"I feel like I'm going crazy. I'm totally paranoid all the time." Elena stated as her, Bonnie and I sat at a table in the Grill.
"You have a right to be. Klaus is still out there and he knows that you tried to kill him." Bonnie replied with a shrug and I sighed, sitting back in my seat.
"Why hasn't he made a move then?" I asked with a small shrug. "It's like he went on a vacation after he killed Mikael. Which, is clearly driving her mad." I added, gesturing at Elena who scoffed and ran her hands slowly through her hair.
"Join the club. Every time I close my eyes, I have a nightmare on repeat." Bonnie stated, looking at Elena in reassurance.
"The same dream?" Elena asked, shaking her head and Bonnie nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. Four coffins. Klaus is in oneâIt's weird." Bonnie stated and I leant forward, raising an eyebrow at her.
"And what if it's not.. just a dream?" I asked, tilting my head at her. "What if it's like a witch dream?" I added with a shrug and Bonnie shook her head.
"It's just stress. I'll figure it out." Bonnie stated, dropping the subject and I slowly nodded back at her. "What about Stefan? Has there been any sign of him?" She added and I looked at Elena who folded her arms over her chest.
"He betrayed us, Bonnie. The Stefan that we know is gone." Elena replied emotionlessly, clearly hurting over it.
"How is Damon handling that?" Bonnie asked, looking over at me and I sighed, sitting back in my chair again.
"Damon is.. Damon." I answered quietly and looked past her and over to the bar where Damon and Alaric sat. Alaric was grading papers in silence while Damon had most of the bar spread out on the counter in front of them. I rose an eyebrow and watched them talk amongst themselves and at the female bartender serving them before they both looked over at me. I watched Alaric sigh before he turned back towards the papers and I furrowed my eyebrows.
~~~
"Jeremy, the minute that you get this, you better call me." I warned in annoyance before I hung up. "Unbelievable." I added, pacing back and forth while Damon threw a dart at the dartboard.
"You're feisty when you're mad." Damon stated, looking at me from over his shoulder and I rolled my eyes at the smirk on his lips.
"It's not that I'm madâ" I started and Damon gave me a doubtful look, making me sigh. "Okay, I'm a little madâbut I'm more worried." I pointed out and put my phone on the table beside me.
"Why? Because he lost his job at the Grill?" Damon asked with a small pout. "He'll survive, Mariana." He added with a shrug before turning towards me fully.
"He's spiraling, Damon. Ever since Bonnie broke up with him, he's moody. He's not really talking to anyone." I informed quietly, thinking it over and Damon sighed, turning back to the dartboard again.
"Just a typical teenager." He stated, thinking nothing of it and I tilted my head at him in annoyance.
"Who sees the ghosts of his dead girlfriend, Damon. Let's be realistic." I countered with a scoff and he sighed, throwing another dart at the board and I watched as it hit the bullseye. Damon walked towards the board and collected his darts before turning back to me. "You okay?" I asked, observing his nonchalant behavior.
"What makes you think I'm not?" Damon asked, walking away from the board and I rolled my eyes.
"You're a day drunk. It's not exactly your most attractive look, if I'm being honest." I stated and Damon smirked, coming over to me.
"Then what is my most attractive look?" He asked, leaning down to me playfully and I chuckled, putting a hand on his chest and pushing him away.
"I never said you had any attractive look, did I?" I countered and Damon tilted his head, looking from my eyes to my lips slowly. "I'm just saying this is my least favorite one." I pointed out and he smirked down at me.
"Don't mind me." A familiar voice stated from behind us and we both quickly pulled away and turned to it.
"Klaus." I whispered, looking at him and he smirked back at me as one of his hybrids stood beside him.
"You really want to do this here?" Damon asked in annoyance, standing quickly in front of me. "In front of everyone? That's a little beneath you, no?" He added, raising an eyebrow and Klaus furrowed his.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I just came down to my local pub to get a drink with a mate." Klaus replied, turning to the hybrid. "Get a round then, will you, Tony?" He asked and the hybrid nodded, narrowing his eyes at me before walking away from us.
"I'm surprised you stuck around town long enough for happy hour." I stated and folded my arms over my chest.
"My sister seems to be missing. I need to sort that out." Klaus pointed out as he narrowed his eyes between Damon and I.
"Cute, blonde bombshellâPsycho? Shouldn't be too hard to find." Damon replied emotionlessly and Klaus slowly walked towards him threateningly.
"Truth is, I've grown to rather like your little town. Thinking I might fancy a home here." Klaus informed before taking the darts from Damon's hand and walking around him. "I imagine you're wondering how this affects you and the answer isânot in the slightest." He added, gesturing to us as a smirk plastered itself on his face. "As long as I get what I want and everyone behaves themselves, you can go on living your lives however you choose. You have my word." Klaus added sarcastically towards me.
"What more could you possibly want?" I asked, walking towards him in defense.
"Well, for starters you could tell me where to find Stefan." Klaus answered, stepping closer me to fill the space between us.
"Stefan skipped town the second he saved your ass." Damon answered, protectively stepping in between Klaus and I.
"Well, you see, that is a shame." Klaus stated before he turned and threw a dark at the dartboard, hitting the bullseye. "Your brother stole from me. I need him found so I can take back what's mine." He added, looking at Damon and I again.
"That sounds like a you and Stefan problem. You know, since he saved your life and all." I replied emotionlessly and Klaus walked over to me again before Damon stepped in front of him and Klaus chuckled, shaking his head.
"Well, this is me broadening the scope, sweetheart." Klaus replied with a smirk and I narrowed my eyes at him.
~~~
"Are you ready?" Alaric asked, chopping the salad from the kitchen island while Elena and I set the table and Jenna put a bowl of chips on it.
"Vampires, hybrids, originals.. No problem. But my rebellious brother? I'm worried." Elena stated in annoyance and I slowly nodded in agreement at her.
"Proof that you're still human." Jenna pointed out. Elena scoffed and nodded back at her before the front door opened and shut, making all of our eyes dart towards it.
"Well, just in time. We're cooking." I stated as Jeremy came through the kitchen and over to the fridge.
"Sorry, just passing through." Jeremy countered. Jenna and I exchanged a knowing and worried look.
"Well, I thought we'd all stay in and have a meal together. You know, like a typical family." Jenna pointed out jokingly and folded her arms.
"Why?" Jeremy asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he closed the fridge.
"Maybe because you got fired and didn't tell anyone." I pointed out in annoyance and Jeremy started looking between the four of us that stood in front of him.
"Look, can we do this later?" He asked with a sigh as he rolled his eyes. "I made plans with Tyler and he's right outside." He added, making me furrow my eyebrows and exchange a look with Elena.
"Wait, when did you start hanging out with Tyler Lockwood?" Alaric asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he paused his cutting and Jeremy looked at him, taken aback.
"I don't knowâDoes it matter?" Jer countered and I tilted my head at him as Elena scoffed.
"Yeah, Jeremy, it matters. He was sired by Klaus. He's dangerous." Elena whispered and Jeremy chuckled in annoyance at her while I sighed.
"He can still hear you. He's right outside." I pointed out, shaking my head at her and she sighed.
"You of all people are going to lecture me on who I can and can't hang out with?" Jeremy asked, cutting in loudly as he scoffed back at Elena, making me raise an eyebrow.
"What is with the attitude?" I asked in defense and watched him shake his head back at me.
"Whatever. This is lame, Tyler's waiting." Jeremy replied, ending the conversation and walking towards the front door and Elena narrowed her eyes.
"No. Oh, no, no, no. You're not going anywhere, especially not with Tyler." Elena warned, stepping quickly in front of Jeremy to block his exit. Jeremy rose an eyebrow at her before looking over his shoulder at Jenna and Alaric who shrugged back at him.
"We're with her on this, Jer. Sorry." Jenna pointed out and I slowly nodded at them as I looked back to Jeremy also.
"Okay, fine. You want me to stay in? Let's all stay in? Yo, Tyler, come on in!" Jeremy yelled at the door and I widened my eyes back at him.
"Jerâ" I started before I cut myself off as the front door opened and Tyler walked in. I narrowed my eyes and looked back at Jeremy who smirked at both Elena and I.
~~~
I sat across from Tyler at the table as Elena stood next to me. She narrowed her eyes at him while the two just stared at each other before Jeremy put a glass of tea in front of him. "Mm, thanks." Tyler stated, nodding at it and Elena chuckled dryly.
"This is weird. Klaus has hybrids stalking me and now you're just sitting in my kitchen." Elena stated with an uncomfortable laugh as she folded her arms over her chest and Tyler sighed.
"Look, maybe I should go." Tyler suggested, shaking his head as he went to get up before Jeremy sat him back down.
"No, stay. You're not doing anything." Jeremy replied, narrowing his eyes at Elena and I tilted my head at Tyler.
"Unless you have to, you know, check in with your hybrid master." I stated sarcastically and Tyler scoffed in amusement. Jeremy put a plate of food on the table before he sat down as did Jenna and Alaric.
"It's not like that, Mariana." Tyler replied uncomfortably, slightly moving his glass of tea.
"Tell me, Tylerâwhat is the difference between being sired and being compelled?" Alaric asked, folding his hands together as he sat at the head of the table and Tyler looked at him.
"Compulsionâthat's just mind control. Like hypnosis. And being sired is.." He started, looking over all of us as he was explaining. "it's like faith." Tyler stated before looking at Elena and I rose an eyebrow. "You do something because you believe it's the right thing." He added and Elena narrowed her eyes back at him.
"So, you believe that serving Klaus is the right thing." Elena stated, furrowing her eyebrows down at him and Tyler slowly shook his head.
"I don't serve him." Tyler countered and I let out a deep sigh. "Klaus released me from a curse that was ruining my life. I owe him for that." He stated with a shrug.
"What if he asked you to.. jump off a bridge?" I asked, tilting my head at him. Everyone rose an eyebrow and look at Tyler, waiting for his response.
"He wouldn't." Tyler replied, furrowing his eyebrows. "And even if he did, I'd be fine. I'm a hybrid." He pointed out and Elena rolled her eyes.
"Okay. So what if he asked you to rip your own heart out?" Elena asked and Tyler sighed in annoyance up at her.
"Again, he wouldn't." Tyler answered quickly and I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"What if he did?" Elena pressed, leaning her hands against the table in question.
"I don't know, then I'd rip out my heart!" Tyler replied loudly in frustration. I sat back in my chair, taken aback by his answer, as was Jeremy who furrowed his eyebrows. "You guys sound like Caroline. Getting all freaked out over something you don't understand." He added in annoyance and I slowly shook my head.
"You're right, Tyler, I don't understand. Klaus has terrorized every single one of us and you're just blindly loyal to him." I pointed out with a small scoff.
"You're overthinking it." Tyler countered and I watched as Jeremy rose an eyebrow at him. "I can still make my own decisions." He added and I slowly sat up towards the table as Jeremy's phone rang and he answered it, standing from the table and walking away from us. I rose an eyebrow and watched him carefully, noticing he he didn't talk into it before he hung up and came back over.
"What was that about?" I asked, furrowing my eyes at him as he sat down again.
"It was nothing." He replied emotionlessly and I looked back at Tyler who looked down at his watch.
"Uh.. I got to go. Thanks for the food offer but, uh.." Tyler started, looking between Alaric and Jenna who slowly nodded.
"Next time." Jenna replied quietly as she ate a Dorito chip and Tyler nodded at her before he got up from the table and walked out of the house. I sighed as Alaric, Jenna, Elena and I went back over to the kitchen to continue making dinner once the door shut, leaving Jeremy at the table.
"Well, that was illuminating." Alaric stated sarcastically from the kitchen island and Elena sighed, shaking her head.
"So Tyler Lockwood is a lunatic who has access to our house." Elena stated as she tossed the salad in annoyance.
"I mean, this whole entire side bond thing is wild." Jenna replied, sprawling her hands over the counter as she looked between Elena, Alaric and I.
"I don't even think Tyler's fully aware of what little reason hides behind what he's saying." Alaric stated and I rose an eyebrow at him. "Itâit's his weird cult logic." He added and I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Well, great. My ex boyfriend happens to be a wonderful influence for you, Jerâ" I started and turned around only to cut myself off, seeing that Jeremy wasn't sitting at the table anymore.
"Jeremy?" Elena asked, raising her eyebrows before I saw Jeremy's Gilbert ring sitting on the plate that was sat in front of him.
"That's his ring." Alaric stated, moving over to it and I looked between the three of them in worry.
"Where'd he go?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows before the four of us walked out of the kitchen.
"We got upstairs." Jenna stated, gesturing at her and Elena. I nodded as Alaric and I opened the front door and walked out of the house.
"Jer?" I asked, looking out onto the porch before my eyes drifted to the street. Jeremy was standing in the middle of it, staring at the road in front of him. "What is he doing?" I asked in annoyance before the sound of screeching tires came into my ears. I widened my eyes and looked further up the street in front of Jer to see a black S.U.V speeding quickly towards him. "Oh, my god." I whispered in realization before Alaric and I ran forwards.
"Jeremy!?" Alaric yelled toward him but Jeremy was frozen in place.
"Jeremy! Jeremy, move!?" I screamed, stopping on the sidewalk and going to wave my hands toward him before Alaric jumped out, pushing him out of the way. The S.U.V hit him, causing Alaric to go over the car and break the windshield as he did, making me gasp. The car came to an abrupt stop and Alaric flew off of the top of the car and rolled on the ground. Blood and fabric tears covered his clothes. I quickly ran towards him and turned him on his back as the S.U.V pulled up next to us and the window rolled down, showing the hybrid that was at the bar with Klaus earlier.
"There I go, bumping into you again." Tony stated in amusement before he quickly sped off and I looked back down at Ric and saw the Gilbert ring placed on his finger. I looked at Jeremy who sat up in confusion from the street across from us before he quickly ran towards Alaric and I.
"He has his Gilbert ring. It's going to be fine." I reassured Jeremy who furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you okay?" I asked, looking him over for scrapes and cuts.
"I don't understand." Jeremy replied and I furrowed my eyebrows back at him.
"Jeremy! Mariana!?" Jenna and Elena's voices yelled from the house before they ran over to us.
"Who was that on the phone earlier?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at Jeremy. He thought it over in his head before he came to realization.
"It was Klaus." He answered, his face looking Alaric over in guilt and I slowly shook my head and clenched my jaw.
"You were compelled, Jeremy." I stated in anger as Elena and Jenna stopped beside us, breathing heavily in concern. "We've got to get him inside. Help me." I added before the four of us picked up Alaric carefully from the street and went back to the house.
~~~
"How is he?" Damon asked, coming into the house as we all sat around the living room.
"He's dead but he had his ring." Elena answered from where her and Jenna sat on the coffee table in front of Alaric who was laying on the couch.
"Klaus' hybrid hit him. Now we just wait." I pointed out and looked at Jeremy who sat in the doorway of the dinning room while I leant against it.
"Jeremy, why aren't you wearing vervain? Where's your bracelet?" Damon asked, gesturing at him. Jer furrowed his eyebrows and looked down at his wrist to see the bracelet was gone.
"It was Tyler. It had to have been." I scoffed in annoyance and looked at Damon who sighed and walked over to me.
"That's why he was hanging out with you. To get you off of the vervain." Elena pointed out in annoyance towards Jer.
"Klaus is trying to send a message. He wants us to find Stefan who stole his coffins full of all his dead family members." Damon stated with a scoff and I rose an eyebrow at him.
"Coffins?" I countered, shaking my head and looking at Elena who furrowed her eyebrows.
"Yep. So all I need to do is find four coffins and voila. No one else in your family's Christmas list needs to die." Damon replied with a sigh and Jeremy quickly stood from the doorway.
"Wait, that's your big plan?" Jeremy asked angrily. "To steal back four dead originals so this evil hybrid doesn't kill me and everyone else that we know?" He added in annoyance and gesturing at all of us.
"You got a better idea?" Damon asked, narrowing his eyes in return.
"Yeah! Let's get the hell out of here. Pack our bags and go." Jeremy answered angrily and Elena stood from the coffee table.
"Hey, Jer, calm downâ" Elena started in a calm voice but he scoffed, cutting her off.
"No. No, I'm not going to calm down, Elena. This happens every single time no matter what we doâI mean, you two get on my case about school and work." Jer started gesturing at Elena and I. "Who cares? None of us are going to make it out of this town alive." He added in warning towards Damon before he quickly turned away from us and walked up the stairs. I sighed in defeat and looked at Jenna and Elena who now stood in front of Damon and I.
"He said he wants his family back." Elena stated, nodding at Damon who folded his arms over his chest.
"No, no. I know what you're thinkingâand the answers no." Damon warned, narrowing his eyes at her.
"If we give him Rebekahâ" Elena started but I cut her off quickly.
"Yeah, then Klaus undaggers her. The first thing she's going to do is kill youâGreat plan." I stated sarcastically and she sighed in defeat back at me. I looked away from her and furrowed my eyebrows before I looked back at Damon. "Klaus' coffins. How many did you say there were?" I asked, coming to a realization and he rose an eyebrow back at me. I pulled out my phone and dialed in Bonnie's number before I put the phone to my ear, listening as it rang.
"Mar. Hey." Bonnie answered and I looked over at Elena who watched me intently.
"Klaus is looking for four coffins. Just like in your dreamâso I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that I was right about it not being just stress." I pointed out with a sigh.
"Mariana, don't get involved. Whatever Klaus wants, stay far away from it as you can." Bonnie warned quickly in response, making me scoff.
"I'm a witch. I'm involved as much as he wants me to beâHe tried to kill Jeremy, Bonnie." I countered in annoyance and heard Bonnie let out a small, shaky breath from the phone.
"What do you want me to do?" Bonnie asked quietly and I slowly nodded and turned back to Jenna, Damon and Elena.
"We need to find Stefan. I know that you don't think your locator spell will work but I can do one. We need to try." I stated in defeat and Bonnie sighed again from the phone.
"We don't need a locator spell." Bonnie pointed out, making me furrow my eyebrows and look at Damon who rose an eyebrow back at me.
~~~
"I thought Bonnie said this place lost all its mojo." Damon stated as we walked towards the house where the witch massacre took place.
"The dead witches were angry at her for bringing Jeremy back to life. I guess now they have something they want her to know." I stated, looking up at him as leaves crunched beneath our shoes.
"That's why I hate witches. So fickle and passive-aggressive." Damon replied in annoyance. I rolled my eyes back at him as we walked up to the porch and Damon opened the door, making it creak slightly.
"Stefan?" Elena asked as the three of us walked in freely.
"Come on, Stef. Olly, olly, oxen free." Damon joked before he groaned as the sunlight from in the house burnt him, making him quickly vamp to a dark corner. "Really? Still?" He asked in annoyance and I smirked at him.
"What?" Elena asked, furrowing her eyebrows and I sighed, folding my arms over my chest.
"The witches aren't a big fan.. And they used their mojo to mess with his daylight ring." I informed, making Damon roll his eyes at me. "Just wait outside." I stated gesturing towards the door but he scoffed.
"Ariâ" Damon started but Elena cut him off.
"We're not leaving until we know he's here or not." Elena countered in defiance before she walked away from him and I shrugging, following after her. Elena and I walked down the stairs and to the basement of the house. I felt a sadness come over me and I remembered the last time I was there. "Stefan?" Elena asked, walking around slowly as she observed the cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and walls.
"Go away." A voice stated from behind us and we both turned to see Stefan leaning against the brick wall. "You shouldn't be here. Either of you." He added, folding his arms over his chest.
"Stefan, we need you help. Bonnie said that you would be here." I stated, tilting my head at him but he rolled his eyes.
"Well, Bonnie sucks at keeping secrets." Stefan countered in annoyance and I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Listen, you need to give Klaus his family back." Elena stated in warning and he rose an eyebrow and walked closer to us.
"Oh, really? Is that what I need to do?" Stefan asked in protest, making Elena furrow her eyebrows.
"Klaus compelled Jeremy to stand in front of a speeding car." Elena pointed out and watched as Stefan stood in front of us, totally unphased by what she just said. "Don't you get it? Stefan, he's not going to stop until he gets what he wantsâ" She started but he cut her off quickly.
"Elena, stop talking." Stefan stated emotionlessly and I rose an eyebrow at him and tilted my head. "I'm not giving Klaus anything." He added, shaking his head slowly and I scoffed.
"Are you listening to us? He's going to kill, Jeremy." I argued, getting angry at his attitude. I watched Stefan look between Elena and I carelessly before he shrugged.
"Not really my problem." Stefan replied quietly as he looked away from us. I looked at Elena who's eyes glazed over at what he just said before she clenched her jaw and slapped Stefan forcefully across the face.
"Then you can go to hell." Elena stated angrily. Stefan looked away from her and she quickly walked up the stairs and I followed, walking out of the house behind her.
"That didn't go over well." Damon stated once we met him outside and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Don't start, Damon." I warned emotionlessly as Elena walked quickly in front of me.
"Let me talk to him." Damon suggested and I rolled my eyes, turning to him as Elena kept walking towards the Camaro.
"You can't get in. The witches won't let you." I argued and he walked towards me before handing me his keys.
"Here. Take my car keys." Damon stated, putting them in my hand and closing my fingers around them. "You and Elena go deal with your brother. I'll deal with mine." He reassured and I sighed at him before he walked away from me.
~~~
Elena and I walked into the house as Jenna and Ric stood in the living room. "Hey, when did you get back to the land of the living?" I asked, looking him over as I shut the door.
"Just a few minutes ago. How's Jeremy?" Jenna asked, gently rubbing Alaric's back as he groaned, still recovering.
"Hating us. Hating life, hating the fact that we can't even have a family dinner without someone dying before dessert." Elena replied sarcastically. I rose an eyebrow as Alaric slightly wavered from where he stood, trying to stretch himself out, obviously having some discomfort still.
"Are you okay?" I asked in concern. He opened his mouth to answer before he bent over and started coughing harshly into his hand. I widened my eyes as he pulled his hand back and saw that blood covered his palm.
"Something wrong. The ringâ" Alaric started as he walked forwards only to stagger and fall to the floor.
"Ric!" Jenna yelled out in worry before she rushed to his side as did Elena and I. "You're going to be okay." Jenna reassured him from where she knelt as Elena pulled out her phone and dialed 911.
"Alaric, stay with us." I stated in worry from him over as Elena started talking to an emergency operator through her phone. "You're gonna be fine." I added, shaking my head and looking at Elena with urgency.
~~~
I opened the door as two paramedics stood in front of me while their ambulance was parked out in front of the house. "What happened?" One of them asked and I looked back at Alaric as Elena and Jenna still hovered over him.
"He got his by a car, and he's coughing up blood." I said quickly turning back to the paramedics who rushed through the door and knelt beside Alaric as Elena and Jenna moved out of their way.
"Get his vitals." The same paramedic said as the other one grabbed Alaric's wrist and checked his pupils.
"Pulse, thready and weak." The paramedic stated calmly and I furrowed my eyebrows at them.
"Looks like internal bleeding. We got to get him out of here." The other paramedic stated in urgency as he looked up at his partner.
"Let's move." His partner agreed, going to lift Alaric before he was stopped.
"Let's not and say we did." A voice said from behind me. I turned to see Tony, the hybrid who hit Alaric, leaning against the doorway and peering in at the paramedics. "Why don't you two meet us at the hospital?" He compelled, making me widen my eyes. I looked back at the paramedics who slowly did as told and grabbed their equipment, leaving the house.
"No, no, no, wait! You have to help him!" Elena pleaded as they left quietly and I narrowed my eyes at the hybrid who smirked.
"What are you doing?" I asked, turning back to the hybrid angrily and he shrugged.
"You can still save his life, Mariana. HereâTake my blood." He gestured, holding up his wrist to me and I furrowed my eyebrows. The hybrid sighed and stood up straight as he looked around the doorway. "But.. I can't get in. You're gonna have to invite me." He added, looking me over with intent and I slowly shook my head.
"No. Why are you doing this?" Elena asked from where she knelt beside Alaric and Jenna again.
"Klaus asked for his family. You didn't deliver." Tony replied emotionlessly before Alaric coughed harshly from behind me and I looked back at him in worry.
"Ric, I'm right here." Jenna reassured him through watery eyes as she looked down at him, putting his head in her lap.
"He's gonna die." Tony warned impatiently and I scoffed, looking back at him as the ambulance gave two siren blips and drove away. "You might wanna invite me in, Mariana." He added in amusement. I slowly shook my head in defeat before he groaned and arched his back in pain. I furrowed my eyebrows as he fell on the porch with an arrow in his back and Jeremy stood on the sidewalk, holding Alaric's crossbow.
"Jeremy." I stated in relief as I looked over the hybrids body.
"He's not dead yet." Jeremy warned as he hurried up the steps and into the house.
"Jeremy?" I asked, watching as he went into the kitchen and out of sight. Elena and Jenna watched him in confusion once he came back out with a butcher knife in hand. "Jerâ" I started before he walked out onto the porch and knelt beside the hybrid. "What are you doi-" I started before I gasped as he chopped the hybrids head off. I watched the head plop down the steps, making squelching noises as it did.
"Now he's dead." Jeremy whispered, slowly standing as blood speckled the side of his face. "We've got to get Alaric to the hospital now." He warned, walking past me and back into the house as I stared down at the hybrid's detached body, in shock.
~~~
I rinsed out the blood from the washcloth in the kitchen sink as footsteps came in behind me. "Did you get rid of him?" I asked quietly, not turning around.
"Yeah. Tony the headless hybrid's now at the bottom of Steven's Quarry." Damon answered and looked up into the windows reflection to see Damon looking me over.
"What about Alaric?" Elena asked, coming in from behind him and he looked over at her.
"Took care of him, too. He'll be fine, Jenna's with him." Damon replied in reassurance before looking back at me while I now scrubbed the blood off of my hands. "How are you?" He asked quietly and I shrugged.
"I think I got most of the blood off of the porch." I informed, looking back at Elena who folded her arms over her chest and slowly nodded.
"Marianaâ" Elena started but I quickly shook my head back at her and turned away from the sink.
"I'm fine." I pressed emotionlessly and Damon narrowed his eyes at me.
"I have something to tell you." Elena stated, changing the subject and I rose an eyebrow at her as I wiped my blood stained hands off with a towel. "I made a deal with Klaus. I gave him Rebekah." She admitted and I scoffed, about to open my mouth but she cut me off. "Don't worry, he's not going to let her touch me. He gave me his word." She reassured and I looked away from her in thought.
"And suddenly you trust him?" Damon countered in annoyance.
"No, I don't trust him. And I also don't trust Stefan, Damon. You think he's going to give up the coffins?" Elena asked in defense and he sighed, looking back at me as I watched them.
"My brother's.. sort of running his own show right now." Damon pointed out and I chuckled dryly and looked away from him and down at my hands again.
"Yeah, and my brother just chopped off someone's head." I pointed out in defeat, making Damon furrow his eyebrows. "It's not right. He's sixteen years old. He shouldn't have to live like this, it's not fair." I added and turned the water on as I started washing the blood out of the sink. "There has to be another way. We have to fix it." I stated, my eyes glazing over a bit as I thought about the only way to fix it.
"We will." Elena reassured from behind me as I scrubbed the sink abruptly, sniffling as I did.
"Hey." Damon said softly, coming up from behind me and shutting the water off. He turned me towards him and ran his hands over the sides of my face. "We'll fix it.. okay?" He asked quietly, rubbing a thumb over my cheek softly. I stared back at him for a few seconds before I let a tear fall and I turned away from him and sprawled my hands out on the sink in front of me, hanging my head in defeat.
~~~
Elena, Alaric, Jenna and I walked towards Jeremy's room before I lightly knocked on the doorframe. He was standing at his dresser, putting clothes away and he turned towards us. "Hey. Can we talk?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and he sighed a bit.
"What did I do now?" Jeremy asked in some amusement and I shrugged as he sat on his bed.
"I've been thinking about what you said earlier." I pointed out and he looked at me in confusion, not remembering. "You know, about how we should pack up and go?" I asked and he scoffed.
"Mar, I didn't mean any of that." He reassured as he tilted his head at me and I walked into his room as did Elena.
"But you're right. You shouldn't have to give up a normal life just because of us." Elena countered, folding her arms over her chest from where we stood in front of Jeremy.
"What's going on?" Jeremy asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he looked between Elena and I before over to Alaric and Jenna as Damon came into the room also.
"Your sisters think we should have another one of our talks." Damon informed, giving him a small smile before he sat on the bed beside Jeremy. Jeremy looked between Elena and I in defeat before Damon patted his shoulder gently, making Jer turn to him. "Here's the thing, Jer. You're gonna go out of town for a little whileâA long while. You're gonna stay with some nice family friends in Denver. You're gonna be at a new school and meet new girlsâliving girls." Damon pointed out and I slowly nodded as my eyes glazed over again. "You're gonna drink a few beers, take an art class. Do whatever you want." Damon compelled before Alaric cleared his throat.
"Tell him he's going to leave Mystic Falls behind.. and never think twice about it." Alaric stated quietly before looking at Elena and I. Damon looked away from Jeremy and at me for certainty and I nodded in agreement.
"You're going to leave Mystic Falls behind and never think twice about it." Damon compelled Jeremy and I felt a tear fall onto my cheek. "You're gonna have a better life, Jeremy." He added with a small smile. He looked away from Jeremy who blinked a few times and looked up up Elena and I again and I gave him a small smile, not wanting him to see that I was hurting.
~~~
I walked out onto the porch and sighed deeply as Damon walked out after me. "I feel horrible." I stated with a small sigh as I ran my hands through my hair.
"You just saved his life, Mariana." Damon reassured, shaking his head at me. "Take it from me. Estranged is bad, dead is worse." He warned and I sighed deeply, pacing the porch.
"But remember what happened the last time you compelled him?" I asked in defeat and Damon shrugged.
"He found out. And he got over it." He countered softly and I slowly shook my head. "Again, not dead, Ari." Damon pointed out and walked in front of me. "He's so lucky to have sisters like you and Elena, okay?" He asked reassuringly and I heaved out a small sigh as I looked up at him.
"Thank you." I replied softly, eyeing him closely and he smirked back at me.
"No problem." He stated in amusement and I rolled my eyes.
"Not just for this, Damon. For everything. I honestly don't know what I would do if you weren't here." I pointed out, furrowing my eyebrows at the thought of it. Damon tilted his head and stared at me silently for a few seconds before he turned towards the steps.
"You should know, Mariana.." He started and I slowly folded my arms over my chest, keeping myself warm as a light breeze blew by. "Stefan didn't screw us over. Well, he screwed us over but he had a good reason." Damon stated and I rose an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" I asked, looking over his face to see guilt and indifference clouding it.
"He saved Klaus to save me.. Then he stole the coffins to get even." Damon informed, walking further away from me on the porch and I furrowed my eyebrows.
"If he did that to protect you thenâthen what does that mean? Does Elena know?" I asked, shaking my head at him and he stopped in place, scoffing lightly.
"What does it mean?" Damon asked, looking out towards the street. "It means that I'm an idiot. Because on this entire crusade to save Stefan's humanity, all I've felt is guilty." Damon stated and I tilted my head at him.
"Guilty for what, Damon? Stefan cared enough to save you. You shouldn't feel guilty for that." I pointed out and he looked over at me, meeting my eyes.
"Guilty for wanting you more than I wanted to save my brother's humanity, Mariana." He answered softly. "I felt guilty for wanting what I want." He added, his eyes looking over my face with sincerity and need. I stared back at him, not sure what to say even though I've been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever.
"He's your brother." I whispered, realizing it was the only thing I could come up with. Damon slowly shook his head in defeat before he started walking down the steps, toward his car.
"Believe me, I know." Damon stated in defeat as he walked away from me, making me furrow my eyebrows.
"Damon?" I asked breathlessly after him. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked back at me and I opened my moth to speak but I sighed and shut it again. I watched as he slowly came back up the steps until he stood right in front of me. We stared at each other in blissful silence as I looked between his eyes and his lips before he grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me. I closed my eyes and leant into him as I put one of my hands over his, holding it there. Damon slowly pulled away from me and stared down at me quietly, observing my face.
"Good night." He whispered before he walked away from me again and I lingered a hand on my lips, watching him go.
-Time Skip-
I groaned and hit the punching bag before I kicked it while Elena held onto it tightly from the other side. "You're gonna put a whole in that thing." Alaric stated after he finished packing a few bags to stay over at the house again.
"Or me." Elena replied jokingly as I hit the bag forcefully again, making her waver a bit before Alaric took over for her.
"Wanna talk about it?" Alaric asked, raising an eyebrow at me and I scoffed, kicking the bag again.
"Nothing to talk about." I replied with a heavy breath as I hit the bag over and over again repeatedly.
"What's got you so worked up?" Elena asked as she sat at the kitchen counter in the loft, observing me.
"I didn't get much sleep last night." I replied, lying through my teeth and Alaric slowly nodded back at me as he held the bag steadily.
"Yeah, me neither. Probably something to do with dying." Ric replied sarcastically and I kicked the bag a few times before I stood still and breathed heavily toward him.
"Are you okay?" Elena asked, furrowing her eyebrows at Alaric and he sighed.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I think the ring, however, is running low on batteries." He pointed out and I sighed, shaking my head at him.
"If those rings have a shelf life, that makes me want Jeremy to get out of town even more. He's not protectedâNeither of you are." I warned, kicking the bag angrily again and Alaric groaned, wavering and somewhat stumbling back. "Sorry.. Frustration." I admitted. He rose an eyebrow at me as I walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a water bottle, drinking it.
"I guess Damon's compulsion worked. Jer was packing when Jenna and I left this morning. Going on about his new school in Denver." Alaric pointed out and I sighed in defeat at Elena who looked down.
"Have you talked to Damon today?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Alaric and changing the subject.
"No... Why?" Ric countered, furrowing his eyebrows and placing his hands on his hips in curiosity.
"No reason." I replied with a slight shrug before I looked away from him and drank my water again.
~~~
Elena and I taped streamers and small bows onto Caroline's locker as Bonnie came over to us quickly. "Hey, sorry I'm late. I uhâI got held up." She stated as she held a big birthday card to put on the locker.
"It's okay. We just got here, too." I reassured her and picked the line of balloons up off of the floor as Elena taped them to the locker also.
"What got you running late?" Elena asked, raising an eyebrow at Bonnie from over her shoulder.
"I uh, was working on some new spells." Bonnie replied with a short nod. "You?" She asked and I sighed, leaning against the lockers.
"Working out with Alaric." I pointed out and Bonnie gave Elena and I a small smile before she held the card towards us. I smiled down at it before I grabbed it and put it on the locker too.
"So, uh.. We have something we need to tell you.. and you're not gonna like it." Elena warned in a guilty voice, making Bonnie look between both of us in concern.
"What happened?" She asked and I exchanged a nervous glance with Elena.
"Jeremy's going to be leaving town for awhile. He's going to be in Denver, staying with a few family friends. At least until this entire Klaus situation blows over." I informed and Bonnie slowly shook her head at us.
"Jeremy wouldn't just leave you to deal with Klaus on your own." Bonnie countered in a matter of fact tone and I slowly nodded and looked at Elena.
"We asked Damon to compel him." Elena replied softly and I watched as Bonnie looked taken aback all of a sudden.
"You what?" Bonnie snapped in defense and I sighed at her.
"I know, Bon, but it's not safe for him here anymore. Leaving will give him a better life." I stated and she slowly shook her head and looked away from us.
"The only reason we're telling you is because we know that you two haven't really worked out your stuff. We thought maybe you'd want to say goodbye." Elena informed softly, tilting her head at Bonnie who sighed in defeat at us before looking down the hall at Jer who stood at his locker.
~~~
I heard the front door close before Caroline sighed deeply and put her keys down. "SURPRISE!?" Elena, Bonnie, Matt and I yelled as we jumped out from the living room and Caroline gasped, turning to us as she stood in front of the side table by the door.
"Happy birthday!" Matt said happily as we all wore bows and held paper horns in hand.
"What are you guys doing here?" Caroline asked, taken aback as she looked over the four of us. I smiled and looked at Bonnie who held the big card we plastered onto Caroline's locker.
"Well, you blew off school and missed our work of birthday art, so.." I pointed out, taking off the birthday tiara from my head as Caroline walked over to us and I placed it on hers.
"Change into warmer clothes. We're going to the Falls. S'mores, campfireâ" Bonnie started in amusement before Elena cut her off and Caroline gave us a small smile.
"Cake! Like when we were little." Elena added with a large grin and Matt scoffed.
"Except with tequila." Matt chipped in quickly and we all chuckled at him before Caroline gave a heavy sigh.
"Thanks, guys. ReallyâI'm just not.. really feeling my birthday this year." Caroline admitted with a small shrug as she looked us over and I furrowed my eyebrows at her.
"I'm sorry, what?" Bonnie countered with a dry chuckle. "You've already claimed your birthday as everyone's favorite day of the year." She countered, shaking her head with a smile and Caroline sighed.
"Yeah, and now it's just a reminder that, technically, I'm dead." Caroline snapped and I slowly folded my arms over my chest. "Look, I didn't even like seventeen. The only point of seventeen was to get to eighteen. It's a filler yearâI am stuck in a filler year." She added in defeat and I sighed, shaking my head back at her.
"You're not stuck, Caroline." I reassured softly but she sighed again, tilting her head back at me.
"Yeah, I am. And it's okay. You know, it's all good, I will be fineâBut I just need some time to wallow in it." Caroline stated, shaking her head and I slowly nodded.
"Ok. Well, then I have another idea." I replied with a grin and Caroline rose an eyebrow at me.