"I'll lure Stefan away from the bonfire. Then, when he's distracted—" Elena started before Alaric cut her off.

"I'll shoot him." Ric stated, folding his arms over his chest as he stood across from Elena while she sprawled out her arms on Alaric's desk.

"Can't Bonnie just ju-ju him or something?" Damon asked from where he sat on top of a small book shelf, against the wall.

"I'm trying to keep Bonnie out of this. I can't trust that Stefan won't hurt her if she uses force against him." Elena replied, looking at him from over her shoulder.

"Caroline, are you covered?" I asked, changing the subject from where I sat on top of a desk.

"Yes!" Caroline replied, thinking over what it is she needed to do. "I will make sure the old Forbes jail cell is prepped and ready." She pointed out and I sighed, slowly nodding.

"We're forgetting a key player here. Rebekah?" Damon asked in annoyance and I rose an eyebrow at him. "Wherever Stefan goes, the blonde ponytail tends to follow." He stated and I slowly nodded, tilting my head.

"Which is why it's your job to keep her away." I informed and Damon scoffed.

"How? She's an original. Last time I checked, we're out of daggers." Damon pointed out and I smirked at him.

"Well, then preoccupy her with your charm." I suggested and Alaric sighed, placing his hands on his hips.

"Might have better luck finding the dagger." Alaric stated and I looked at him in amusement as Caroline chuckled.

"Are you ever not gonna be mad at me, Ric?" Damon asked in annoyance.

"Doubtful." Alaric answered as Tyler came into the classroom and stood beside Caroline.

"I'm sorry I'm late. What's going on?" Tyler asked, gesturing his head to me. Caroline looked between Tyler and I carefully before she looked away.

"We need you to raid your mom's vervain supply. Enough to keep Stefan down for awhile." I informed, folding my arms over my chest and watched his eyebrows furrow.

"You can't do that to Stefan." Tyler stated in confusion and I rose an eyebrow at him.

"Why not?" Caroline asked, folding her arms over her chest.

"Trust me, Tyler, it's in his best interest." Elena pointed out and I nodded in agreement.

"But it's not in Klaus'." Tyler replied coldly and I narrowed my eyes at him as silence surrounded us and we all stared at him.

"But Klaus is the bad guy, Tyler." Caroline stated, tilting her head at him in confusion and Tyler rose an eyebrow at her. "You know, why are you acting like some freaky, hybrid, slave minion?" She added in annoyance towards him.

"Uh-oh." Damon whispered, slowly sliding off of the bookshelf before Ric and I looked at him in confusion.

"What?" Alaric asked before I looked back at Tyler who sighed in annoyance.

"Klaus made me who I am, Caroline. I owe him everything." Tyler stated, putting his hands in his pockets and I scoffed.

"Oh, boy." Damon added, walking over to Tyler and looking him over slowly.

"Okay, can we cook it with the commentary, please?" I asked in frustration and looked between Tyler and Damon.

"What is going on?" Elena asked, completely confused as was the rest of us.

"I'm just gonna go." Tyler stated in defeat before he turned and walked to the door before Damon vamped towards him and stuck a vervain dart in him.

"What are you doing!?" Caroline asked loudly in annoyance at Damon as Tyler fell unconsciously to the floor.

"He's been sired." Damon stated, staring down at Tyler as Caroline knelt beside to him.

"What?" I asked, looking away from Caroline and Tyler in confusion.

"Sired. He feels loyal to Klaus because Klaus' blood created him." Damon clarified and I furrowed my eyebrows as I slid off of the desk.

"Loyal how?" Elena asked, standing next to me as we looked back down at Tyler.

"He'll seek acceptance from his master. It's really rare but maybe not so much in hybrids." Damon replied as Caroline looking between him and Tyler.

"So how do we fix him?" Caroline asked innocently as she looked back at Damon before at me and I slowly shook my head.

"Get a new boy toy." Damon answered in annoyance, making Caroline furrow her eyebrows before she looked at me and I quickly looked away.
~~~

I watched as Tyler lightly stirred from where he was laying on the couch inside of his dad's study and I tilted my head at him curiously. "What the hell?" Tyler asked ,sitting up and looking around the study curiously. "How did I get home?" He added, looking at me and I shrugged.

"I brought you here. You were being a dick." I stated emotionlessly and he rolled his eyes at me.

"What is your problem today?" Tyler asked, shaking his head at me and I scoffed, standing up from the chair across from him.

"My problem is you've been sired. Do you even know what that means?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him from where I stood in front of him. "It means that you put Klaus' needs first. He is your master now." I pointed out in disappointment.

"I'm not anyone's pet, Mariana. He doesn't control me." Tyler stated in anger up at me from where he sat.

"Well, something's got to be controlling you. 'Cause I don't know why else you'd be acting like the old you." I countered loudly and he scoffed while I paced back and forth now.

"The old-me?" Tyler quoted and I looked at him in anger.

"Yeah, the old you. The pre-werewolf you. You know, the obnoxious you that cheated on me with Vicki." I clarified in annoyance as I walked towards the study doors.

"Whoa, wait, wait, wait." Tyler started, getting up from the couch and quickly grabbing my hand, pulling me back to him. "What are we talking about here?" He asked, clearly taken aback but I didn't care.

"The fact that you and Caroline clearly have feelings for each other, Ty." I answered emotionlessly and he furrowed his eyebrows at me. "Don't play dumb, okay? I know that when you're mom thanked me for not sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night, after we slept together—that she was talking about Caroline. I'm not stupid." I added, pulling my arm away from him.

"I didn't mean to not tell you—" He started and I shrugged, looking away from him.

"Well, she didn't tell me either. But after the looks she's been giving you and the way she's so protective of you—" I started before I cut myself off and he furrowed his eyebrows. "I—I'm not like that with you, Tyler." I whispered quietly and he remained silent as he stared at me.

"So what are you saying?" Tyler asked, his voice quiet and hurt and I shrugged, looking away from him.

"I love you, yes.. But I don't know if I'm in love with you anymore." I answered regretfully and looked back up at him. He slowly backed away from me and sat back down on the couch, processing all of it over in his head. "But Caroline is.. It's obvious." I added quietly and he looked up at me with pain and sorrow in his eyes. "And I think you love her, too." I said, nodding at him but he furrowed his eyebrows at me and looked away again. I turned to the doors again and started walking out before Tyler called after me.

"Mar?" He asked and I looked at him from over my shoulder from where he was still sitting on the couch. "I didn't mean to hurt you.. You're one of the good ones, you know?" He said sweetly and I gave him a small smile.

"Don't you forget it." I replied quietly before I walked out of the study, leaving him there.
~~~

I walked towards a beer keg that Rebekah was at, trying to get beer out of it and failing before I grabbed her cup and helped her. "You alright there?" I asked, filling up her cup before handing it back to her.

"I thought Tyler would be here." Rebekah replied and I chuckled, filling up a cup of my own.

"You're into Tyler now, huh? That's kind of fickle." Stefan stated as he came over to us also and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Well, when you're willing to give me the time of day again, then we'll talk." Rebekah countered in annoyance as she sipped her beer and looked around the bonfire again.

"She's right. A girl has needs, Stefan." I agreed, tilting my head at him in annoyance before I started downing my beer and he rose an eyebrow and chuckled.

"Alright. Take it easy. We both know you're kind of a lightweight." Stefan stated as he tilted his head at me before I finished my beer and filled the cup up again.

"Do we though? Because when it comes to you.. I'm pretty sure you're much more of a lightweight. You know, the entire 'ripper' thing." I pointed out sarcastically and Stefan scoffed, looking away from me in amusement as Rebekah smirked. "I don't think I need advice from someone with the actual drinking problem." I added as my cup was filled up fully again before I walked away from them and towards the party.
~~~

I leant my back against a tree and drank my beer in silence as I watched Damon and Rebekah across from me. They sat by a small bonfire, smiling at each other as they talked and ate s'mores. "What's that look?" A voice whispered into me ear, making me jump a bit before I rolled my eyes, realizing it was Stefan.

"What look?" I asked in annoyance as he leant his arm over me, resting it on the tree and standing behind me.

"Well, my brother's got his flirt on, and you're jealous." Stefan pointed out and I scoffed, shaking my head.

"I'm not jealous." I protested, downing the rest of my beer and Stefan shrugged.

"It's alright. Be jealous, by all means." Stefan replied and I groaned, moving away from him before turning around and throwing my cup at him.

"I'm not jealous, Stefan." I stated in annoyance and he slowly nodded at me as a smirk lingered on his lips. "Just—Go find someone else to annoy." I added, rolling my eyes before I walked past him, brushing his shoulder abruptly.
~~~

I sat on the bleachers by the football field as Elena laid down next to me, staring up at the stars. I rose an eyebrow and drank more of my beer as Stefan came slowly up the bleachers looking at us. "Two birds with one stone. Looking after you is pretty easy." Stefan stated in amusement as he looked between Elena and I.

"I used to know all of the constellations. How did I forget them all?" Elena asked, furrowing her eyebrows up at the stars before she looked at Stefan who sighed.

"You're drunk." I pointed out before I chuckled and looked up at the stars also.

"You both are. You need to get home." Stefan replied as he place his hands on his hips while Elena and I slowly got up.

"Fine.. uh—Let me find my car." Elena replied drowsily as she stood before she stumbled and hung onto the railing.

"You're joking, right?" Stefan asked towards the two of us, like a stern mother and I rose an eyebrow.

"Uh-oh. It's the fun police." I stated in annoyance before I downed the rest of my beer and sighed. "I thought that ripper Stefan was supposed to be—the life of the party." I added, tilting my head at him as Elena stifled a laugh from next to me.

"Well, alright, I'm driving you home. Come on." Stefan stated, gesturing for us to follow him down the bleachers. Elena laughed and climbed onto the railing of the bleachers and over them so she had no stairs under her.

"Stefan, look! She's gonna fly!" I said laughing at her as I took out my phone and started taking pictures.

"What are you two, five?" Stefan asked, turning towards the two of us again, clearly annoyed. "Get down." He warned, shaking his head at Elena who chuckled.

"Why? Are you afraid I'm going to—" Elena started before one of her feet slipped and she almost fell off of the railing but she caught herself.

"Oh—Ha, that was close." I stated, snapping a picture and Stefan rolled his eyes. "Klaus would not be happy with you." I added, pointing at him and Elena laughed at him also.

"You're both hilarious." Stefan replied sarcastically before Elena took her hands off the railing.

"Look, Stefan—no hands." Elena said, falling back and she widened her eyes and grabbed onto the railing again and laughed, catching herself. Stefan narrowed his eyes at her and I laughed at how serious he looked before one of Elena's hands slipped and she fell off of the railing.

"Elena!" I yelled in concern as I heard her scream and fall towards the cement below before Stefan vamped towards her and caught her in his arms. I rushed towards the railing and looked over it as the two stared at each other below me. I smirked and snapped a picture of the two before Stefan put her down.

"I knew you'd catch me." Elena stated quietly towards him before Alaric came from behind Stefan and shot him with vervain darts. Three of them.. Stefan groaned and fell to the ground and I sighed, walking down the bleachers, towards them.

"You okay?" I asked Elena who stared down at Stefan emotionlessly.

"Yeah—I'm.. Fine." Elena replied sighing deeply as she swayed a bit and I rolled my eyes.

"And I'm the lightweight." I stated in annoyance down at Stefan. "Let's got him out of here." I added, gesturing to Alaric who nodded in agreement.
~~~

Alaric put Stefan in the trunk of his car as Elena and I got in the car, buckling up. "At least he'll sleep soundly tonight." I stated in some amusement and looked at Elena who sat in the back, looking over Stefan who was knocked out. Alaric shut the trunk and came around the car to the driver's side before he furrowed his eyebrows at something.

"Mari?" Elena asked from the backseat and I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at the back window as fire spread through the outside of the car, surrounding us.

"Mariana!! Elena!?" Ric yelled, pounding against the glass of the driver's side window and I widened my eyes and unbuckled my seatbelt as did Elena. Ric came over to our side, waiting for us to get out but the doors wouldn't budge. "Open the doors!" Alaric warned, shaking his head at us from outside the car.

"We can't! They won't open!" Elena yelled at him and I furrowed my eyebrows, looking at the fire that was spreading vigorously from the outside.

"Reverta Incenda." I chanted, trying to make the fire go down but it didn't budge.. My magic wasn't working. I furrowed my eyebrows as the locks on the doors unlocked and then locked quickly, making it so Elena and I couldn't get out at all. "What the hell?" I asked, shaking my head down at the lock on my door.

"Mariana?" Elena asked worriedly from the back and I looked at her in reassurance. Alaric started hitting my window with a lacrosse stick, trying to break it but the fire got higher, pushing Alaric backward. I groaned in annoyance and tried to kick the windshield open with my boot but had made no effect. "Stefan.." Elena groaned, making her way to the trunk as smoke started coming into the car. I furrowed my eyebrows as I felt a cold chill coming from the driver's seat and I stared at it for a few seconds before I looked back at Elena.

"Stefan!" I yelled weakly, coughing as Stefan lightly stirred, opening his eyes before he widened them.

"Oh, my god." Stefan whispered with light groans before he weakly kicked the trunk door open and it flew away from the car and into the parking lot. I gasped as more smoke filled my lungs while Elena made it to the trunk and Alaric started pulling her out quickly.

"Hurry up before it blows!" Alaric warned us worriedly. I made my way towards the trunk and held out my hand, which he took and pulled me out. I gasped as air filled my lungs again and Alaric went to walk away before Elena pulled him back.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Elena protested, gesturing towards Stefan before Alaric groaned as we quickly pulled Stefan out of the trunk also. The four of us got as far away from the car as we could before it blew. I shielded my eyes from the flames but winced as some of the glass pierced my cheek. Once the explosion was over, the four of us looked back at the car in awe as it was up in complete flames now.
~~~

"Give it to me. I can do it." I stated in annoyance at Damon who held a Q-tip and Neosporin while I sat on top of his sink in front of him.

"No, let me do it." Damon replied, moving my hands away from him.

"Damon, come on—" I started but he cut me off quickly.

"Mariana, you almost got barbecued. The least I can do is apply first aid." Damon pointed out as he put the Neosporin on the Q-tip and I sighed as he gently dabbed it onto my cheek gently. I watched him in silence and slowly looked over the features of his face before he pulled his hand away. "There." He whispered, applying more Neosporin to the Q-tip and I sighed, looking down and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"You played your part of the plan really well tonight." I stated, looking back up so he could apply more ointment to my cheek.

"Oh, yeah?" Damon asked, looking between my eyes and my cheek and I shrugged.

"Yeah, you had Rebekah drooling all over you and your marshmallows." I stated sarcastically, rolling my eyes and he scoffed.

"Yeah, before she skewered me." He replied, pulling his hand away again and I furrowed my eyebrows. "I thought you were too drunk to notice." He added with a small smirk and I looked down as he applied more ointment gently to my cheek.

"I was faking most of it." I admitted with a sigh and Damon pulled his hand away, fully this time and looked down at the Neosporin.

"So was I." He replied, looking back up at me and my eyes met with his. Damon and I stared at each other for a few moments, in a calming silence before Alaric came in.

"Mariana, Elena and I are downstairs when you're ready to go." Ric stated from the bathroom doorway, causing Damon and I to quickly look away from each other.

"Thanks for tonight, Ric. Sorry about the car, man. Bummer." Damon stated towards him as I hopped off of the sink and went over to Alaric. I looked over my shoulder at Damon before we walked out and I sighed, shaking my head.

"It's okay if you want to be friends with Damon again." I stated as Alaric and I walked down the stairs and into the hall.

"I don't." Ric replied with a sigh and I shrugged a bit.

"I think he kinda misses you." I admitted, raising an eyebrow at Alaric who shrugged it off as we reached the front door where Elena stood. We were about to walk out of the house before Stefan over to us from the living room, sighing deeply.

"Well, you got me tonight." Stefan stated, looking between us. "Definitely wasn't expecting that." He admitted and Alaric folded his arms over his chest.

"Well, that was the point." Ric replied emotionlessly and I watched as Stefan slowly nodded back at him and put his hands in his pocket.

"You know, you can hate it all you want, but Elena needs me.. They both do." Stefan stated and I furrowed my eyebrows at him. "I'll always protect them. I think you're all better off having me around." He added, flashing me a look and I tilted my head at him before I shook my head and gestured towards the door. Alaric nodded in agreement and opened it and Elena and I turned towards it before Stefan spoke again. "Elena, wait." Stefan started and I rose an eyebrow as she turned towards him curiously. "You could have let me die in that fire tonight. Why didn't you?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows at her as he placed his hands on his hips.

"Because I still have hope." Elena answered, shaking her head at him and he rose an eyebrow.

"After everything I've done you—you still think I'll be able to find my humanity again." Stefan replied, observing her and she slowly nodded back at him.

"Yes, I do." Elena replied as she walked towards him so that she stood a few inches from him. "I know who you really are. Better than anyone, Stefan. And I'm not giving up." She added, furrowing her eyebrows at him. Stefan stood quietly in front of her before he slowly nodded.

"Elena, do you have any idea how pathetic that makes you?" Stefan asked her quietly and I folded my arms over my chest as Elena clenched her jaw tightly.

"No, Stefan. It makes me strong." Elena replied angrily before she punched Stefan in the stomach and he groaned as two small stakes ejected themselves into him. I rose an eyebrow as Elena took off the Velcro strap from around her wrist before she handed it to Alaric on her way out the door. Stefan groaned and looked up towards Ric and I as he knelt on the floor and we smirked down at him before we walked out of the house also.

-Time Skip-

"Hey, Jer, I need you to help me with something." Elena stated as she put her bag on the table outside of the Grill.

"What's up?" Jeremy asked, raising an eyebrow at her as she took out some old journals from her bag.

"I've been going through Stefan's old journals. Every single time that he's gone off the rails in the past, his best friend Lexi's been the one to bring him back." Elena stated as she opened one of the journals up.

"So Where is she now that we need her?" Jenna asked, furrowing her eyebrows as she sat across from Elena and beside Alaric.

"She's dead." I pointed out emotionlessly as I looked at Elena. "And you want Jer to try and reach her, don't you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"I thought if I knew how she did it, maybe I could help him." Elena agreed with a small nod and I looked at Jeremy who sighed.

"I don't even know if she's on the other side." Jeremy pointed out and looked between Elena and I before I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"That's what it's called?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest and he shrugged.

"That's what Anna calls it. There's not like an official brochure or anything." Jeremy replied sarcastically and I rolled my eyes and nudged him playfully.

"So what is it? Like some sort of supernatural purgatory?" Alaric asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Well, Ana said it's like being here with all of us. Only we can't see her or hear her. And she can't interact with anyone. She's all alone." Jeremy pointed out and I slowly nodded at him.

"Vicki could interact.. The bitch tried to blow us up." I stated, gesturing at Elena and I as she nodded in agreement.

"Vicki had help from a witch on the other side. Anna.. She's doing this all by herself." Jeremy replied and I sighed, dipping my fries in ketchup.

"That explains why I couldn't put the fire out." I stated, shaking my head at Jeremy who sighed.

"I'm just saying, maybe we learned our lesson about summoning dead people." Alaric stated, looking at Elena in warning and I shrugged in some agreement at her also.

"Do you think it's even possible to contact Lexi?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Jeremy who grabbed one of the journals.

"I don't know." He answered, looking between Elena and I. "I didn't have an emotional connection with her, I've never even met her." Jeremy added and I slowly nodded as Alaric looked over one of the journals also.

"Can we just drop it, please?" Alaric asked and I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"No, I can't drop it, Ric. I don't know what else to do." Elena argued in annoyance at him.

"Don't you think we have a few too many dead vampires from our past to be sitting here, thinking of them watching us?" Alaric countered, tilting his head at her challengingly and I sighed at them both. I looked at Jeremy who looked at the empty chair beside him and I rose an eyebrow as I felt a coldness coming from there.. Anna.

"Is Anna here right now?" Elena asked, furrowing her eyebrows as she noticed Jeremy looking at the space also.

"No. No—I'm going to go, uh.. Check my work schedule." Jeremy replied, quickly changing the subject as he got up and walked into the Grill and I furrowed my eyebrows at him. He lied to Elena.. I felt Anna. She most definitely was here. I looked between Alaric, Jenna and Elena who all gave me curious looks.

"Hey, guys. Who forgot to invite me to the family summit?" A voice asked. I looked up to see Stefan before he took the chair Jeremy just got up from. Elena sighed towards me and tried to hide the journals but Stefan grabbed one, opening it. "Oh, wow. All these words.. I forgot how much I used to care." He stated, looking down at the pages and I rolled my eyes.

"I didn't." Elena replied, staring at him solemnly and he looked up from the pages and towards her quietly. Stefan sighed and dropped the journal back on the table before he looked away from her.

"You know, Elena, it's probably best you not torture yourself with memories from the past." Stefan stated and I watched as Elena looked down. "It's best if we both just move on and accept things as they are." He added and I sighed, narrowing my eyes at him.

"You don't have to be here, Stefan." I pointed out, shrugging at him and he rose an eyebrow at me.

"You know what, Mariana? You're right. I don't." Stefan replied, clearing his throat as he sat closer to the table. "But you and Elena are both here, and I look out for you. Besides, there's going to be people everywhere tonight so there's going to be lots to eat." He added in amusement, gesturing towards town square and I scoffed, looking away from him. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding." He reassured us with a slight chuckle as he got up from the table. "Loosen up." Stefan sighed, putting a hand gently on Elena's arm before he walked away and I slowly shook my head.

"We can't drop it, Ric." I warned, looking at him and he sighed, looking at Jenna who slowly nodded at Elena and I. "I'm gonna go use the bathroom." I sighed, getting up from the table and Elena did also as she put all of the journals back in the bag.

"I'll come with you." She stated and I slowly nodded as Alaric sighed.

"We'll pay the bill." Jenna smiled at Elena and I as we walked inside of the Grill and towards the bathroom. We opened the bathroom door and I furrowed my eyebrows as Jeremy stood there with—

"Anna?" Elena asked, completely taken aback and they both turned towards us, obviously taken aback also.

"Jeremy? What the hell?" I asked, looking at their stance and I could tell they were in here full on making out.

"You can see me?" Anna asked, shaking her head before she looked up at Jeremy who furrowed his eyebrows. My phone started ringing and I groaned in annoyance as I answered it.

"Caroline, can we talk about you and Tyler another time?" I asked as I folded my arms over my chest.

"This isn't about Tyler, Mariana. It's about the fact that the witch that helped Vicki come back, is the same one who opened a supernatural door that let other ghosts who had unfinished business come back also." Caroline stated in a rushed voice and I furrowed my eyebrows as I narrowed my eyes at Anna. "Bonnie needs to close the door and then, bye-bye ghosts." She added and I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"And how do we do that?" I asked, looking at Elena who furrowed her eyebrows at me.

"Grams is over here helping Bonnie. Apparently, the old witch can draw power from this side because of her talisman?" Caroline replied and I slowly nodded.

"Talisman..." I whispered, thinking it over in my head before I furrowed my eyebrows. "The old witch—As in the original witch?" I asked, looking at Elena who furrowed her eyebrows. "As in the originals.. They need Elena's necklace." I stated before I put my phone on speaker.

"I know she's not going to like this, but Bonnie and Grans need to destroy it." Caroline pointed out and I rolled my eyes.

"Well, Mariana and I just walked in on Jeremy kissing the reason that I'm completely okay with that." Elena replied in disgust and Jeremy rolled his eyes at her as I took the phone off of speaker.

"What!? Are you kidding!" Caroline asked angrily from the phone and I sighed, looking at Elena in some annoyance.

"I wish. Look, Elena doesn't have the necklace but Damon does. Text him. I'll call you right back." I stated, handing up the phone and looking between Jeremy and Anna again.

"You need to disappear or evaporate or whatever it is that you ghosts do." Elena stated angrily towards Anna and I sighed at her.

"Look, it's not her fault." Jeremy stated as he gestured at Anna as her face fell and Elena scoffed, rounding up on him.

"You're right, it's yours." Elena stated and furrowed her eyebrows as Anna disappeared. I slowly shook my head and put my phone into my back pocket as I looked at Jeremy's defeated face.

"How did this happen?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest at him.

"I don't know, okay? I don't know. It just—it did." Jeremy answered in frustration and I sighed in annoyance, observing him. "Guys, please. You can't tell Bonnie." He pleaded and I looked at Elena who slowly shook her head in defeat.

"Don't worry. I'm going to let you do that. Right after I help her send the ghosts away." Elena scoffed at him before she walked out of the bathroom.

"Mariana—" Jeremy started before I cut him off.

"Just—Fix it, Jer. Okay?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows at him before I followed after Elena. "Elena." I stated, catching up to her before someone cut us off by stepping in our way.

"Looks like today was a good day to be thinking about me, girls." Lexi stated with a smirk as she tilted her head at us and I widened my eyes.

"Lexi?" I asked, taken back and she smiled and gave me a nod.

"Mm-Hmm. Come with me." Lexi replied, gesturing for us to follow her and I rose a eyebrow.

"Where?" Elena asked, shaking her head confused and Lexi sighed.

"Ripper Detox 101. Crash course." Lexi replied, shaking her head before she grabbed Elena's hand as well as mine, going to lead us away.

"I—" Elena started but she cut herself off as she looked down at Lexi's hand, feeling it in hers.

"I'm sorry, did you not just say how desperate you were for my help in saving Stefan's life?" Lexi asked, furrowing her eyebrows between us. Elena sighed and looked back at the bathroom in uncertainty and I sighed, gently pulling my hand from Lexi's.

"This is your rodeo. Not mine. You should go." I stated, nodding at Elena who gave me a small smile. I looked at Lexi before I quickly hugged her and sighed. "It was good to see you again." I added and she chuckled a bit before I pulled away and the two quickly walked out of the Grill.
~~~

I walked outside of the Grill and towards town square where the Lantern Ceremony was supposed to be, but only saw police surrounding the square. An ambulance was parked by the sidewalk and paramedics hauled a bodybag into the back of it. I furrowed my eyebrows and walked curiously through town-square before I spotted Jeremy looking around confused. "Jeremy." I stated, walking over to him and he turned towards me. "What's going on? Who was in the bodybag?" I asked, shaking my head and he stuffed his hands into his coat pockets.

"The ghost vampires from the tomb decided to kill one of the founders. A Fell." Jeremy pointed out and I slowly shook my head and pulled out my phone.

"Well, did you call Bonnie or Caroline? They need to find that necklace." I stated as I dialed in one of their phone numbers.

"They turned Damon's bedroom around and they still can't find it. He's not answering their calls or texts either. They think that Anna took it." Jeremy stated in defeat and I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"Where is Anna now?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest and Jeremy sighed, shrugging back at me.

"I don't know. I'm not even sure if she took the necklace." Jeremy replied and I rolled my eyes.

"She was the only person who heard us talking about it. Of course she took it, okay? We have to get it back. We have to destroy it and then close the door." I warned, shaking my head at Jer.

"I know but—" Jeremy started but I cut him off, furrowing my eyebrows.

"But what?" I asked, tilting my head at him and he sighed, becoming quiet. "What, Jer?" I asked again and he slowly shook his head.

"I can touch her, Mariana. I can kiss her again—and I know it's wrong, a-and I shouldn't feel this way, but I do." Jeremy stated angrily down at me and I sighed, looking away from him. "I love her.. I've always loved her." He added quietly and I stared up at him for a few seconds.

"But she's dead, Jeremy. Gone—Everything that you're holding onto is in the past. Are you going to love a ghost for the rest of your life?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows up at him. I felt a cold come over me before I looked over Jeremy's shoulder and sighed. Jer furrowed his eyebrows before he turned around and gave a small smile to Anna who stood in front of us now. I watched as the two just stared at each other silently before I shook my head. "He's at the beginning of his life, Anna. You're just holding him back.. You know that." I whispered towards her and Jeremy scoffed, looking back at me before he looked at Anna again. Anna's face dropped as she slowly held up Elena's necklace in her hand and I furrowed my eyebrows before I sighed. "Call Bonnie. Tell her that you have the necklace.. And get her to send the ghosts away." I added emotionlessly before I walked away from them both.
~~~

I rose an eyebrow as Alaric, Elena and I walked through the the underground tunnels from the Old Lockwood estate. "So the Lockwood's really have no idea that these tunnels are under their property?" Elena asked as we looked around the tunnels with the flashlights we carried.

"Yeah, careful where you shine that thing. Bats hate the light." Alaric replied and I rose an eyebrow at Elena who gave me a look of uncertainty as she stopped in her tracks.

"Wait, what?" Elena asked furrowing her eyebrows towards Alaric as we both looked at her.

"Elena.." A voice whispered from behind her and she gasped, turning around and shining the light on Damon who popped out and scared her.

"God, Damon." Elena stated in annoyance as she hit him with the flashlight and he smirked at her.

"Scaredy-cat." Damon replied in amusement towards her.

"Just ignore him. That's what I do." I stated with a sigh and Damon rolled his eyes at me and I tilted my head. "So you really can't get in?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and he scoffed, looking away.

"No. Seems even the ancient Lockwood's were anti-vampire." Damon replied before he walked past Elena and past me, brushing lightly up against me and I rolled my eyes.

"What do you mean ancient?" I asked, walking after him and Alaric as they walked through the tunnels ahead of Elena and I.

"See for yourself." Damon stated and I furrowed my eyebrows as we followed him. "Well, this is as far as I get to go." He added before gesturing Elena and I to go in front of him as the sound of light dripping water cane to me. Alaric, Elena and I walked into a tunnel opening as Damon stood in the tunnel doorway, leaning against the wall. Alaric gestured towards the wall opposite from us and I rose an eyebrow at white markings that were sketched into the wall by rocks.

"What is all this?" Elena asked curiously as she shined her light over all of the markings.

"Well, as far as I can tell, a story. In simple archeological terms, it's a really, really old story." Alaric replied and I sighed deeply, looking over the sketches. "That right there is the moon cycle. A man, a wolf." He added, lighting his flashlight on the moons before a man and a sharp toothed beast that was etched into the stone.

"A werewolf." I clarified as I examined the etchings carefully and Damon sighed, sitting down.

"Yeah. It's the Lockwood diaries, Pictionary style." Damon replied and I looked at him in annoyance before back at the wall of markings.

"I don't understand." Elena stated as she furrowed her eyebrows at the wall before turning to Alaric. "I thought the Lockwood's came here with the original founders in the 1860's." She added, shaking her head and Alaric shrugged.

"Well, Maybe the Lockwood's did." Alaric replied, dropping his backpack on the floor and fixing his flashlight on the wall again. "But according to this wall, the werewolves have been here a lot longer than that." He added with a sigh and I furrowed my eyebrows towards the wall again.

"How long?" Elena asked, furrowing her eyebrows and I walked over to the wall slowly before I ran my fingers gently over the etchings.

"Long. Gets better. Show 'em, Ric." Damon replied, gesturing for Ric. I rose an eyebrow as Alaric sighed and walked over to another part of the wall and shined his flashlight over it.

"Names, and they're not native." Alaric pointed out and I looked the names over slowly. "They're written in runic, a Viking script." He added and I slowly shook my head.

"Vikings?" I asked, remembering Rebekah mentioning them in class a few days ago.

"This name here when translated means—NiKlaus." Alaric stated and I narrowed my eyes at the names.

"Klaus." Elena whispered in realization before she looked at me with confusion.

"Elijah.. And Rebekah." I stated looking at the list of names to see a few others. "These are the names of the original family?" I asked, shaking my head at the possibility.

"Carved into a cave that's been here since way before the founding of Mystic Falls. Or even the entire new world, for that matter." Alaric stated and I scoffed, shaking my head at it all.

"Okay, This has got to be one of Klaus' fakes." Elena argued, shaking her head at it.

"That's what I said." Damon agreed and Alaric shrugged as he looked back at the wall.

"That could be true, except the last name up here made us think otherwise." Alaric stated as he gestured towards the top name. "Mikael." He stated and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Mikael? Mikael as in the vampire hunter who knows how to kill Klaus?" Elena asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Yep." Damon stated, eyeing me curiously as I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I'd say I believe in coincidences but I really don't. It's just one dot to dot after the other." I stated, shaking my head at the names. "He's their father, isn't he?" I asked, looking between Alaric and Damon who sighed back at me.

"I like to call him Papa Original." Damon replied with a shrug and I scoffed, shaking my head again as I stared at the wall in front of me.
~~~

"These images tell a story, to learn the story you have to decipher these images." Alaric stated, staring down at the pictures that he took of the wall while they were sprawled out on his loft counter. I sighed and looked towards Damon and Elena as she plunged a dagger toward him but he caught her arm and twisted it around her back easily, making her groan.

"Sloppy." Damon sighed, taking the dagger from the hand he held before putting it in her other one. Elena rolled her eyes and pulled herself away from him in annoyance.

"Shut up. I'm new at this." Elena replied in defeat as they both positioned themselves again before Elena went to kick Damon in his stomach but he blocked her easily, while looking at Alaric and I.

"The ghost of Christmas past, Mason Lockwood, said that the cave would lead us to a weapon that could kill Klaus." Damon stated and looked back at Elena just in time to block a hit from her.

"Yeah, But doesn't Mikael have a weapon?" Elena asked, furrowing her eyebrows at him before trying to plunge the stake towards him again and he grabbed her arm, holding her back. Elena groaned in annoyance at him and used both hands as she tried to push the stake further toward Damon.

"Yes. Which probably means the wall will lead us to Mikael, who we've already found and lost." Damon stated and pushed Elena back and I chuckled at the two. I walked over to them and positioned myself in front of Damon who rose an eyebrow at me. He smirked in amusement before he vamped towards me and held an arm around my neck loosely from behind. "Bang. You're dead." He whispered in my ear before he playfully dug his head in my neck and I rolled my eyes, pushing him off.

"These images, at the very least, might tell us what that weapon is." Alaric stated and I sighed, walking over to him again.

"Then all we have to do is find out what they mean." Elena stated as she came over to us also.

"Well, fine. Fine. If I'm being irritatingly optimistic like you two—how do you suppose we do that?" Damon asked sarcastically and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Well, if the story's about the original family living here, then we go straight to the source." Elena suggested and I rose an eyebrow at her as Damon stood next to me now. "Mariana. You're up." She added and I scoffed, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Excuse me?" I countered, looking between the three of them while they all stared back at me in amusement.

"Don't worry. Maybe you can preoccupy her with your charm." Damon reassured sarcastically and I rolled my eyes and nudged him in annoyance, making him smirk.

"Actually, Elena, it's all you. You can probably lure her in with Stefan talk and then scare her away with Mikael. I have practice to get to." I replied, shaking my head at them all before I walked out of the loft with my gym bag in hand.