It was the next morning after the werewolf attack and Stefan was standing on the docks outside of the Gilbert Lake House, skipping stones across the lake. He was still furious about last night's events and the revelation that Elena had given up and was set on sacrificing herself to Klaus so everyone else would live. He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't lose her. His phone started buzzing and he picked it up. It was Damon."What's going on?" he asked his brother."Well, I showered. I shaved. Had breakfast. Very relaxed."Stefan sighed."That makes one of us.""I did hear one piece of good news though. Tyler Lockwood ran away from home last night."Stefan frowned. He had just met the Lockwood boy last night after he had tried to kidnap Elena with his werewolf friend to break the curse, not knowing it would result in her death. He had felt incredibly guilty after finding out the truth and went back home - or so Stefan had thought."How do you know?""Well, I heard it from Sheriff Forbes, who heard it from a very distraught Carol Lockwood, thus, ending our werewolf chapter, bringing us to...""...killing Elijah.""Exactly.""Well, it's not going to be easy. He's crafty.""Well, I've got a crafty little dagger."Stefan bit his lips, concerned that his brother would do something without thinking it through like he always did. Elijah was dangerous. They had to be careful. If they failed at the first try, he would no doubt kill them all."He's an Original. We don't know what all that encompasses."Damon clicked his tongue."Oh, trust me, Stefan. I'm gonna dot all my t's. I don't want any surprises.""Wow, Damon, tell me you're actually gonna be careful for once?" He was thoroughly impressed. Damon sighed on the other end of the line."Yes, Stefan, I've become you. How tragic for both of us. Got to run. I've a murder to plan. Busy day."He ended the call and Stefan put away his phone. When he looked back at the house, he could see Elena observing him through the window. He sighed and straightened his shoulders before making his way back inside. He couldn't hide from her forever. It was time to put some sense into her.
After that terrible shock from last night, I was looking forward to an ordinary, quiet and peaceful day. Jenna and I had met with Elijah early this morning to give him a tour of some of the historical sights of Mystic Falls, hoping we could help him find whatever he was looking for. It was a nice morning walk. We laughed and joked a lot and forgot all our worries for a few hours."The old Fell property actually starts just beyond that fence," Jenna said, pointing at the run-down fence on our right."Ah, the Fells. One of the Founding Families," Elijah mused.Jenna and I looked at him."Why do you say it like that?""My research showed me that this area was actually settled almost two full centuries earlier. It was a migration of townsfolk from the northeast, um, it was Salem, to be precise."Jenna's eyes grew wide."Massachusetts? As in the witch trials?"Elijah nodded."Which means the ever-lauded founding families...didn't actually found anything."I smiled at Jenna triumphantly."See? I told you all that founding families stuff is just made up bullshit! There has been plenty of proof of settlements in this area way before the nineteenth century." I thought back at the strange viking runes Jenna and I had stumbled upon years ago when we were playing Hide and Seek at the old Lockwood Estate in the woods. Jenna snorted."Well, I bet it was the men who made a big deal about being founders back in 1860. Men are very territorial.""Yes, they are," Elijah said, staring into the distance. A few seconds later Alaric walked up to us. Jenna was less than happy to see him but decided to play friendly."Elijah, this is my friend, Alaric Saltzman."Alaric scowled slightly at the word "friend"."Yeah, I got your message about walking Elijah here through the old property lines. I thought I would tag along. You know being a history buff and all. Where to next?""I'm pretty curious about the freed slave property owners. Some say, you know, the descendants of the slaves are the true keepers of American history," Elijah said.I beamed at him."My parents would have loved you for that statement alone. Especially my dad. He made it his life's work to prove that the founding families were actually just full of bullshit." A sad smile tucked on my lips at the thought of my deceased parents. I wonder if they had been my actual parents. They had been as human as could be, so I highly doubted it. But no matter if biological parents or not - they had raised and loved me for eighteen years so I would continue referring to them as mom and dad. Elijah squeezed my hand slightly."It's a shame I never got to meet them."I nodded grimly. "Blame it on the racist asshole who shot them on the way to the restaurant to celebrate their 20th wedding day."An awkward silence fell upon us."Well, I only brought the surveys," Jenna broke the silence. "I got that list in the car. Just give me a sec."With that she left towards where we had parked our cars. When she was gone, Elijah looked at Alaric."Alaric Saltzman. So you're one of those people on Elena's list of loved ones to protect.""So are Jenna and Marianne.""Rest assured their protection is guaranteed even if they weren't on that list."Alaric frowned and Elijah gave him an amused look. "You don't have to be jealous. I don't really pursue younger women who are not my mate." He laughed at scowl on Alaric's face. "It's a joke, Ric, lighten up."He patted his shoulder before leading me forward."Right," Ric mumbled before he followed behind us.
A few hours later Damon and Alaric sat together at the bar in the Grill, Mystic Falls' news reporter Andie Star right next to them."Other than your lecture on the history of Mystic Falls, did you get anything out of Elijah?," Damon asked.Alaric shook his head."No, it was boring. Of course, Jenna thinks he's charming." He grimaced before taking another sip of whiskey. Damon raised his eyebrows at his friend."You sounded jealous." He turned toward Andie. "Sound a bit jealous?""Kinda do," she agreed."Maybe we shouldn't talk about this here," Alaric commented, glancing over at the news reporter. Damon followed his gaze."Andie, she's been compelled not to divulge my secrets. Haven't you?""Uh-huh."Andie gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Mmm. My lips are sealed."Alaric looked at them in disgust."This is too weird.""I just need the right opportunity," Damon said, looking at the Grill's entrance when Jenna, Marianne and Elijah appeared. The women had linked their arms while they they laughed at something Elijah had said."Ah, there's sunshine and Jenna with her new boyfriend."The three joined them at the bar and Damon greeted them."Hi.""Hey, guys," Jenna said.Damon observed the three new arrivals and couldn't help but noticed the hand Elijah had placed on the small of Marianne's back. He narrowed his eyes for a second."So I hear you three had quite a meeting of historical minds today.""Yeah, I guess you could say that," Jenna said.Next to him Andie grinned at the two women who had still linked their arms together."You two certainly haven't changed since High School. Still as inseparable as ever."Marianne grinned back."Hi, Andie. I haven't seen you in quite a while. I mean, I watch the news so I knew you were back but still. How are you?""Oh, I couldn't be better." Her eyes traveled to Elijah who was standing very close behind her. She grinned at Marianne, a knowing look on her face."And I see you aren't doing so bad yourself either."Alaric downed his glass before throwing some money on the table and standing up."Well, as much as I'd like to continue this, I've got papers to grade.""No, you know what? We should continue this. Let's have a dinner party," Andie suggested, clapping her hands in excitement. Damon looked at her approvingly."Ooh, my girl. Full of good ideas. I'll be happy to host. Say tonight. Maybe?"Andie nodded."It's good for me. Jenna? Marianne?""I don't know if tonight works... " Alaric began but Jenna interrupted him."Yeah, I'm free.""I would love to," Marianne said. "But I have to decline. I can't leave the twins alone at home."Andie's face fell."Oh come on. You have to come.""Yeah," Jenna agreed. "I'm not doing this without you. Maybe ask Sophie's mom if the twins can sleep over tonight?"Marianne hesitated for a moment before she sighed."Alright. I will ask her." Everyone was looking at Elijah, waiting for his response. He smiled."It'd be a pleasure.""Great," Damon beamed, a sinister smile tucking at his lips.
Underneath Fell's Church, Katherine's body was leaning against the wall of the tomb, completely desiccated. Damon knelt down in front of her and waved a bottle of blood under her nose before he poured some of it in her mouth. That seemed to awaken her. She started to drink."Great. Drink up. Good girl."She took the bottle out of his hand and eagerly gulped down its content. Damon got up."I've come bearing gifts. I didn't have time to properly shop, but I did get a couple of things. Hmm?" He hung up some clothes for Katherine. In the meantime color had returned to Katherine's face as she sipped down the last drop of blood in the bottle. Damon observed her."Wow, that blood did the trick. You're almost pretty again."Katherine glared at him in annoyance."What is it you want, Damon?"He grinned at her."Guess who's back in town? Your old friend, John Gilbert."Katherine raised her eyebrow."Really. Why?""Says he loves his daughter, wants to protect her from Elijah and big, bad Klaus."She grimaced before pulling herself up from the ground."Touching.""Yeah, right. He told me this old wives tale about how to kill an Original."Katherine nodded in understanding."And you want to know if it's true. If it was, I wouldn't tell you."She started to inspect the clothes Damon had brought her. "Now, why not? I mean, you want Elijah and Klaus dead as much as I do."She shot him a look."Klaus, yes. Elijah, no. He's compelled me to stay in here. If he dies, I'm stuck forever."Damon shrugged, feeling not an ounce of sympathy for his former lover."Sucks for you."She shook her head."Forget it, Damon. Killing Elijah would be a suicide mission. You can't do it.""Can so," he challenged."Can't.""Even with a dagger and a little white oak ash?"He grinned triumphantly as she turned around and looked at him in a mixture of surprise and panic."No. Damon, if you kill Elijah, then I'm stuck in here forever.""You're really scared.""Just get me out of here first and then I'll help you. I'll...I'll help you kill Elijah or...or protect Elena. Whatever you want."Damon scoffed."I get you out of here and your ass is sipping Klaus-free margaritas on some unknown island somewhere. No way."Katherine shook her head."That's not true. I'll stay. Damon, please just don't do it."Damon just grinned at her."Well, thank you, you've told me everything I need to know.""I've told you nothing.""You have. You have indeed confirmed that it is possible to kill an Original, which I will do tonight. Guess who's coming to dinner?"
Evening came and Jenna, Damon, Alaric, Andie and Marianne had already assembled at the Salvatore Boarding House. Marianne was busy in the kitchen while Jenna and Andie prepared the table for the dinner party. Andie looked at Jenna."So what's going on with you and Alaric? I feel like there's some tension."Jenna sighed."I don't know. I really like him. It's more than like and I want it to work, but I know that he's hiding something from me. And then I've got John whispering things in my ear about him."Andie raised her eyebrows."Like what?""Things I don't want to believe. Things I don't believe, not if they're coming from John's mouth.""Oh. Well, there you go, then. Trust is the key to any relationship. I mean, I am so grateful that Damon tells me everything."Jenna gave her friend a skeptical look. She was fairly certain Andie had no idea about Damon being a vampire and if she did, he was definitely compelling her to keep quiet. Not really the ideal foundation for a healthy relationship. She was starting to regret ever introducing these two to each other.Meanwhile, Damon and Alaric got together in the library."This is a bad idea," Alaric remarked."There's no such thing as a bad idea. Just poorly executed awesome ones. Here." He offered a glass of scotch to Alaric but he declined."No. I don't like the idea of Elijah being in the same house with Jenna."Damon rolled his eyes."Jenna's perfectly safe. Besides, it's just a fact-finding mission. It's totally harmless."Alaric gave him a suspicious look."Just a fact-finding mission?"Damon nodded."Yeah."Alaric looked at him intently."Listen, no sneak attacks. No surprise plans. Nothing that's gonna put Jenna in harm's way. Okay?"Damon puts up his hands."Scout's honor."Alaric still wasn't fully convinced Damon wouldn't do something incredibly Damon-like and jeopardize everyone's safety for a rushed plan, but before he could say anything Andie had walked into the room."Hey, Jenna needs help with the wine." Damon patted his arm reassuringly and Alaric sighed before going up the stairs and walking past Andie to leave the room. She shot him a grateful glance."Thanks.""Yeah."After Alaric had left the room, closing the door behind him, Damon walked over to a small trunk and opened it, pulling out the dagger and a jar full of white oak ashes. Andie looked at it curiously."What's that?""Dessert." He dipped the dagger in the ash. "Elijah's stronger than me. Faster than me. It's all about the element of surprise."Andie's face fell."Ah, it's too bad. I like him. He's very old-school. Classy. Exactly what Marianne needs and deserves after everything she went through."Damon looked at her in confusion."What are you talking about?"She rolled her eyes at him."Don't tell me you haven't noticed it yet. I only saw them together once for a few minutes and immediately picked it up. It's plain to see for everyone." She sighed theatrically. "Well, I guess that's typical men for you.""Picked up what? Get to the point, Andie.""Well, if you want me to spell it out for you, they are totally into each other. And I'm not talking about a little crush. I'm talking about something dead serious."Damon laughed."No way. He's just using her.""If you seriously believe that then you have obviously never seen the way he looks at her, how he constantly keeps his eyes on her, observing her every movement, how he carefully pulls her out of the way whenever someone else is about to bump into her. She too is always glancing at him, awaiting his reaction and they are constantly touching, even if it's something as subtle and innocent as a hand on her back or her leaning closer to him. They're like magnets, Damon. It's seriously fascinating to watch."He gave her an indignant look."You got all that from a few minutes?"She nodded."If you don't believe me, see for yourself later at the dinner party."He shook his head."This doesn't change anything. He still wants to kill Elena, so we have to get rid of him. Which is why you should encourage the gentlemen to take their after dinner drinks in here while you do coffee in the kitchen with the girls."He hid the dagger away from view. Andie's face distorted in disgust."Hmm. That is a little too sexist for me."Damon walked toward her and looked her in the eyes."Stop talking." The doorbell rung and Jenna opened the door, revealing John Gilbert. He strode in, not waiting for an invitation."Who invited him?" Jenna complained, glaring at him. Damon appeared in the foyer, less than happy to see the uninvited guest."John. Surprise. Leave.""When Jenna told me she was coming to a dinner party for Elijah, I decided I couldn't miss out on all the fun and games," John explained nonchalantly."There are not going to be any games tonight, John. It's just a friendly dinner party," Alaric said grimly, approaching the group. John looked at Damon who shrugged."What he said."
A few minutes after John Gilbert had led himself into the Boarding House, much to everyone's annoyance, the doorbell rang again. I had just finished preparing the dinner and changed into one of my better but still casual dresses and walked into the foyer to open the door. Damon was faster."Good evening," Elijah said, standing in the door frame. My heart skipped a beat, just like every time I heard his voice."Thank you for coming," Damon said, gesturing for the original to enter. "Please, come in.""Just one moment," Elijah said, grabbing the door frame before looking intently at Damon. "Can I just say that if you have less than honorable intentions about how this evening is going to proceed, I suggest you reconsider.""No, nothing, nothing dishonorable," Damon was quick to answer. "Just getting to know you.""Hmm. Well, that's good." Elijah walked into the house. "Because, you know, although Elena and I have this deal, if you so much as make a move to cross me, I'll kill you and I'll kill everyone in this house, except for Marianne and Jenna of course. Are we clear?"Damon nodded."Crystal."Elijah's gaze moved to me and his eyes lit up. He approached me with a few quick steps and took my hand, pressing a kiss to my knuckles."You look incredible tonight, elskan. The most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes upon."His eyes roamed over my curves, taking in every inch of my body, and for one moment his eyes grew dark with hunger. He got himself back under control fairly easily though. I laughed nervously."Now let's not exaggerate, shall we? I'm sure you met many beautiful women over the centuries.""None like you I assure you." His words held so much sincerity my heart couldn't help but skip another beat. He smirked mischievously. Stupid, traitorous heart. Jenna stomped into the foyer, mumbling something about "stupid Gilbert men". Her sour mood immediately changed as she saw Elijah."Elijah," she said a bright smile on her face. "Thank god you're here. Your presence might just about save the evening." They kissed each other on the cheek like old friends. "Did something happen?" he asked, looking at me. I sighed."John Gilbert happened. Don't even ask. That man has the uncanny ability to rile Jenna up like no one else. Well, except maybe the thesis adviser from hell but that is a completely different story."Elijah gave Jenna a sympathetic look before leading us to the table."Well, let's not let him ruin this beautiful evening." Jenna grinned at him."I like how you think."
A few minutes later we all sat at the table, enjoying our dinner."I hate to break it to you, Damon, but according to Elijah, your family is so not a founder of this town," Jenna said, looking at Damon with a satisfactory smirk."Hmm, do tell.""Well, as I mentioned to Jenna and Marianne earlier, a faction of settlers migrated from Salem after the witch trials in the 1690s. Over the next hundred years they developed this community where they could feel safe from persecution," Elijah explained calmly."Hmm. Because they were witches," Jenna concluded."Yeah, but there's no tangible proof there were witches in Salem," Andie said. Damon smirked at her."Andie's a journalist. Big on facts.""Well, the lore says that there was this wave of anti-witch hysteria. It broke out in the neighboring settlement, so these witches were rounded up. They were tied to stakes in a field together and, uh, burned. Some say you could hear the screams from miles around us. They were consumed by the fire," Elijah continued before looking at me. "Could you pass the..." His eyes moved to the salad bowl. I passed it over to him with a smile."I wouldn't repeat this to the Historical Society," Jenna said.I snorted."The faces would be priceless though. But you're right. No way they're going to let that get written down anywhere official. They've been continuously discrediting my dad's research on per-1800 settlements in this area, saying it's all lies, slander and made up evidence. They didn't even acknowledge it after his death.""Well, they had every right to," John remarked. "What would this town turn into, if we allow hobby historians to change our entire history?"Jenna and I were shooting death glares at him."I can't recall anyone asking for your opinion, John," Jenna hissed. "If you're just here to spread negativity and insult the lifework of a deceased man you might as well just go."He glared back at her but didn't say a word. Damon observed Elijah."So, why do you want to know the location of these alleged massacres?""You know...a healthy historian's curiosity, of course.""Of course," Damon said, his tone though suggested that he didn't believe that excuse.
At the Gilbert Lake House, Elena sat on the couch, reading through Jonathan Gilbert's diaries. She and Stefan had found them yesterday hidden in a secret hiding spot. From the corner of her eyes she could see Stefan walking over to her.
"Johnathan Gilbert got crazier and crazier. I guess that's what happens when you spend your life obsessed with vampires," she said, putting the journal down and picking up another. She frowned she saw its contents.
"He researched the Originals.""You're kidding," Stefan said, walking over toward her and sitting down next to her on the couch."Later in life, look."Elena showed him the journal. "Pages and pages of questions and scribbles." She flipped through the book until she stopped at a drawing of a dagger. "What's that?" She looked at Stefan before reading the diary entry out loud. "The wood from one tree and one tree alone, an ancient white oak would bring death to an Original vampire. When the tree burned, all hope was thought lost." She looked up. "He was trying to figure out how to kill an Original."Her eyes moved back down to the journal as she continued to read. "But the ash from the tree was saved and witches forged a dagger to which the ash could be bonded. This alchemic bond provides the necessary poison."Stefan stood up."Elena...""I wonder if this is true. I mean, do you think this dagger actually exists?""I know it does..."Elena looked up at him in surprise."Because John gave it to Damon."She blinked."John gave Damon the weapon that's supposed to kill Elijah? This one?" She pointed at the dagger. Stefan nodded. Elena looked back down at the text in the journal and started to read out loud again."It must be brandished by humans alone, for it will bring death to all demons who wield it."Stefan tore the journal out of Elena's hands to read the text himself. Then, he quickly pulled out his phone to dial Damon's number."John's trying to get Damon killed."
"Would anyone care for some cognac? I have a bottle that I've been saving for ages," Damon asked as he got up from the table. Alaric shook his head."None for me thanks. Nine bottles of wine is my limit."Marianne and Jenna stood up, collecting the dishes. Damon shot a look at Andie. She shook her head, her eyes pleading him not to do it. When she still wasn't budging, her face fell. She didn't have a choice anyway. Her eyes shot to Marianne, before sending a silent prayer to whatever god could hear her, hoping her old classmate will forgive her for the role she played today. Then she stood up."The gentlemen should take their drinks in the study." She grimaced at the words. God, this statement sounded so horribly sexist."I have to say the food was almost as wonderful as the company," Elijah said before standing up."I like you," Andie said, giving him a sad smile as he followed Damon into the study. Well, this was it then. If Damon's plan succeeded he would never be walking out of that door again.Back at the table, Jenna handed some plates to John."Here you are, gentleman, make yourself useful. Hmm?"John took the plates and walked off toward the kitchen. "Here, here. Put me to work," Alaric said, trying to take another pile of plates from Jenna's hands, but she shook her head."Um, I got it."She was about to walk out of the room when Alaric grabbed her arm and pulled her back."Hey, Jenna, are you...are you okay?"She didn't look at him."Yeah, fine, Ric."With that she left to follow Marianne and Andie into the kitchen. John, who had come back striding into the room, looked at Alaric."I suspect this is my fault."Alaric glared at him."What did you do now?"John shrugged."I merely mentioned that you haven't been completely honest with her about your dead wife.""You son of a bitch!"Alaric grabbed him by the collar. John grabbed his wrist and pulled his hands off him."I think I've been very clear with you, Ric. I want my ring back."Without waiting for an answer, he left the room. One moment later Alaric's phone started to ring. He picked it up."Hello. Slow down. Slow down. Stefan?"
In the library Damon poured some drinks for him and Elijah."So, let me guess. In addition to the moonstone, the doppelgänger, the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, you need to find this witch burial ground.""Because I feel as though we've grown so close, Damon, I'll tell you yes," Elijah answered. "Do you know where it is?"Damon shrugged."Maybe. Tell me why it's so important." He handed a glass of scotch to the original who took it."We're not that close."He turns around and looks at the shelves full of books."It's quite a collection you have here.""Hmm."With Elijah's back turned toward him Damon slowly pulled out the dagger from its hiding place."It's a funny thing about books. Before they existed, people actually had memories." Damon was striding closer to Elijah, dagger raised in his hand. One moment later Alaric burst through the doors, followed by Andie, who was a bit too happy to see Elijah still breathing."Gentlemen, we forgot about dessert," Alaric said, ignoring Damon's death glares. The dagger was already back at its previous hiding spot."Elijah."Andie held out her hands for him. Maybe if she kept him in the dinning room with the others for the rest of the evening, Damon wouldn't dare to try it again. She really needed to get rid of that damn compulsion and steal the dagger. The original smiled at her, unsuspecting. "Miss Star..." He took her hands and let himself get led out of the room. Once they had left, Damon smacked Alaric angrily. Alaric pointed at the dagger, but Damon just looked at him in confusion. Alaric held up his hand, walked over to the desk and wrote something on a piece of paper before giving it to Damon.
The dagger will kill you if you use it.
Damon angrily threw the paper at Alaric before leaving the room to go back to the others.
Back in the dinning room Jenna poured a cup of coffee for John as Elijah and Andie entered the room.
"Sorry, guys, dessert is taking longer than I thought. I usually just unwrap food and Marianne isn't a five star cook either. We're giving our best though."Elijah sat back down. "So...I know this is a social thing, but I...I would really love to ask you some more questions about the work that you're doing here," Andie asked, looking at Elijah.The original smiled at her."I'd love to answer.""Great, that's so great."Damon and Alaric entered the room."Ric, would you do me a favor and grab the notebook out of my bag?" Andie asked Alaric. He nodded and walked over to her bag.Damon joined Elijah and John at the table."Elijah, did John tell you he's Elena's uncle-slash-father?""Yes, I'm well aware of that.""Of course, she hates him, so there's absolutely no need to keep him on the endangered species list.""No Ric, it's in the front pocket," Andie shouted out towards Alaric before standing up. "On the...you know what? Excuse me, guys. Sorry." She left to get the notebook herself. As soon as she had left, John turned towards Elijah."What I'd like to know, Elijah, is how do you intend on killing Klaus?"Elijah looked between Damon and John, a serious expression on his face."Gentlemen, there's a few things we should probably get clear right now. I allow you to live solely to keep an eye on Elena. I allow Elena to remain in her house living her life with her friends as she does as a courtesy. If you become a liability, I'll take her away from you and you'll never see her again."One second later Andie was back with her notebook. She sat down and opened it."Okay. My first question is when you got here to Mystic..."Before she could finish the sentence, Alaric had walked up behind Elijah and stabbed the dagger through his heart from the back of the chair. Elijah let out a gurgling sound before his body turned gray and lifeless. Andie jumped out of her chair and barely managed to keep herself from screaming. Alaric pulled the dagger out and placed it on the table. "Now, get rid of him before Jenna and Marianne come back with dessert," he instructed Damon.The vampire nodded."All right."
A few minutes later Alaric and Damon had moved Elijah's body down to the cellar of the Boarding House. Alaric glared at him."You said there wasn't going to be any violence.""Says the guy that did all the killing."Damon was about to walk off as Alaric grabbed his arm."Hey, I took the shot because I saw an opening, not because I planned to do this with Jenna in the house. Now, you can't lie to me like that."Damon tried to leave again, but Alaric held him back a second time."Hey, I am your friend, damn it. And you don't have any friends. So, no more lying."Damon nodded."You know, Marianne and Elijah were quite close," Alaric added. "Even a blind fool could see that. She's never going to forgive us for what we did tonight. If you had done this to Jenna I would want to kill you.""Well, to do that, she has to find out what we did first," Damon said with a grin on his face as he dangled Elijah's phone in front of Alaric before opening the text messenger. "Which she won't. At least not anytime soon. Let's see." He started to type. "Dear Marianne...no, wait, He calls her 'elskan', whatever that means.""Damon, I don't think that's such a-""Dear elskan, unfortunately, I have some urgent business to attend to that calls me out of town. I can't say how long I will be gone. Don't wait for me. Elijah. And..sent." Damon grinned triumphantly, while Alaric shook his head. Something told him that this wouldn't end well.
When Alaric entered the Gilbert Residence about an hour later, he found Jenna and a very pale and distraught Marianne sitting in the kitchen, each a glass of water in hand."Where did John disappear to?" he asked.Jenna shrugged. "Maybe the same place the rest of the dinner party ran off to."Alaric looked at Marianne."Everything alright?"Jenna grabbed his arm and pulled him into the hallway."No," she whispered. "Elijah suddenly disappeared. He doesn't answer her calls and instead sent her a very strange text message. She also collapsed two times out of nowhere already. I'm worried, Ric. If you know something, anything, please tell me."He swallowed hard."I don't know what you're talking about."Anger flashed across her face."Is that so? Can you at least tell me what happened to Isobel?""You know, John should have never brought that up."She glared at him."That's not an answer.""He's just trying to stir up trouble.""That's not an answer, either."He gave her a painful, torn expression."I can't talk about this, Jenna."Jenna huffed in frustration."I keep thinking that maybe it's me. Maybe I'm reading into things. I should trust you. That's what a relationship is about, right? But then I think that maybe John is right and maybe you're not being honest with me. So...are you being honest?"He looked at the floor, lips pressed together. Tears started to roll down Jenna's cheeks."Right, okay. Well, that was an answer. If you can't be honest with me, our relationship can't continue either. I can't do secrets, Ric. I really can't."She wiped her tears away before looking him straight in the eye. "And just to be clear. If whatever you did to Elijah leaves some serious damage to Marianne, I will personally drag everyone responsible to hell."She walked back into the kitchen and shut the door behind her. "Well, that was awkward," John remarked as he approached Alaric from behind. Alaric turned around, looking at John with a mixture of anger, hurt and regret."You know, I can clear all this stuff up about Isobel tomorrow, if you want. Or not," John suggested.Alaric took his Gilbert ring off and placed it on the table."You want it? Take it. It's yours. And after what you did to Damon..." A devilish smirk appeared on his lips. "You're gonna need it more than me."He left the house without saying another word.
When Damon entered his bedroom, he heard the shower running. He frowned."Andie? I thought you left."He walked into the bathroom. But to his surprise the person in the shower wasn't Andie. It was Katherine. She stepped out of the shower and positioned herself right in front of Damon, completely naked."Hello, Damon. Hey, do you have a robe?"Damon stared at her in surprise."How did you get out?""I knew that if I begged you not to kill Elijah, that's exactly what you'd do. Little known fact...Originals can compel vampires. But as soon as they die, the compulsion wears off.""And you knew.""And I'm still here. I didn't run. I meant what I said, Damon. I'm going to help you." She looked down at her naked body. "So...How about that robe?"