dubbed 'The Ripper'. The part of himself he'd spent so long hating, because of all the innocent humans who had fallen prey to it over the years. This time, though, it wasn't an innocent victim the Ripper was being unleashed on—but someone who rightfully deserved it.
Moving with inhuman speed, Stefan grabbed Rebekah's shoulder—dislocating it with a flick of his wrist. Before it has the chance to heal, he slams her into the ground.
“You can't kill me, Stefan!” Rebekah taunted him.
“I'm not going to kill you!” Stefan threatened. “I'm just going to tear you into little pieces.”
For a moment, Rebekah actually seemed scared. But despite Stefan's ferocity, his strength was nothing to an original. She kicked him away, taking the opportunity to pop her shoulder back into place.
Unlike Tyler, though, Stefan managed to twist in mid-air—landing on his feet as he slid across the gym floor. He didn't hesitate for a moment before renewing the attack. Rebekah grabbed him by the neck as he approached. Snarling, Stefan sunk his fangs into her wrist.
“AGH!” she yelled, dropping him to the ground. “You—animal!”
Grabbing her by the leg, Stefan flung her into the ceiling of the gym, denting up metal rafters. Rebekah falls back down, splintering the polished floor.
“Oh, that looks like it hurt!” Stefan taunted her. “Get used to it!”
Rebekah glares at him, her face transforming—this farce had gone far enough.
“ENOUGH!!!”
Everyone's attention turned towards Elijah, who had managed to force the doors open. He looks at the broken glass, the dented bleachers, the shattered floor, and then at his sister—with her singed clothes and bloodied arms.
“You all have exactly three seconds to explain yourselves, or I promise you—heads will roll!” he threatened them.
However, it didn't take Elijah long to see the source of the conflict. Elena was still barely being restrained by Caroline, the vampire features still apparent on her face.
Stefan, however, notices this as well. His body seems to relax and—slowly--the more rational part of himself takes control again. He walks over to Caroline and Elena, taking Elena face in his hands.
“Elena, listen to me,” he whispers. “I know you're angry, but you have to think. Do you remember what happened in this gym the night you met Rebekah? What Klaus did to me?”
Elena freezes, the veins around her eyes receding.
“You don't have any vervain in your system,” he reminds her. “No protection from compulsion. There's nothing to stop Rebekah from controlling you if you try to attack her. Let it go—at least for now.”
Elena nods, reluctantly. Stefan was right—she was angry, maybe beyond reason—but she wasn't stupid. She could wait. Caroline loosens her grip, as Elena falls into Stefan's arms. The two of them glare at Rebekah with hatred. Rebekah, for her part, was too busy plucking glass shards out of her arms to pay them any notice.
Tyler, meanwhile, has managed to untangle himself from the broken bleachers—marching towards the assembled group.
“Look what she DID, Elijah!” Tyler spat, pointing at Rebekah accusingly. “Is this what you consider 'protecting' Elena?”
“Rebekah?” Elijah asked, angrily. “Are you responsible for Elena's—condition?”
“I drowned the @#$%, if that's what you're asking?” she said smugly.
“Go home,” he sighed.
“Excuse me?”
“NOW!” he ordered. “And be glad I don't let these children finish what they've started!”
Feeling humiliated, she gives Elena one final look. She was still in Stefan's arms, holding onto him for dear life. It disgusted Rebekah.
“You should be thanking me,” she teases, before speeding away.
“I've taken steps to guarantee your safety from the town council,” Elijah informed them, trying to maintain his composure. “In return, I expect some small measure of gratitude—not the least of which is leaving my family and I in peace.”
“She attacked first!” Bonnie pointed out.
“And, in the future, I will make sure she behaves herself,” Elijah told them. “You have my word.”
“And what does that mean, hmm?” Stefan challenged him. “Your word, Elijah—I've found it to be pretty much worthless. What happened at the sacrifice, blackmailing us with Elena's life—now this? What possible reason could any of us have to trust you?”
“I don't see that you have any other option, Mr. Salvatore,” Elijah responded.
Stefan nodded—not in agreement, but because he expected it.
“I'll deal with this,” Elijah told them, pointing towards the destroyed gymnasium. “The rest of you leave.”
Bonnie and Caroline exit—both giving Elijah cold looks as they do. Once they're gone, he turns to Elena.
“Elena, I--”
“Don't!” she snaps at him. “Whatever—understanding we might have had, Elijah, died the moment you let Rebekah kill me. You didn't even try to stop her.”
“I thought...” Elijah attempted to explain. “I didn't...”
Unfortunately, for once, Elijah couldn't find the words. There was absolutely no reasoning that could make this right.
“I was wrong to ever trust you.”
A look of pain flashes across Elijah's face.
Her and Stefan leave. Tyler tries to follow, but Elijah approaches him.
“Not you!” he warns him. “We have much to discuss, Mr. Lockwood.”
“I have nothing to say to you...” Tyler scoffs.
“I disagree,” Elijah responds. “I feel you have a great deal to say to me—brother.”
“I think you've got the wrong hybrid,” Tyler scoffs. “Klaus is dead, Elijah—deal with it!”
Elijah moves at vampire-speed, grabbing Tyler by the shoulders—his eyes wild.
“Do you think you can deceive me, Niklaus?” he challenged. “Your rage is like a fingerprint.”
He was caught—he knew it.
“Fine!” he spat, in Klaus' voice once again.
It was—shocking--to say the least. Even though Elijah had been so sure of the truth, to have in confirmed...
“It is you...”
“And now that you have me, Elijah--” Klaus asks, a small measure of fear in his voice. “What do you intend to do with me?”
He was vulnerable, he knew. The fight with Rebekah had proven that much—Tyler's body was so much weaker than his own. He was completely at Elijah's mercy—unable to do much to defend himself against whatever retributions his older brother had in mind.
What Elijah did, however, took him completely off guard. He pulled the surprised hybrid into a hug.
“I believed you dead...” Elijah muttered. “I'm—relieved—that's not the case.”
The action was—unexpected, to say the least. A mixture of different emotions shot through him: surprise, confusion, suspicion, and—perhaps--maybe a little hope that the action was, in fact, genuine. Perhaps Elijah truly did feel relief that he wasn't dead?
After a moment, Elijah lets him go—though there's still an awkward feeling hanging in the air.
“As I said, we have much to discuss,” Elijah repeated, after collecting himself. “Some of which you won't enjoy hearing.”
Not trusting his voice, Klaus gave a nod.
*****
Meanwhile, near the basketball court.
“Come on...” Jeremy said, checking his watch. He only had another twenty or so minutes before he needed to be in class. “Where is he?”
“Sorry, still getting the hang of this travel thing.”
Jeremy turns, seeing Alaric leaning against the fence.
“There was some kind of commotion in the gym,” Jeremy explains. “They're saying the ceiling fan collapsed.”
“Rebekah and Elena had a little—talk,” he explained.
“Oh no...”
“She's ok,” Alaric reassured him. “Stefan and the others showed up and dog-piled her until Elijah showed up to break up the fight. Can you believe they're letting him teach my class? Talk about adding insult to injury...”
“Ric, focus!” Jeremy complained. “Is Elena ok?”
“She lost control,” Alaric sighed. “Seeing Rebekah there—it pushed her over the edge. It's safe to say everyone knows she's a vampire now.”
“Was anybody hurt?” Jeremy asked, concerned.
“Just Tyler, and mostly his pride,” Alaric laughed. “I tried to help, but—I'm not sure how.”
“You exploded a bullet in mid-air,” Jeremy reminded him.
“But I have no idea how I did it!” he sighs. “I managed to push Matt out of the gym and open a few doors at the storage depot, but—nothing like the power I felt back at the tomb. By the way—what's this about you avoiding Damon?”
“You're seriously not gonna lecture me about that, are you?” Jeremy complained.
“Okay, he's not your favourite vampire at the moment, I get that,” Alaric admitted. “But since you're the only one who can see me, the only way I can relay any information to Damon outside of prop charades is if you tell him what I tell you.”
“All right, all right!” Jeremy said, giving in. “I guess I can do that much.”
“There's something else,” Alaric told him after a moment. “You remember Elena's necklace? The one Stefan gave her to protect her from compulsion?”
“The one that used to belong to Esther?”
“Yeah,” Alaric nodded. “Think you can get a hold of it?”
“Why?”
“Your Uncle John says it can be used to increase your powers,” he explained.
“Wait, Uncle John?” Jeremy questioned him. “He's on the other side? And since when are you and him buddies?”
“I wouldn't go that far...”
“What do you mean increase my powers?” Jeremy asks him. “You mean let me see more than just one of you at a time? You'll be able to stay longer?”
“You remember that spell Esther used?” Alaric recalled. “The one that let everyone out? It would be like that, only you would be able to decide who comes through.”
Jeremy freezes at the information—the ramifications hitting him.
“So I could bring you back?”
“Well—in a sense,” he explained. “We wouldn't be alive, but we would have a physical presence in this world. Other people would be able to see us. At least that's the way John explains it.”
“And you trust him?” Jeremy inquirers—still a little suspicious.
“I trust him more than I trust Esther.”
Jeremy pondered it for a moment—trust his vampire-hating uncle, who supposedly had a change of heart. But if that meant he could bring them back—not only Ric, but Anna, Vicki, Caroline's dad, Tyler's uncle...
“I'll get it!” he confirmed. “Just tell me what I need to do.”