The Boarding House.
It was literally the last place on earth Buffy wanted to be following her break up with Stefan. Her very emotional, heart-jerking breakup that had left her crying in Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline's arms for six hours straight.
The four girls had a very specific break-up ritual that they did together.
Including violent movies, tequila, and lots of ice cream.
It had actually helped pull Buffy out of her sobbing state.
But today Buffy was forcing herself to suck up her own feelings for Caroline.
Her God-sister was literally being tormented by the person that murdered her, her own relationship drama was nothing in comparison to that.
Glancing over to Caroline who was standing next to her, clutching onto her hand like a lifeline, Buffy couldn't blame her for being nervous. Katherine was constantly showing up and threatening her. It would scare anyone.
Which was why the sooner the bitch was 6 feet under, the better.
"Maybe this isn't a good idea."
At Caroline's words, Buffy sighed before squeezing her hand softly. In an attempt to support her.
She wasn't going to let Katherine hurt Caroline, not again.
"Care. Don't worry, we're gonna get rid of her. And now we can make a plan. Do you trust me?"
Caroline gulped slightly before nodding without hesitation. If there was anyone she trusted...it was Buffy.
Smiling softly Buffy squeezed her hand once more just as the front door is pulled open, revealing Damon "Ah, the blonde duo." He chimed up with a grin "What can I do for you? If--"
Before he could make some terrible joke or innuendo Buffy walked right past him, guiding Caroline inside "We have work to do."
Damon frowned as the two blondes walked straight into his house.
He had never seen such determination on Buffy's face. He was for sure missing something here "Wait, what?"
Buffy sighed before glancing back at the elder Salvatore, clenching her jaw tightly as she gestured to Caroline.
"Katherine left another message."
Katherine wanted the moonstone.
She had given them a time and a place for the exchange or blood would start reigning the streets of Mystic Falls.
"She wants to do it in public." Stefan realized as he processed the latest bit of information that Caroline had just given them about her confrontation with Katherine.
Which had clearly freaked out the newborn vampire who was still holding Buffy's hand.
"Killing Mason threw her off guard."
Buffy groaned, to say she was beyond pissed about being left out on that little detail was an understatement.
They weren't supposed to kill Mason.
Just because Mason had been suckered in by Katherine and Mary didn't mean he deserved to die.
Yes, he sucked, but still, how did that lead to him deserving to be buried in an unmarked grave?
Answer = It didn't.
"Well done Damon. Now we're dealing with a desperate, crazy vampire who is already unpredictable as it is."
Damon rolled his eyes before shrugging as though it was no big deal. To him murder wasn't a big deal "She's out of tricks that is a good thing."
"We can't underestimate her." Stefan argued trying to come up with something, anything "We have to play this smarter than her." Groaning he turned to focus on his ex-girlfriend.
His heart ached at the sight of her.
The sooner Katherine was dead, the sooner he and Buffy could be together.
"Can't we just give her the moonstone so she'll leave?" Caroline suggested innocently.
Buffy clenched her jaw before clenching his free fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms "Yeah, that bitch is getting jack squat. Other than hours of torture and a stake through the heart."
Damon chuckled at the dark response.
He had to admit he was really starting to enjoy this new side of the Slayer. He could see that twisted darkness that came with her powers slipping through the cracks. And he wasn't complaining one bit. Hell, he would encourage her to let loose of her happy facade once in a while "Blondie's twisted vengeful little mind is right, Katherine's not getting dick. I've had it. I'm going to go to the Masquerade ball, and I'm going to kill her. Tonight."
"You're not gonna kill her." Stefan argued before a small smile covered his face as he spotted his brother about to argue "Because I am."
"Get in line." Buffy cut in as she finally pulled away from Caroline. There was no way in hell after what Katherine did to Jenna and Caroline, that she wasn't going to be the one to drive a stake through her heart.
She wanted to make sure she saw the light leave Katherine's eyes.
When both brothers stared at her, one in shock and the other one now weirdly turned on, Buffy just shrugged "If I get to her first there's not gonna be much left when I'm done."
Damon let out a small impressed breath as he watched Buffy.
He couldn't have ever imagined she had this kind of darkness in her, but then again Mary had warned him about her darkness...maybe the witch had been right.
"You know, vengeance suits you."
Rolling her eyes Buffy merely pointed her finger between both brothers, she wasn't negotiating here.
Katherine had messed with her relationship, messed with her friends and family. She was beyond done playing nice.
"Let me make this clear if either of you tries and kills her without me, I will have no problem breaking something precious. That bitch has been playing a game of Kill or be Killed Monopoly with my family members, and I'm done. I'm gonna kill her. And then I'm gonna kill Mary. And I can guarantee, it's not gonna be pretty."
While Stefan merely remained silent, Damon chuckled before downing the drink in his hand.
Today was a great day for death in his opinion.
"Well then, let's plan a murder."
**
"Where should I put these?" Miss Flowers asked Katherine and Mary as they entered the room carrying way too many shopping bags.
Mary turned to the elder woman, offering her a sweet smile before gesturing to the large bed in the center of the room "Right there. Thank you, Miss Flowers. You've been such a wonderful help."
"Oh, it's my pleasure, girls. Let me know if there's anything else I can do." She said with a smile before exiting the room.
Mary smiled before waving her hand causing the door to shut behind the old woman.
Turning back to the shopping bags she pulled out the black lace dress for Katherine, holding it in front of her friend "I'd say this one, makes you look villainy."
"You have spent way too much time getting into Buffy's head over the centuries." Katherine teased with a snort as she took the dress, examing it closely before moving over to the mirror to admire herself.
Rolling her eyes at Katherine's words the witch moved to grab herself a drink only to freeze as she felt another aura enter the room.
Slowly her Buffy-face faded away, her eyes drowning with black as she raised her hand sending the mysterious figure flying off her feet and into the wall.
Tilting her head to the side Mary smiled as she spotted the familiar witch still pinned to the way clawing for air, unable to break the spell.
"Whoa." Lucy gasped out just as Mary finally released her "You guys need to chill."
Katherine snorted before pulling the witch into a hug while Mary merely moved to sit on the bed.
An unimpressed smirk grazed her lips "I thought you would have learned never to sneak up on a vampire or a thousand-year-old witch." She taunted as she clicked her fingers revealing a small cherry which she teasingly placed in her mouth "You never know what will happen."
Lucy rolled her eyes at the raven-haired beauty who was taunting her like usual "Always a tease May. Got any new tricks to show me?"
The elder witch merely grinned as she twisted the stem of the cherry with her fingertips "Hmm. Maybe but later...you're here to pay a debt remember that."
With that, Katherine drew Lucy's attention, it was time to get down to business "We know you wouldn't be here if you didn't have a choice."
Lucy glared playfully at Katherine, trying to hide her disdain and fear under a bright smile and warm eyes "Don't get all boss lady on me. You know I love you." Circling around the vampire the younger witch couldn't help but frown as she picked up one of the masks.
Turning to Katherine she smirked in amusement "Now, where does one wear this?"
"To a masquerade ball. Tonight. You wanna be my date?"
"What about you May?"
Mary just smirked, she had plans for sure but none of those involved a little ball "I'm thinking of playing hooky this time."
**
"Thank God." Buffy breathed as she spotted Bonnie finally enter the Boarding house holding her Grams' Grimoire "You, brought the Grimoire. Thank you. You are an angel."
"You're welcome." Bonnie whispered before frowning as she finally took in the sight before her.
Buffy, Stefan, Jeremy, Damon, and Alaric were all circled around the table with what seemed like hundreds of weapons laid out.
It looked like a torture snuff film about to take place.
"What's going on?"
"We're gonna kill Katherine." Jeremy answered immediately without hesitation as he picked up one of Buffy's axes only to have Damon snatch it away before he could hurt himself.
The whole group was currently on Jeremy-weapons patrol.
Buffy nodded happily a bright smile covering her face "Yep. But I will be the one that literally rips out her heart. Damon and I flipped for it. He picked tails, moron."
"Hey!" Damon exclaimed from the other side of the room "We both know I won, you just threatened to rip off an appendage I'm rather fond of." He argued before rolling his eyes in annoyance as he poured himself a glass of bourbon "So I agreed to watch and enjoy as Buffy delivers the final blow. But I still want some shots in."
He was actually excited to see how far Buffy was willing to go with this.
To see the dark side of her start breaking through the perfect surface she had built around herself.
Shaking her head Buffy shrugged before glancing back at Bonnie, freezing as she spotted the complete look of panic on the witch's face. Maybe she should have explained this whole situation a little less bluntly "You're totally wigged out."
"A little."
"I should explain?"
Bonnie nodded frantically, her eyes bugging wide open in panic "Please."
Buffy opened her mouth in an attempt to explain but there were no words. How did you explain simply to your scared friend that you wanted to torture and maim your cousin's doppelganger without sounding like a psychopath?
"Someone explain!"
Stefan sighed before he turned to Bonnie "We're gonna kill Katherine."
With that, Buffy grinned at Bonnie giving her a small nod before turning back to the table just as Alaric picked up one of his weapons.
Honestly, Buffy had to whistle at the sight. Both she and Alaric had brought weapons but his were more modern while hers were more...medieval and torture-y.
"Now, this works with compressed air." Alaric explained as he picked up the large gun and angled it for Buffy, Damon, and Stefan to see since they were the ones going to be using it "The trigger is here. I've got 2 of these in different sizes."
Buffy nodded before frowning as she spotted Jeremy yet again not listening by picking up one of her crossbows. Without hesitation, she snatched it back placing it out of his reach "Nope. We talked about this, no flying fatality for you!!"
Jeremy groaned in annoyance "But..."
"No!" Buffy snapped shoving her finger into his face "We start with knives, not something with a sensitive trigger!"
She didn't want to risk him accidentally shooting her in the face with a bolt.
"Ric hide the crossbow!"
"On it!" Alaric said without hesitation and quickly shoved the crossbow back into the case, purposely sealing it shut with a lock.
Jeremy's eyes widened in disbelief as Buffy then tossed the case across the room. The whole thing was just complete overkill, it was just one crossbow! "Oh come on!"
Buffy merely rolled her eyes at his whining, she was not going to deal with Jeremy if he somehow managed to shoot himself in the foot "Crossbows require experience and a gentle hand, plus you had your finger on the trigger and you were pointing it at me. All big no-nos, when it comes to crossbows."
Giving him her serious look she glared slightly making it very clear her word was law.
Once she was sure he wasn't going to try and argue again, she turned to Alaric.
Her mind refocused on their battle plan.
"You got anything for me? Unfortunately, a lot of the weapons I have, don't agree with you when you're wearing a dress."
Alaric just nodded "Well I assume you'll have at least one stake on you somehow, but I do have this." He pulled out a small black bag and opened it up on the table revealing a set of Chinese ring daggers he had made just for her.
Buffy whistled as she picked up the dangers, twirling them around easily "Nice."
"They won't kill her but at your request, I had any weapons for you steamed in vervain which means..."
Slowly a bright gleeful look filled Buffy's eyes as she clicked what he was saying.
It was official, Alaric was the best!
Quickly wanting to test them out she twirled one of the knives with her finger and placed the base against Damon's arm.
His skin started burning, the flesh sizzling as the vervain scorched his flesh.
Damon yelped in pain and quickly yanked his arm back "What the hell?"
Buffy giggled slightly as she twirled the blades again.
Ring daggers were so much fun!
These things were badass and they were going to hurt Katherine like a mother.
"It means it will hurt like hell. Plus, I could easily cut off her head with one of these babies. There was this one time, with this guy with a really thick neck and all I had was this little nail..."
Buffy trailed off she spotted Jeremy staring at her with wide horrified eyes. She quickly gulped clapping her jaw shut quickly.
This was so not the story for her younger cousin to hear.
Placing the knives down she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly before gesturing for Alaric to continue with his weapons lesson "Please continue."
"You got it."
With that, Alaric grabbed one of the stake launchers and strapped it around his arm before turning to Stefan who was examining the weapon closely "And for you, I recommend this. Fits nicely under a jacket sleeve. Here's the trigger when you're ready."
Violently, Alaric threw his arm out angrily causing the stake to fly out.
However, as he continued to demonstrate, Damon raised an eyebrow, Alaric was getting way too into pretending to stake something.
Alaric, noticing Damon's look merely shrugged "You wanted me to show you weapons that are more modern than Buffy's, but still effective. You wanted me to show you how to kill vampires."
**
With all the weapons packed and ready to go, the plan to kill Katherine was officially in motion.
Tonight Katherine Pierce was going to suffer.
Placing her weapons bag by the door Buffy sighed as Alaric approached her "You sure you guys don't want me there tonight?"
Buffy was completely positive that she did not want Alaric at the Masquerade tonight. Not only was it bad enough that Jeremy was going to be there, but she needed Alaric to keep Jenna and Elena safe.
Mainly, she needed him to keep Elena from throwing herself into the fight.
He was on officially Elena-Patrol.
She had even told him if it came to it, he was to handcuff her to a radiator or knock her unconscious.
As long as it meant she stayed in the house.
Tonight was too important and as much as Buffy loved Elena, she could not be involved with this plan. She knew Elena well enough, to know she would just end up putting herself in a dangerous situation that would mess up everything.
It was better if she was out of the way and safe.
"No, I need you to stay with Elena. I'd rather she not know about this. I would like to put the yelling on pause until tomorrow."
Chuckling softly the vampire hunter reluctantly nodded in agreement "Ok. I'll make sure she doesn't leave my sight."
With that all settled, Stefan clapped his hands together glancing between the group.
This was it.
Once they got to the party there would be no turning back. They all had to be in completely for the plan to work "All right. If anybody wants to back out, I'll understand."
"Yeah, cold feet speak now." Damon added while Buffy sighed before glancing between the group, she wouldn't have anything stop tonight.
Nothing was stopping her from ending Katherine.
"Look, we can't have this going wrong, so if you want out, get out now. If one person chickens out we're screwed."
Slowly Damon looked over at the blonde vampire standing beside Bonnie "Caroline?"
Caroline shook her head confidently "I won't. She killed me. Fair's fair. As long as there are no werewolves running around."
Damon smirked "Oh, I took care of Mason."
"And as long as Tyler doesn't kill anyone—he won't turn." Jeremy pointed out.
One by one everyone agreed except for Bonnie Bennett.
Given that Bonnie was a key part of the plan they needed to know if she was in or if they had to start planning from scratch.
Their Plan A literally fell apart without her.
"Bon, you with us?"
The witch hesitated for a brief moment, she had to admit she was nervous about tonight, Katherine was unpredictable but...she had to be stopped before she hurt someone else "But no one gets hurt."
"Except Katherine." Damon said with a small smirk as he focused on Buffy who was twirling a stake in her hand.
Strangely enough, instead of finding it terrifying, he had to admit he found it kind of sexy.
Ignoring his smirk, Buffy merely continued to twirl the stake she planned to kill Katherine with.
"Dumbass is right. Bitch pissed me off, she's gonna die. I just haven't decided exactly how yet. But it won't be pretty."
**
With the Masquerade Ball now in full swing, Damon and Stefan stood at the top of the stairs leading into the courtyard, examining the crowd dancing under the stars.
They were keeping their eyes open for any sign of Katherine, yet so far there had been nothing.
Slowly both of them caught sight of a certain powerful blonde making her way through the crowd.
Buffy Anne Summers was all either brother could focus on right now. To say she looked stunning was an understatement.
Wearing a red velvet dress with strappy heels and her hair falling in perfect curls both men found themselves completely frozen at the sight of her.
Both of them were completely breathless as they watched her.
The Slayer who had yet to notice both brothers staring at her merely walked up the steps her heels clicking loudly as she made her way over to them.
"Hey." She breathed through her red-painted lips, making them look all the more tempting.
Both men who were still frozen in a daze, quickly shook themselves out of it mumbling at the blonde in unison "Hi."
Buffy frowned at the way there were both staring at her, it was beyond strange. What the hell was wrong with them?
"You guys okay?" She questioned, not realizing that she was the cause for both of their struggle to speak functionally "Not with the panicky right?"
Stefan shook himself out of his frozen state and turned to his ex-girlfriend "We're not panicked." He assured her before slowly offering her a small smile "You look beautiful by the way."
At the compliment, Buffy couldn't help but smile softly at his words. Just as heat filled her cheeks she quickly shut the warm feeling in her stomach down.
She had broken up with him for a reason.
She couldn't get distracted.
"Thanks." She mumbled awkwardly before turning to glare at Damon as she avoided eye contact with Stefan "You hesitate and I will kill you."
At her words, Damon clenched his jaw.
He wasn't stupid, that wasn't a warning, that was a promise "I'm not going to hesitate."
Buffy scoffed, she didn't buy it "Remember jackass I have good hearing, so I may have eavesdropped on your conversation." She hissed thinking back to the conversation she had overheard Stefan and Damon having on her way over to them "You have spent the past 145 years loving Mary and if Katherine dies, you'll hurt her feelings so—"
"I won't hesitate."
Clenching her jaw Buffy just arched a small brow, his tone was strong and sure. She could only hope that he believed his own argument.
"Good." She nodded to him before sighing as she focused on Stefan.
This was the one part of the plan she hated...letting Stefan be the one to draw Katherine in.
"She won't go near me or Damon. She'll come to you."
**
While Stefan waited for Katherine to finally make her appearance, Damon and Buffy were walking through the house where most people were merely chatting away or grabbing drinks.
Unlike the duo currently plotting murder.
Somehow despite everything she had said whenever she and Damon had worked together...here they were. Literal murder partners.
Buffy still drew the line at his announcement that they were murder buddies.
As they scanned for any signs of Mary who they were hoping wouldn't make an appearance tonight, Damon leaned closer to the stunning blonde "No sign of the witch."
Buffy had to admit his words made her sigh in slight relief. She had a feeling Mary wouldn't be too pleased with them trying to kill her BFF, and Buffy really didn't feel like getting turned into a frog by the damn witch.
Though she would take a frog over a rat any day.
"Good. Although it may have been nice to make her watch as Katherine dies."
Damon stared at her for a long moment, at a loss for words. This was a new side of her that he had never truly expected.
But then again, Slayers were literally made with the essence of a demon, if the rumors were true.
It was surprising yet intriguing.
"Vengeance, rage. It suits you."
Buffy who had just grabbed herself some water frowned at his words. Turning back to face him, she groaned as she found him standing way too close to her.
Once again Damon was invading her personal space. Standing too close to her for her liking.
"What's your point?"
Damon couldn't help but smirk softly at her words before shrugging. She may not want to admit the truth but he could see her. See the parts of her that wanted to snap and stop playing hero, to let herself go for once "Maybe you're darker than you think."
Inhaling tightly, Buffy's eyes met his and she opened her mouth intent on arguing but she couldn't...because as much as she hated to admit it, he was right.
There was a part of her darker than anyone knew.
A part she kept buried because she knew she would lose everything if she let loose.
She had millions of expectations on her shoulders, she didn't have time to let go.
Luckily for the silent blonde, Jeremy walked over causing her to sigh in relief as he interrupted the tense moment.
"Buffy, the room's ready."
Nodding at Jeremy, Buffy clenched her jaw forcing her and Damon's conversation from her mind.
It was time.
Moving to follow Jeremy she glanced over her shoulder back at Damon whose eyes were still glued to her.
"Damon, go find your brother."
**
It was Caroline's turn to perform her part of the plan.
Her job was to get Katherine into the magically sealed room courtesy of Bonnie.
To lure Katherine Pierce to her end.
Buffy was currently hiding in the bathroom weapons at the ready, more than prepared to grant Katherine the gift of death.
At the echo of a small bubble of laughter, a proud grin covered Buffy's face.
Caroline was definitely a surprise, she had adapted to being a vampire much easier than expected, and as much as Buffy would deny it...she had to admit Caroline might actually be more comfortable in her skin as a vampire than she ever had been as a human.
Peaking through the door Buffy smirked as she spotted Stefan standing in the corner of the room watching Katherine who merely rolled her eyes at the stake he was holding "You know you can't kill me with that."
"No." Stefan admitted before a small smile filled his lips.
"But she can."
On her cue, Buffy pushed open the bathroom door smiling as Katherine turned to face her.
Instantly, Katherine's eyes widened in fear at the sight of The Slayer.
"Hello, Katherine."
Before Katherine could make a move though Damon appeared from behind his brother and shot her in the stomach with Alaric's air-compressed stake shooter.
As Katherine gasped in shock, Buffy rushed forward swinging her fist into the brunette's face.
The vampire was sent flying across the room, crashing onto a nearby table.
Katherine growled loudly and ripped the stake from her stomach before jumping back up to her feet.
The girls standing off.
Buffy quickly ducked under Katherine's fist as it went flying toward her face. Catching the Bulgarian's arm, she yanked her forward, slamming for forehead right into Katherine's causing the vampire to stumble.
As Katherine stumbled over her heeled feet, Stefan rushed at her with a stake but she easily tossed him aside and then launched the stake meant for her right at Damon. Burying it in his stomach.
With the two men momentarily out of the fight, it was once again just Buffy and Katherine.
Katherine tilted her head playfully as she eyed Buffy up and down "I'd rather fight you anyway. You're actually a challenge."
Her tone was way too flirty for Buffy's comfort.
"Feelings mutual." Buffy hissed as she glared at the vampire before twirling the stake in her hand and launching it at Katherine who quickly caught it like it was nothing.
But before Katherine could throw it back, Buffy was on her again, leaping up and sending a sharp kick to Katherine's face sending the vampire crashing into a nearby bookcase.
Walking over, Buffy grabbed Katherine by the hair and stabbed one of her vervain ring daggers right into her back causing the vampire to howl in agony as she struggled.
Buffy smiled innocently like she wasn't burning a hole into Katherine's spinal cord.
"Aww poor little Katherine does it hurt?" She taunted before slamming Katherine against the wall, forcing her head to bash so hard against the concrete that it left a large dent.
"End of the line." Buffy hissed before moving to stake Katherine and finally end it all.
Katherine Pierce was about to die.
However, suddenly the sound of her cousin's voice made her freeze.
"Stop!"
The stake was a mere inch from Katherine's heart.
"You're hurting Elena." Jeremy screamed from the doorway "Everything you're doing to her is hurting Elena."
His words made Buffy's eyes shoot open in terror, she had been beating Katherine to a pulp, making not only her suffer, but also Elena.
Elena had been feeling every single bit of her torture.
Dropping the stake in her hands, Buffy glared at Katherine who merely threw her a flirty smile.
"My witch is a thousand years old. She has friends. So something tells me my new witch is better than your witch." Katherine whispered as she leaned forward her lips a mere inch from Buffys.
As Katherine moved to touch her face, Buffy growled before wrapping a hand around her neck and shoving her back up against the wall.
There were still a lot of ways she could torture Katherine without hurting Elena.
Plus just because Buffy technically couldn't hurt Katherine didn't mean she was letting her roam free.
Ignoring Katherine's annoyed gaze, Buffy focused back at her petrified cousin "Jer, check on Elena now!"
With that, he ran while Katherine was merely growing bored "Let's all make sure poor Elena is okay."
Having about enough of Katherine, Buffy tightened her grasp on Katherine's neck ignoring Stefan and Damon's calls from behind her as she glared at the vampire "I suggest you shut up. Cause the moment that spell is fixed I might just cut out your tongue."
The 500-year-old vampire couldn't help but smirk, she had to admit she was impressed.
Buffy was better than Mary had said and Mary had been talking about her for centuries.
"Mary was right, you are interesting. Mary!"
Buffy frowned in confusion before her eyes widened as she spotted Mary now standing in the corner of the room staring down at her nails as a glare of annoyance covered her face.
"What?" The witch huffed before her eyes widened as she spotted Katherine reach for a fire poker by the fireplace "Kat no!" She screamed, but it was too late.
Katherine had taken advantage of The Slayer's brief distraction and shoved the metal weapon through her gut.
Buffy gasped in pain but just as she started to collapse to the ground, she swung her fist out, sending one more punch at Katherine'sface.
"Buffy!" Stefan exclaimed as both he and Damon panicked and moved to catch her only to have Mary wave her wrist sending both Salvatores flying across the room away from Buffy as she crashed to the ground.
The witch sighed stressfully before walking over to the blonde.
Bending down to Buffy's level she winced at the blood pooling from the fire poker in her gut "Shh..." She soothed as she wrapped her hands around the weapon "This will hurt child. Just for a moment."
Buffy let out a loud scream as the fire poker was torn out of her stomach.
Catching Buffy before she could hit her head against the floor, Mary carefully laid the blonde back on the floor before examining the wound closely.
Shocking everyone in the room to silence she hovered her hands over Buffy's stomach, a bright yellow glow filling her palms as she actually healed the almost fatal wound.
As her skin slowly started to stick back together under the bright glow, Buffy couldn't help but sputter as she stared up at Mary.
"Why?" She whispered.
"Because I need you alive." Mary admitted bluntly before her eyes glazed over in a mixture of darkness and pure rage.
The air in the room suddenly shifted as thunder echoed from outside and every piece of furniture in the room started shaking violently.
Mary was completely focused on Katherine as she rose up to her feet, black sparks twisting between her fingertips.
For the first time in 500 years, Katherine Pierce actually gulped in terror.
"You idiotic woman."
"May." Katherine whispered as she climbed back up to her feet, throwing a desperate look her best friend's way, hoping to calm her.
But the truth was she had never seen Mary this furious at her.
Mary clenched her jaw in anger before forming a fist at the vampire "Dimittam vinctum!" She exclaimed causing Katherine to scream loudly as she dropped to her knees, pain filling every atom of her body.
Ignoring Katherine's screams and the confused stares of the Slayer and the Salvatores, Mary slowly made her way over to Katherine crouching down in front of her "I warned you what would happen if you got in my way. I love you, Kat. I do. But now you're too much of a nuisance for me to keep around." With that, she waved her hand causing Katherine's eyes to roll to the back of her head before she collapsed to the ground.
Mary had officially turned on Katherine leaving everyone in the room shocked to silence.
Sighing the witch inhaled tightly before glancing back at the others.
Automatically, her eyes softened slightly as she focused on Buffy who was leaning on Stefan as he pulled her up to her feet "Like I told Damon...I don't hurt children. I broke the binding spell. Elena's fine, all healed up... Katherine's all yours."
Elena and Buffy were both 17.
They were still kids, with terrifying fates ahead of them.
Torturing kids was crossing a line for her and Katherine knew that. It was the whole reason the vampire had been so tight-lipped about her plan to link her life to Elena's.
Turning to leave Mary clenched her jaw before glancing back over at the confused three "A bit of advice ...I will return for my moonstone...just because I traded it once to save Katerina...doesn't mean I won't take it back. "
With that, a slow smirk covered the witch's face "Be seeing you."
And with that, she was gone.
**
Buffy groaned as she stared down at her now very ruined dress. Her very expensive, ruined dress.
There was no saving this one.
It literally had a giant hole in the middle from where Katherine had stabbed her.
Sighing Buffy tightened Stefan's suit jacket around her as she stared out over the lake. Allowing herself to soak in a moment of rare silence.
The echo of the moving water was surprisingly soothing after everything that had happened.
As much as she hated it...Katherine was still alive.
Damon had suggested something that was probably a worse fate for her.
Plus to be honest, there was a part of Buffy that could see locking Katherine up in the tomb as a positive. Katherine was literally the only person in the world who knew Mary well enough to maybe give the Slayer some answers.
So for now, she was useful.
"Buffy."
At the sound of her name coming from familiar lips, Buffy spun around her eyes widening as she spotted Stefan walking over to her with a smile on his face.
A smile that made her feel all the more worse.
"Are you okay?" Stefan asked her as he stared at the hole in her dress with a worried frown.
Seeing Katherine stab her...he couldn't even describe how he felt at that moment other than purely terrified and useless.
Buffy merely shrugged it off as she tightened the blazer around her suddenly feeling the cold wind on her skin "Yeah, you know, for someone who got a fatal stab wound a little while ago I'm good. Whatever her reasons Mary healed me up. And threw Katherine to the wolves it seems."
Stefan nodded, still a little unsure "True. But maybe you should see a doctor."
At his suggestion, Buffy's eyes widened in panic and she quickly shook her head. She hated hospitals. There was no way she was going anywhere near one tonight. "No. No. Doctors and Buffy don't mix." She told him strongly before sighing as she glanced back over the water, eyeing the way the moon reflected off the water.
It was hauntingly beautiful.
"She's gone."
Stefan couldn't help but smile at her words as he stepped closer to her "Yeah. She is."
The optimism and hope in his voice caused Buffy to wince. Swallowing uncomfortably she stepped back before he could reach her and raised her hand signaling for him to stop.
She couldn't do this not yet.
She just had this feeling that Katherine was just the beginning of their problems.
"Stefan—I..."
Stefan stared at her confused before finally, the realization started to settle in as he clicked what was happening "Katherine being gone doesn't change anything for you, does it?"
Buffy sighed before looking over him seriously.
She hated the fact that yet again she was having to break both their hearts.
But it was the sacrifice she had to make.
"I wanna be with you. You know that. But we still have Mary to deal with and ...I need to see that that the people in my life are gonna be safe. I need to protect them. I don't know if at the moment I can do that if we're together. Katherine is just the beginning." She whispered before worry slowly filled her eyes as she backed away from him "There are a lot scarier things than Katherine Pierce in this world. Something worse is coming. I can feel it."
**
Walking into the parking lot, a tearful-eyed Buffy sighed as she spotted a blood-covered Elena leaning against the jeep.
Elena had her disappointed-ready-to-yell face on and Buffy was just so over it.
Tonight of all nights was not the time for this.
Wiping the tears from her eyes she glanced over at her cousin "Can you yell at me later?"
Elena frowned in confusion before her eyes widened as she spotted the look on Buffy's face.
That look gave her pause.
While yes, she had been meaning to yell at Buffy for keeping secrets now so wasn't the time.
Moving over to the blonde, Elena just wrapped her up in a hug "Come on let's go home." She breathed before slowly leading Buffy to the car, intent on driving.
A crying Buffy and driving was never a good combination.
Buffy sighed in relief, however, just as she moved to climb inside she groaned as she felt a sharp pinch in her neck.
Her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
There was nothing but darkness.
Elena's eyes widen in panic as Buffy started to collapse "Buffy!" She screamed only to have a figure come up behind her, covering her mouth and nose till like The Slayer, she was unable to fight the darkness any longer.
Nothing but darkness.
**
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
The Mayor of Sunnydale was evil.
All of their theories about the Mayor had finally been confirmed, but now the gang had to figure out what the end goal of his plan was.
However, they had one more issue.
Faith.
Faith had killed a human and tried to lie about it.
Given that if Wesley, Faith's new Watcher found out he would immediately contact the Council which would get her shipped off to London, Willow, and Giles found themselves at Angel's mansion.
Since Buffy's departure back to Mystic Falls, Angel had been locked up in the mansion, only appearing when there was a problem with a demon or vampire.
While Giles wouldn't admit it out loud, he knew Angel was looking for any reason to rush off to Mystic Falls.
Hence why Angel had been kept in the dark about The Sun and The Moon Curse.
Willow stepped forward, her eyes quickly landing on Angel who was in the middle of his living room performing Tai Chi.
"Angel?" She whispered timidly drawing his attention "We need your help. Faith, she...killed someone, a human and we were hoping you could talk to her."
Angel just clenched his jaw as he watched the pair of them before moving over to the pile of research on the table "Why did no one tell me that Elena Gilbert was Petrova Doppelganger?"
Giles frowned in confusion before catching the photo Angel tossed at him. The image was a woman who looked like an exact copy of Buffy's cousin Elena dressed in a dress from what he could only guess was from the 1920s.
"A Petrova Doppelganger?" Willow asked in confusion as she stared down at the photo with wide eyes.
"She's the key to breaking The Sun and The Moon Curse."
Angel's words caused both Giles and Willow to exchange a panicked look.
A look that he quickly noticed.
Angel growled in frustration before rubbing his hand over his jaw, his stomach dropping at the thought of Buffy. Elena being the Doppelganger had just put Buffy in a massive amount of danger.
Hell, that entire town was in danger if anyone found out that a Petrova Doppelganger actually existed.
"What do you know?"
Willow and Giles obviously knew more than they were admitting and if they didn't fill him in right now he would be in his car driving straight to Virginia the second this conversation was over.
Giles inhaled tightly before reluctantly reaching into his jacket pocket and retrieving the copy of the sketch.
The Slayer Risen from Death.
The second his eyes landed on the image of Buffy's face and the description underneath, Angel was gathering his things at a frantic rate.
He had to get to Mystic Falls.
He had to get to Buffy and warn her just how much danger she was in before one of the Old Ones found out she existed. The Slayer and the Doppelganger being in one place just increased the chances that sooner rather than later they would be found.
Before he could walk out the door though, Willow was blocking his path "How much do you know about this curse? Buffy still doesn't know much. And you can't just show up right now, she has a lot going on...so tell us and we can call Buffy and talk to her."
Angel groaned. As much as he wanted to argue he knew he couldn't. Not only did he now need to help Faith but if anyone got wind that he was in Virginia looking for the Slayer, he would practically announce her location to the rest of the Supernatural world.
AKA: Risk The Old Ones finding her.
"Not a lot. It involved the other kind, but I do know that the doppelganger is the key to breaking the Curse and the Slayer...I never knew it was Buffy in the story but...that curse the second it is broken...it activates a Prophecy."
Giles gulped at the mere mention of the word Prophecy. Given what had happened the last time a Prophecy had involved Buffy, he was always going to be extra cautious.
"What is this Prophecy?"
"I don't know. There is nothing written about it...all I know is what it's called..."
"The Fallen Slayer."