"How's Mr. Saltzman?" Matt asked as Elena and I came from his hospital room.
"Resigned to spending the night in observation. So long as we promise to change the lock on the house. Jenna's with him now." I replied with a small sigh and folded my arms over my chest as Elena buttoned up her coat.
"So I talked to Bonnie earlier. She and her mom are fine." Elena stated and I ran a hand through my hair in frustration as the three of us walked down the hospital hallway. "Have you talked to Caroline?" She asked and Matt sighed.
"Yeah, she's holding it together. Surprisingly, after how close her and her dad are." Matt replied and I took a deep breath.
"Any word on who's behind all of these attacks?" I asked, looking between the two in confusion.
"No. Sheriff Forbes said that there's no real suspects at all." Elena replied and I scoffed as we exited the hospital and looked at Matt.
"How are you with everything? I mean, you keep getting dragged into all this." I pointed out and Matt sighed as we walked towards our cars.
"Honestly? I'm kind of lucky. The only thing I have to worry about for tomorrow is showing up for my shift at the Grill." Matt answered and I gave him a small nod as we stopped in between Elena's car and Matt's truck.
"Thank you for everything today. Really." Elena stated with a small sigh and Matt gave her a smile and nodded.
"You guys get home safe." Matt replied and I gave him a short nod before we went our separate ways. Elena and I walked to her car as she unlocked it and we both got in. We buckled up before she put her keys in the ignition, starting it as Matt backed out of the parking lot behind us and I waved good-bye to him. Elena put the car in reverse and started backing up only to hear a pounding noise come from the back as we hit something. I widened my eyes as she immediately parked the car and got out quickly.
"What the hell was that?" I asked in concern as I got out also and walked to the back of the car only to see nothing. I rose an eyebrow and looked at Elena who furrowed her eyebrows before she turned back toward the driver's side door but Rebekah stood in her way.
"Drive much?" Rebekah asked with a scoff and Elena slowly shook her head, shock taking over her.
"Rebekahâ" I started, trying to calm her but she grabbed Elena by her shoulder and pushed her up against the car, making Elena gasp.
"Surprised?" Rebekah asked in amusement down at her. "You drove a dagger through my back, Elena. It hurt." She added angrily, shifting into her teeth and going to plunge them into Elena's neck, making her scream.
"Phesmâ" I started but Rebekah was pushed off of Elena and held up against the car by her throat.
"Elijah." Rebekah gasped at him and Elijah narrowed his eyes at his sister.
"Leave." Elijah stated in annoyance at her before letting her go. Rebekah breathed heavily towards him, straightening herself up and Elijah rose an eyebrow at her. "Are you challenging me?" He asked in some amusement, making her narrow her eyes.
"You're pathetic." Rebekah replied emotionlessly before she looked at Elena also. "Both of you." She added in annoyance and vamped away. Elijah furrowed his eyebrows and looked in the direction she vamped to before he turned toward Elena and I.
"Well.. I believe we have a little catching up to do." Elijah said with a small smile and I rose an eyebrow.
-The Next Morning-
"It was their mother Esther who was sealed in that coffin." Elena stated as she put the cleaning supplies from the counter island under the sink.
"As in the original witch?" Stefan asked, furrowing his eyebrows from where he leant against the counter.
"What? How is she even alive?" Damon asked in confusion as he sat on the table. "I thought her hybrid son ripped her heart out a thousand years ago." He added, looking at me as I leant against the counter opposite of Stefan.
"I don't know. I'm guessing she has a couple of connections in the witching community." I replied with a shrug and they rose an eyebrow at me. "Elijah said that she wants to live in peace with her family. Including Klaus." I added, looking between Stefan and Damon carefully.
"She was supposed to be the weapon to help us kill Klaus." Stefan countered as he looked at Damon and I shrugged at them.
"Yeah, well, not anymore." Elena stated in defeat. "At least not according to Elijah." She added and Stefan rolled his eyes.
"That coffin was the only thing stopping Klaus from tearing us to shreds." Stefan stated in defeat as he walked away from the counter and I nodded in agreement.
"Anyone else feeling a little used right now?" Damon asked, narrowing his eyes at the three of us and I sighed.
"Look, Elijah promised that his family wouldn't hurt any of us." I stated towards them and Elena nodded in agreement as the doorbell rang. Stefan and Damon gave Elena and I looks of uncertainty before I rolled my eyes. "I believe him." I added and Damon sighed in annoyance at me as I walked out of the kitchen and down the hall. I opened the door but saw no one standing there. I looked down and rose an eyebrow at two envelopes that sat on the welcome mat. Entitled to Elena and I. I picked up the envelopes and closed the door behind me as Elena, Stefan and Damon crowded around me.
"What is it?" Damon asked, furrowing his eyebrows as I gave Elena the envelope with her name on it. We both opened them and looked at each other in confusion.
"It's an invitation." Elena pointed out as she read the writing placed on the card. "Please join the Mikaelson family this evening at seven O'clock for dancing, cocktails and celebration." She read and Stefan rose an eyebrow, putting his hands in his pant pockets.
"Who the hell are the Mikaelson's?" Stefan asked in annoyance and I rose an eyebrow and looked up at him.
"The original family." I answered and furrowed my eyebrows at Damon who rolled his eyes.
"It's not bad enough that they're moving into town, now they want a house warming gift?" Damon asked in annoyance and I looked at Elena who sighed and looked at the back of her invitation.
"Wait, there's a note." Elena stated and looked at me. I turned my bard over but the backside was blank. "Elena, I think it's time that we finally meet. âEsther." She read and looked up at me in confusion.
"Yeah.. If I remember correctly, she tried to kill you more than once." I pointed out sarcastically and walked away from the door and into the living room as the three followed.
"If Esther wants to talk to me, maybe I should find out why." Elena stated and I furrowed my eyebrows and turned towards her.
"Well, that's a dumb idea." Damon stated in a matter of fact tone while Stefan shrugged.
"No, she's right. Bonnie was led to open that coffin for a reason. I think there's more to this than just some family reunion." Stefan replied and I rose an eyebrow as I thought it over in my head.
"Can we go back in time to the old Stefan who cared if Elena lived or died?" Damon asked his brother in annoyance and I sighed at them.
"Why? That's your job now." Stefan countered and I watched as they both glared at the other angrily.
"Maybe Stefan has a point, Damon." I suggested, standing beside him and he furrowed his eyebrows back at me. "Bonnie was led to the coffin for a reason. She was led to her mother to open it and they did. Now, we need to find out why." I added gesturing at Elena who nodded.
"She can't protect herself. And I'm not sure you can either." Damon informed and I rose an eyebrow at him challengingly.
"Okay, fine. Then I'll go." Stefan stated as he looked between Elena and I emotionlessly, making Damon scoff.
"You've pissed off enough originals to last a lifetime. I'll go." Damon countered, grabbing the invitation from my hand and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Damon." I stated in annoyance and he looked at me emotionlessly.
"End of story." He replied before walking away from us and I sighed in defeat and looked between Elena and Stefan who stared at me expectantly.
~~~
"It's all so weird. The originals are throwing a ball. Like, an actual ball." Elena stated in disbelief as her, Caroline and I sat at the Grill.
"It's some twisted Cinderella fetish, is what it is." Caroline argued and I rose an eyebrow at her as I silently ate my fries. "And why does the evil witch want an audience with you?" She added, looking at Elena in confusion.
"I have no idea. There's only one way to find out." Elena countered and Caroline slowly nodded back at her.
"I thought you told Damon and Stefan that you weren't going." Caroline stated, tilting her head at us and I smirked, sipping a dry in ketchup.
"We did.. Which is all the more reason that we need a drama-free bodyguard." I replied gesturing at Caroline and she rose an eyebrow. "Apparently Damon doesn't think I can protect Elena, let alone myself." I added in annoyance and Caroline sighed.
"Well, I think a Salvatore would look a lot better in a tux. Either of them." Care replied and I shrugged looking at Elena who sighed, folding her arms over her chest.
"I can't deal with Stefan right now. Whatever he's feeling, he's channeling all of it into anger towards Klaus." Elena pointed out in defeat before she looked at me and I slowly nodded.
"And Damon.. Is.." I stated leading off as I thought about him and Caroline tilted her head at me.
"Awkward because you two made out?" Caroline snapped and I rose an eyebrow at her, making her sigh. "Bonnie might have spilled the beans." She added and I sighed in defeat and sat back in my chair.
"I was going to tell you. It's just that everything that happened with Tyler, we were already in an awkward position. And then your dadâ" I started before she cut me off.
"When you and Tyler kissed the summer of freshman year, you called me the second it happened. Same with Elena and Matt. And I don't hear about this until now? And from somebody else?" Caroline asked in disbelief and I sighed at her, sitting up again.
"I'm sorry. I'm justâI'm just trying not to let the entire 'Damon facade' go to my head. I know how I feelâit's justâI don't want it to ruin anything." I pointed out and Caroline slowly nodded in agreement at me.
"I felt the same way about Stefan." Elena replied with a shrug and I rose an eyebrow at her sarcastically and she rolled her eyes in amusement.
"Careful, girls. It's all well and good until she stabs you in the back." Rebekah stated, standing next to our table.
"What are you doing here? I know your mom's rules. No murdering the locals." Elena pointed out threateningly towards Rebekah who narrowed her eyes.
"Get over yourself, Elena. It's not all about you." Rebekah replied in annoyance before she walked away. I rose an eyebrow as I watched her walk over to Matt who was bussing tables before she handed him an invitation and I tilted my head.
"Oh, my god. She's inviting him to the ball. Why is she inviting him?" Caroline asked worriedly between Elena and I.
"Probably to get that reaction from you." I countered with a small sigh as I stared at the two before at Caroline who sat back in her chair with a huff.
"What time is this stupid dance anyway?" Caroline asked in annoyance as she folded her arms over her chest and I smirked in amusement.
~~~
Elena and I walked into the entrance of the Mikaelson mansion and I rose an eyebrow at how many people were already there. I was only there once before but it seemed much bigger than last time. I let my black shawl fall off of my shoulders, leaving them bare before a coat check woman took my shaul as well as Elena's coat. I smiled and looked over Elena's sparkly black and gold dress that fell over her like a ball gown. I looked down at my black satin dress that a thin layer of red lace fell over, giving me a elegant but also rebellious look. I looked at the stairs as Stefan stepped in front of Elena and I, giving us a fake smile. "What are you doing here?" Elena asked, looking over his tux slowly.
"I could ask you two the same thing." Stefan countered, eyeing us before Damon stepped beside me also.
"Surprise, surprise. Nice tux." Damon stated to Stefan in annoyance before he looked at me. "You're not supposed to be here." He added and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Well, I am. And I don't plan on leaving until Elena finds out what Esther wants." I stated looking at her and she nodded in agreement at me before I turned back to Damon. "Shall we?" I asked, tilting my head at him. Damon narrowed his eyes down at me before he sighed in some defeat and held out an arm for me to take. I rose an eyebrow before I laced my hand through his arm as Elena did the same with Stefan and the four of us walked into the crowd.
~~~~
I grabbed a glass of champagne from a platter that a waiter carried around and I gave him a small nod as he smiled at me. As I raised the glass to my lips, a hand took it away and I rolled my eyes at Damon who smirked at me. "Uh, uh. You getting drunk tonight is not on the agenda." Damon stated and I looked away from him in annoyance.
"And apparently neither is having fun." I countered, making Damon raise an eyebrow as he gave my glass of champagne to another guest.
"What's with the attitude tonight?" Damon asked and I shrugged, looking around at the group of people who talked loudly but indistinctly towards each other.
"You're not my father, Damon. You don't need to look out for me." I stated emotionlessly towards him. Damon furrowed his eyebrows back at me and opened his mouth to speak before he got cut off.
"Uh, If everyone could gather, please." Elijah's voice stated loudly, echoing through the room and we all turned towards the stairs to see all of the siblings standing there. Rebekah in a beautiful satin green mermaid dress while Elijah, Klaus and two men stood in tux's.. One of them was older and the other younger, he was rather cute. "Welcome. Thank you for joining us." Elijah added as an older woman with dirty blonde hair and green eyes came down the stairs now, looking out at the crowd below her as Elijah stared up at her. "You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance." He added, turning back to the crowd of well dressed people.
"Do you see who I see?" Damon asked from beside me as Stefan came slowly over to us.
"Oh, yeah." Stefan stated looking up at Esther emotionlessly as he held a glass of champagne.
"Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz. So if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom." Elijah gestured toward the next room beside us with a small smile and I tilted my head up at him. Everyone started moving toward the ballroom while I watched Esther retreat back up the stairs again and I rose an eyebrow. I followed her with my eyes before my eyes fell on a hand that rested out in front of me.
"It would be rude not to dance, you know." Damon stated down at me with a small smirk. I rose an eyebrow at him curiously before I rolled my eyes and took it.
"It is tradition." I agreed in some amusement before the two of us walked into the ballroom. We lined up with the rest of the partners as the music started playing and we danced.
"You look stunning, if it isn't obvious." Damon stated, not looking at me and I rose a eyebrow at him as we held hands gently.
"Thank you." I replied quietly towards him and he looked at me finally and gave me a small smile. Damon and I slowly drifted across the floor in circles, staring at each other as we went. He spun me gently around before guiding me back into his arms and I rose an eyebrow at him as our eye contact never broke. Damon twirled me out again before I landed in the arms of a stranger. The cute one from the stairs.. An original.
"You must be Mariana." The man said as we danced in circles again and I gave a small nod. "Pleasure is all mine. I'm Kol." He greeted and I gave a small smile and looked away to see Damon dancing with Rebekah while Elena danced with Stefan.
"Your sister looks cozy." I stated and he rose an eyebrow and looked over at her and Damon before he chuckled lightly.
"My sister and the caveman? Well, she's had worse taste sadly." Kol replied and I tilted my head at him, uncertain if I should be offended or not. "I assume that caveman is yours." He stated, noticing my reaction and I scoffed, looking at Damon who smirked down at Rebekah.
"Hardly." I answered furrowing my eyebrows at them before I looked back at Kol. "He's just here looking out for me." I pointed out and Kol smirked, tilting his head back at me before he twirled me out and back in, catching me in his arms again.
"Somehow you seem like a girl who can take care of herself." Kol stated quietly and I gave him a small smile before I looked over his shoulder and saw Stefan and Elena wandering off from the dance.
"And what kind of girl would I seem like if I walked away from this dance right now?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I looked back at Kol who spun me out again.
"A mischievous girl who takes after my own heart." Kol replied with a grin and I furrowed my eyebrows at him as he gave me a small smile and we pulled away. "I'll see you later, I'm sure." He added in certainty and I gave him a small smile and a curtsy before I walked after Stefan and Elena. I furrowed my eyebrows as I walked out of the ballroom and towards the French doors that led outside. I saw Stefan and Elena talking indistinctly to themselves before she walked away from him and over to me quickly.
"I need your help." Elena stated and I rose an eyebrow at her curiously.
"I'm not going to like it. Am I?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her as I folded my arms over my chest.
~~~
I waited patiently from inside the library before Damon came in and furrowed his eyebrows at me. "I got your text. What are you doing in here?" Damon asked, gesturing around us before Stefan came out of nowhere and bent Damon's back, breaking his spine and letting him fall to the ground.
"Well, you two better hurry. Won't be down for long." Stefan warned and I looked at Elena who came from behind the curtain before we both quickly walked out of the room and towards the room Esther requested Elena. Once we stood outside of the French doors and made sure there were no people, Elena knocked gently. I rose an eyebrow as the doors opened, revealing Finn.. The eldest brother.
"You're not alone." Finn stated, gesturing us both inside as he narrowed his eyes at me, looking me up and down.
"She's my sister. She's as much a part of this as I am." Elena replied confidently toward him before looking at Esther who stood in front of a couch, burning some sort of herb and Elena furrowed her eyebrows.
"Relax. It's just sage." I reassured, identifying the smell and Elena and Esther rose an eyebrow at me.
"I've spelled it so we can speak freely without fear of being overheard." Esther stated and looked past us toward her son. "Thank you, Finn. That'll be all." She reassured him and he nodded back at her before he closed the doors, leaving the three of us alone. "You must have a million questions for me. Please." Esther stated, gesturing the two of us over to the couch and I rose an eyebrow as we hesitantly edged forwards and sat down.
"How are you alive? Are you a ghost orâ" Elena started as Esther sat on the couch also and cut her off.
"Not exactly. When I died, the witch Ayana preserved my body with a spell. She was a close friend of mine. An ancestor of your friend Bonnie." Esther replied nodding at us and I rose an eyebrow.
"So that's why only Bonnie and her mother could open up the casket. They complete the Bennett bloodline." I stated and Esther nodded at me and tilted her head.
"I drew power from them and their ancestors who were with me on the other side." Esther replied and I slowly nodded and looked at Elena who furrowed her eyebrows.
"So you've been on the other side for one thousand years?" Elena asked shaking her head and Esther sighed.
"Natures way of punishing me for turning my family into vampires." Esther stated, looking between Elena and I. "But there is a way to undo the evil I've created.." She added, leading off quietly and I rose an eyebrow at her.
"You're going to help us kill Klaus, aren't you?" Elena asked quietly and Esther gave a small smile.
"One thing at a time, Elena." Esther answered before she looked at both of us. "For now.. I simply need your help. For family." She added, narrowing her eyes on me and I furrowed my eyebrows at her. "You are from my family bloodline. The originality of my born family." She stated and I slowly shook my head at her, taken aback. "I am your great aunt. My older sister, Dahlia, had started your line. She is said to have died giving birth and the Vikings who attacked our village, took in the baby and raised it to be a warrior. Starting the lineage of your birth father, I presume." Esther stated and I looked at Elena who stared at me speechlessly. "You have many questions I see. But there is something you should know.. In our family, the eldest born is always the one to look out for. They are known to be quite special." Esther stated and I took a deep breath and just stared at her for a few seconds before I cleared my throat.
"What is it you need from us?" I asked emotionlessly and Esther smiled and tilted her head before she got up from the couch.
"My children believe in holding this ball as a celebration for our reunion. But in truth, I've gathered them all here to perform a ritual. The first step requires blood from a doppelgänger." Esther stated walking over to some type of wine glass. Elena seemed uneasy by the words before Esther turned back toward her. "Just a drop." She reassured and Elena relaxed a bit. "It's essence will be in the champagne toast later on this evening." Esther added turning to the table and grabbing a rather large needle. "Will you do it? Or shall I?" She asked, looking at us emotionlessly and I looked at Elena before the two of us got up.
"She'll do it." I answered quietly and gestured for Elena who took off her glove that she wore and gestured her hand toward Esther. Esther poked the needle into Elena's finger and she winced. Esther grabbed Elena's finger and dripped the blood into the wine glass that sat on the table.
"Elijah is more suspicious than the others, so he may need more persuasion." Esther warned as she picked up the wine glass and stirred it lightly. "But they must all drink at the toast in order to be linked as one." She added and I rose an eyebrow.
"Linked as one." I whispered, furrowing my eyebrows at her and she nodded emotionlessly. "Klaus can't be killed.. So they're all linked togetherâif one goesâThey all go." I stated and Esther gave me a short nod.
"I love my family.. But they are an abomination. I betrayed nature when I created them.. It's my duty to kill them." Esther stated, looking between Elena and I who exchanged a look with each other, but remained silent.
~~~~
I stood alone at the bottom of the stairs now while people crowded around me, chatting amongst themselves. I looked over my shoulder as I saw Elijah and Elena talking amongst themselves also before a ringing came through the room and we all turned to see Esther standing on the stairs as she a glass of pink champagne. "Good evening, ladies and gentleman. Waiters are coming round with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass." Esther stated as as she did, a waiter came towards me before I grabbed a glass of the pink champagne. "Nothing provides me with greater joy, than to see my family back together as one." Esther stated from the stairs again, smiling down over them as she looked out at all of her children that were scattered amongst the room. "I'd like that thank you all for being apart of this spectacular evening. Cheers." She added, raising her glass before everyone followed her action.
"Cheers!" Everyone around me repeated before they all drank from the glasses and I looked around the room as Finn, Kol, Rebekah, Klaus and Elijah all drank from their glasses as well. I sighed a bit before I put the glass of champagne down and went toward the door as everyone went their own ways again, parting to other places around the mansion.
"Mariana." A voice said from behind me and I turned to see Damon holding my black shawl and I rose an eyebrow. "Did you get what you wanted?" He asked emotionlessly, obviously angry.
"Maybe." I replied, thinking it over again in my head but there was some doubt. He gave me a short nod before he started walking me closer to the door forcefully.
"Good. Tell me about it in the car. We're leaving." Damon replied in annoyance and I furrowed my eyebrows at him, pushing him back.
"Let go of me, Damon." I countered, shaking my head at him and he did but looked away from me. "Look, I'm sorry I had to cut you out of the plan. That we didâ" I started but he cut me off and looked at me finally.
"There should have been a plan, Mariana. Elena should have been hereâYou shouldn't have been here." Damon stated angrily and I scoffed at him.
"Do you think I like to go behind your back? I don't, Damon. Elena asked me to do this and I knew that you would try to be the hero. She asked Stefan and I for help." I stated angrily back at him and he rolled his eyes.
"Sorry for trying to keep you and your sister alive. Clearly Stefan doesn't give a crap anymore." Damon replied in defense and I rose an eyebrow.
"So now you're mad at me for trusting Stefan?" I asked in annoyance as I furrowed my eyebrows at him and he scoffed.
"No! I'm mad mad at you because I love you!" Damon countered loudly and I sighed, looking away from him.
"Yeah, well maybe that's the problem." I stated quietly before I quickly looked back at Damon in realization to see him staring down at me taken aback, obviously hurt. I shook my head and opened my mouth to protest. "No, Damon, that's not what Iâ" I started again but he cut me off.
"No, AriâAri got it. I care too much. I'm a liability." He replied sourly and I slowly shook my head at him as he scoffed at himself. "How ironic is that?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows down at me.
"Hey, have you guys seen Matt?" Caroline asked, coming up behind Damon and I looked past his shoulder and at her before I looked away.
"Let me to see if I can find him.. Unless you want Stefan to be the hero." Damon stated down at me in annoyance. I sighed and opened my mouth to respond but he was already walking away from me.
-The Next Morning-
Elena and I walked up steps to the Salvatore house as the front door opened and I felt my breath hitch in my throat. Rebekah and Damon eyed Elena and I before each other as she stood in the same green mermaid dress from last night. Her hair looked worn out and tossed around while Damon stood shirtless beside her. Rebekah looked me over ironically regrettably before sighing deeply and walked out of the house. I folded my arms over my chest and tilted my head at Damon who looked taken aback to see me. "Did you stop taking vervain?" Elena asked as we walked in and he shut the door behind us.
"You think Rebekah had to compel me?" Damon asked sarcastically as we walked into the living room while he grabbed the black button up from the back of the couch.
"What's wrong with you? She tried to kill me less than forty-eight hours ago." Elena stated in disbelief as Damon buttoned the shirt over himself.
"Can we just move past that, Elena?" Damon asked, sighing in annoyance and moving toward the bourbon table, making me scoff.
"So is this how it's going to be now? I hurt your feelings and this is how you lash out?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows at him but he shrugged.
"Well, maybe, for onceâsomething I did had nothing to do with you." Damon replied emotionlessly as he poured a glass of bourbon and I rolled my eyes as he started drinking.
"Well, you should know that Esther's planning on killing her entire family then. She's linked them all together with a spell. Whatever happens to one, happens to all of them." I stated emotionlessly and Damon rose an eyebrow.
"That's great! Klaus will finally be dead. We win." Damon replied with a small smirk and Elena furrowed her eyebrows. "Why do you like someone just shot a panda bear?" He asked, gesturing at her.
"Because to kill Klaus, she has to kill all of them, including Elijah and he doesn't deserve this." Elena pointed out in defeat and Damon rose an eyebrow.
"I'm supposed to care about Elijah?" Damon asked in annoyance and I scoffed lightly.
"Shouldn't you at least care about Rebekah." Elena countered emotionlessly and I smirked a bit as her as Damon slowly walked over to us.
"Two seconds ago, you were pissed that she tried to kill you. It's a win-win." Damon replied in annoyance as he stood in front of us. I rolled my eyes and turned away from him and toward the door before he vamped in front of me. "Don't do anything to screw this up, Mariana." He warned, pointing the hand he held his glass with at me.
"He's right, you know?" Stefan asked, coming in from the hall and we all looked at him in confusion. "Klaus has to die. They all do." He stated emotionlessly and Damon looked back at me and smirked.
"See? It's democracy in action." Damon stated in amusement and drank his bourbon again. I scoffed and walked past him, bumping his shoulder and making him spill his bourbon somewhat.
"This isn't a democracy I want to be apart of. Seeing as how they're part of my family." I pointed out and turned to look at both of their confused expressions. Elena shook her head at the two as she came over and met me by the door. "Since you guys failed to ask what else we talked about, Esther is my great aunt. Therefore the originals are my great cousins. They're my family. But seeing as how I'm already running low on family relatives let's just add a few more to knock off the list, huh?" I asked menacingly towards them and watched Damon's eyes look over me with concern but he didn't say anything. I scoffed and turned away from them and walked out of the house.
~~~~
"He was gloating. Like actual gloat. Like he was proud of himself for sleeping with her." I scoffed and looked over my shoulder at Bonnie who sat on Elena's bed, burning sage with a candle in front of her before she blew it out and closed her eyes, concentrating.
"Is it working?" Elena asked with a sigh before Caroline came in from the bathroom and looked at Bonnie.
"It's not working. I can hear every word you're saying about Damon the vampire gigolo." Caroline stated, now looking at me and I rose an eyebrow and turned fully away from the window.
"I don't know. It's a tricky spell." Bonnie stated up at me and I sighed, sitting on the bed beside her.
"When Esther did it, she kept the sage burning. There was a lot more smoke." I stated before I grabbed the piece of sage and hovered it over the candle. "Let's try it again." I added looking at Caroline who sighed in defeat and walked back into the bathroom.
"Speaking of Esther, you should know she came to see me and Abby this morning." Bonnie stated as I waved the sage around and furrowed my eyebrows at her.
"And all this time you let Mariana vent about Damon?" Elena asked in disbelief and Bonnie shrugged.
"I don't want you to worry." Bonnie replied softly with a shrug and I scoffed at her.
"Well, speaking as the one apparently related to herâwhat did she want?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and Bonnie sighed.
"She wanted to introduce herself. Abby and I helped bring her back. She's channeling our entire ancestral bloodline for power. I think she thought she was being polite." Bonnie stated with a snort.
"Okay, well, is there a way to stop her from channeling you?" Elena asked, leaning against her bed and I rose an eyebrow at her.
"Even if there was, why would I want that?" Bonnie asked, furrowing her eyebrows and Elena sighed.
"I just keep thinking.. before the sun and the moon ritual, Elijah found a way to keep me alive. And now I'm in the exact same position, and I'm just going to let him die?" Elena asked tilting her head at us in confusion. "It just doesn't feel right." She pointed out before Caroline came back into the room.
"Okay, first of all, this privacy spell is totally not working. Second, Elena you are not doing this. Esther is doing this." Caroline stated towards her, making her furrow her brows.
"There's no time to change your mind, Elena. He'll be dead by the end of the night." Bonnie stated and Elena furrowed her eyebrows as I put the sage out.
"What?" Elena emotionlessly and Bonnie gave a short nod before I sighed and looked at her.
"It's a full moon. Esther needs to harness the energy of a celestial event. She asked Bonnie and Abby to join her." I pointed out and Elena slowly shook her head. "And since I am a part of her direct bloodline.. She's channeling me just as much as she is them." I added emotionlessly and looked at Bonnie who gave a small smile. The doorbell rang and Elena sighed and got off the bed.
"I got it." Elena reassured me and I watched her leave the room. I looked down at my hands and felt defeated. Did I really want to go through with the ritual?
~~~
I walked into the Salvatore house and closed the door behind me quickly. "I can't find her anywhere." I informed, walking toward the living room that Stefan and Damon stood in, motionless.
"Hello, Mariana." Elijah's voice stated from where he sat beside the fireplace and I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"He has Elena." Damon pointed out and I slowly shook my head as Elijah smirked a bit.
"Actually, she's with Rebekah. As you can imagine, she's just dying to tear her throat out." Elijah replied with a shrug and I slowly folded my arms over my chest at him. "So, if you want to help me save Elena's life, I need you to help me stop my mother." He added emotionlessly, tilting his head at the three of us.
"I'm a little embarrassed to admit, but when it comes to killing a thousand-year-old witches, I'm a little rusty." Damon stated sarcastically and Elijah sighed.
"Yes, unfortunately, even when killed, my mother doesn't seem to want to stay dead. Not with the spirits of nature on her side." Elijah stated and I rose an eyebrow at him.
"So what are we supposed to do?" I asked, shaking my head at Elijah as I walked closer to him.
"The witches that released my mother.. She's drawing her power from their bloodline. That line needs to be broken." Elijah stated and I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Broken?" Stefan asked, stepping beside me as he looked at Elijah confused.
"Yeah, He means.." Damon replied, leading off as he stood on the opposite side of me as he gestured his fingers across his throat, symbolizing death.
"You want us to kill them?" I asked, taken aback at these words coming from Elijah specifically.
"You know, I'd do it myself.. But I have absolutely no idea where they are." Elijah stated, looking up at me in amusement and I narrowed my eyes at him. "Besides, seeing me, they would know exactly my intent. They won't expect to be harmed by the likes of you." He added, standing from the chair. "In any case, you have until six minutes after 9:00 to find them." Elijah stated as he grabbed his coat from the back of the couch while Damon scoffed.
"Well, how super specific of you." Damon stated in annoyance and Elijah turned toward him.
"By 9:07 the moon will be full and my mother will have everything she needs to kill me and my family." Elijah stated before walking toward the three of us threateningly. "If you do not manage to stop her before then, Rebekah will kill Elena. So we all have our timeline.. I suggest you get started." He added warningly and I narrowed my eyes at him as he walked past us and towards the door before he walked out.
"We need to call Bonnie. There's got to be a way for her to stop Esther from channeling all that power." Stefan warned and I sighed at him as I paced back and forth.
"Aâwhat if she's with Esther? Bâwhat if she can't cut her off? CâI don't know how any of this works, and Dâneither do you." Damon stated in annoyance toward his brother.
"You got a better plan?" Stefan asked, raising an eyebrow and I sighed at the two, trying to concentrate.
"Worst case scenario, simple mechanics. You can't draw power from a dead battery." Damon stated and I sighed at him.
"We're not killing them." I warned, narrowing my eyes at Damon who turned to me.
"We will if it comes to it." Damon argued and I scoffed, shaking my head at him and looking away.
"There has to be another way." Stefan stated and Damon sighed, shrugging at his brother.
"Well, what if I told you I had a less diabolical plan?" Damon asked and I furrowed my eyebrows at him as he took an ash dagger from behind his back.
"You wanna dagger Elijah." I whispered, shaking my head at the dagger and Damon shrugged.
"They're linked. One goes down, they all go down. The witch's live. Elena's safe. Problem solved." Damon stated and I rose an eyebrow.
"We don't know if that'll affect Klaus." Stefan stated and Damon rolled his eyes.
"Ironically, Klaus isn't our current problem right now." Damon countered and Stefan folded his arms over his chest.
"The daggers lethal to any vampire who uses it." Stefan pointed out and I sighed, tilting my head at them and the dagger.
"Well, lucky enough you know someone crazy enough to use it." I replied emotionlessly and watched as they both turned their heads toward me and furrowed their eyebrows.
~~~
Caroline and I walked into the Grill and looked around and I sighed as saw Alaric standing near the pool tables with Jenna. I gave him a reassuring smile as he looked us over as we both wore dark makeup and dark clothing, showing some skin here and there. Caroline and I walked over to the bar as Klaus and Kol sat against the bar, smirking at us. "Caroline. Mariana." Klaus stated and we both looked at him.
"Oh, it's you." Caroline stated, folding her arms over her chest, clearly uninterested and he smirked at her.
"Join us for a drink?" Klaus asked gently, raising a glass toward her as Kol did the same.
"Mmm. I'd rather die of thirst. But thanks." Caroline replied with a fake smile before she walked directly out of the way she came. Klaus chuckled, watching her go as he leant towards Kol.
"Isn't she stunning?" Klaus asked, watching Caroline leave and Kol smirked and drank from his glass.
"She certainly looks good walking away from you." Kol replied in amusement and I chuckled a bit, making Klaus raise an eyebrow at me.
"I'll take that as a challenge." Klaus replied before he downed a shot and quickly followed after Caroline, leaving Kol and I alone. I turned towards Kol who eyed me up and down before I folded my arms over my chest.
"So? I take it that drink offer went out the door then?" I asked, tilting my head at him and he smirked before gesturing towards the bar stool beside him and I nodded in amusement and took it.
"What'll you have? Shirley temple?" Kol asked and I rolled my eyes in annoyance at him.
"As if." I stated before I waved down the bartender and sighed. "Whiskey on the rocks, please." I ordered with a small smile and the bartender nodded and walked away from me as Kol rose an eyebrow.
"A gorgeous girl who knows how to talk and drink." Kol stated in amusement and I chucked, taking off my coat.
"Careful. We're cousins." I informed with a soft chuckle as I shook my head and Kol rested against the bar, gawking at me.
"Hmmm.. I'd say distant. You?" Kol asked with a small smirk and I rose an eyebrow at him and looked over his shoulder at Alaric and Jenna who watched us carefully before I looked back at Kol and smiled.
"Well.. Distant it is then." I agreed in amusement as I got my glass served to me. I raised it toward Kol before taking a sip as he smirked at me and drank from his drink also.