A month passed since Damon was informed by Katherine Pierce about two individuals who would be coming for Elena. Although confronted soon after it happened, nothing progressed further. Elijah turned out to be a failure as well much to everyone's disappointment.

Now with Katherine out of the tomb and Elijah incapacitated, the Salvatore brothers were grasping on strings — whatever was available.

Katherine strolled through the town, casually looking around the various shops after angering and irritating the brothers and her doppelganger. As she strolled further down the street, she stopped abruptly gaping in shock when her eyes fell on someone in particular.

She looked around and made her way over to the person who attracted her attention. Somehow the person she noticed — the woman was assimilating successfully in the small crowd but at the same time she stood out perfectly. She sat in a chair, of a cafe perched out on the footpath. She set the cup of coffee back on the saucer.

The fiery red voluminous hair cascaded like a river down her slender back. Her eyes, hidden away by expensive sunglasses. She pursued her lips watching Katherine make her way over to her.

"Lilith. Pleasant surprise." said Katherine. Had someone heard this particular exchange, they would have been shocked. Katherine's voice was low and respectfully calm and gentle.

"When the woman I trusted in giving me information I sought goes off grid and radio silent I had no choice but to find you myself." she gestured at the chair opposite to hers, "take a seat."

Katherine gulped down putting a brave front and took the seat. "things haven't been going well. It's just──"

"Doppelganger. She exists." Lilith stated with a deadpan look. Katherine slumped her shoulders and hung her head low as Lilith's scrutinising gaze was set on her. 

"I was going to call but──"

"You pushed yourself into trouble when you indulged into mischief with the Salvatore brothers." 

Katherine looked away, biting her lower lip. "I have it handled."

Lilith raised a single brow but considered her anyway. "Is that why a swanky vampire named Cody had an email loaded on his screen stating that the doppelganger is alive and ready to surrender."

"She — Elena is a bit of a martyr, would do anything for those she loves."

Lilith hummed, "nice. A rare quality among doppelgangers. You would know it well." Katherine scouled at her bitter words.

"Have you warned anyone about who it is, that are after Elena?" Katherine played out every way this conversation could lead up to. She saw a moment in which she could die, another where she would be spared just barely in time.

"Katherine, did you or did you not — to save yourself in one final desperate attempt of playing both sides of this particular exchange forewarn anyone of who might be approaching the city and Elena?"

"Yes. I told Damon and Elijah." Lilith licked her bottom lip and pursued them in a tight thin line.

"Lilith, please they were trapping me into the tomb....I, uh, I didn't have an option."

"It's quite alright sweetheart. I am not mad. Neither will he be. If anything you made it more thrilling. Them anticipating two myths with barely any understanding of how they work."

"I'm safe?" Lilith laughed condescendingly at Katherine's moment of softness and innocence.

"It's Klaus we're talking about, sweetheart. Just because he's held back on the idea of killing you doesn't mean he's going to spare you." Katherine's heart drummed in her chest. "Your life is his now. That was the deal, remember?

She paused for a moment and picked up her phone to make a quick phone call. Once done she decided on giving one last warning, "Prepare yourself. He is almost here."

Before Katherine could get another word out, a car approached them and Lilith stepped into it. The car drove away leaving Katherine alone standing in the street.

Twilight sky shone like a velvet blanket in the sky. Scattered clouds concealed the moon but didn't stop its shine from falling like a feather upon the land.

He ventured through the forest, by himself gloating already for what was about to happen. He noticed the faint glimmer of fire coming from afar. While his feet carried him ahead, his mind kept reeling back to a single thought — of course other than of the achievement he had desperately chased.

One more step and he stopped. A wide smile appeared on his face immediately without even having to turn around. He knew who had arrived. He wound his arms behind his back and turned on the heel of his foot.

"You're still here." he stated with a smug grin as always.

"I had to witness the greatest day in centuries, Klaus." she told him with raising a single brow as if he should have known it already.

His smile faltered immediately. "You know I have to──" she held up her hand.

"I do. I will stay in the dark and watch. Don't worry." she assured him. "Thank you for leaving Jenna out of this."

"You can be infuriating at times, love." he told her. "I had no say anyways."

She laughed with a shake of her head. "Of course. Come on. It's time." He held out his hand which she took. Both walked a few steps together before she retreated into the shadows and he proceeded further.

Klaus was excited for the ritual which was just moments away from completing. Curiously enough, every few minutes he glanced into the darkness of the forest as if he expected to see a glimpse of her.

The ritual began. Klaus's actions were directed by the witch. Klaus first ripped out the heart of a random girl who just transitioned into a vampire.

The fire raged upward to the sky as the ritual and the spell slowly began to take its true form. His elated rush of emotions resonated into the forest.

With the final step of the ritual almost complete, he gazed into the woods just in time to see what was about to happen.

Elijah took determined steps, his eyes dangerously focused ahead — on him.  His eyes wandered to the woman who accompanied him.

"You're dead." he said. Clearly he was deceived. The witch, Bonnie Bennett used her magic and immobilised him to the forest floor. Elijah sped closer and knelt next to his brother.

Suddenly, taking everyone by shock, a massive gush of wind came from within the woods distracting them all. The wind knocked over the witch thereby stopping the spell that helplessly held Klaus under. The wind extinguished the fire.

Klaus looked up at his brother and quickly muttered to him, "I didn't bury them at sea! Let me take you to them." the slight darkness didn't give any incentive to the witch nor to the other vampire laying limp. Both just watched as the brothers fled the place.

"Elijah?" he halted abruptly at the sound of his name. He turned around quickly. She stood before him carrying a white bag in one hand and a tray with three cups of coffee in it.

He considered her for a moment before it dawned on him who she was. "You're Marilyn Vaughn of Renaissance."

She giggled, "that is me. Coffee?" she stretched her left hand carrying the tray out. He looked at her suspiciously but took the cup nonetheless.

"Thank you. I must ask, what are you doing in these woods? How did you know who I was?"

"Well, it would be a shame upon me if I didn't know who you were. I mean, yes I have seen only a fair few photos of you but even then I should recognise you. It's nice to officially meet you Elijah."

"I still don't understand how you know me." she blinked her eyes twice and decided to keep walking. "Yes, I have been successful in hiding my truth. But you already know who I am." she looked at him for a moment, "Katherine kindly made you aware of me if I am not wrong."

Elijah took in her words carefully. "You're Niklaus's partner in crime." now the only question that circled his head was why? Why would a woman of such demanding presence across the globe be indulging in his brother's business.

"Your questions will get answers once I've clothed the wolf up front." she told him gently pulling him away from his slowly clouding head.

Ahead of the two of them, he laid comfortably on the ground, face down. He slowly lifted up his head adoring in fascination the sight above him of the canopy of trees and the sunlight that pierced through the leaves and fell on him.

"Are you done staring at the trees? Come on, get dressed." he broke out into a smile hearing her voice.

"I remember every kill." he told the two of them. Klaus picked up the bag she threw at him and began to dress up.

"Yes and I've been cleaning up your mess." answered Elijah although rather crudely.

"Just like old times brother." Klaus smiled cheekily.

"Dress up quickly, will you."

"And why are you so hurried in getting me dressed? I thought you liked me in all my natural glory." he said swiping a hand in the air gesturing toward his body.

Marilyn rolled her eyes and picked up her glass of coffee. "Ouch. That hurt love."

"You'll survive, love."

Elijah watched the two of them interact in a manner that was unusual for Klaus.

"Niklaus how do you know her?" he couldn't help but ask his brother.

"This──" he wrapped his arm around Marilyn and brought her close to him. "is Marilyn...my most cherished achievement."