Chapter 22 | The Reckoning

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Late at night, in the Mystic Falls high school teenagers were sneaking around the place for senior prank night. The teens were having the time of their lives making a mess of the place.

  Matt Donavon walked through an empty hallway, towards a classroom which he could hear noise coming from. He slowly walked inside and jumped in fear as a bunch of sounds went off. He quickly switched on the light to find he had set off hundreds of mouse traps that Tyler, Caroline, Elena, Bonnie and surprisingly Adelaide, Elliana and Matteo had been setting up.

"Oh, come on! Seriously?!" Caroline exclaimed in irritation, "Do you know how long it took for us to set all this up?!"

  Matteo glared, "the urge I have to maim and kill you right now is extremely strong."

"If you don't, I will," Addie added as she leaned back in one of the desks.

Tyler eyed the older vampires cautiously before shaking his head at his best friend, "Forgot about senior prank night, huh?"

"Clearly," Matt chuckled, ignoring Theo and Addie's harsh remarks.

"How could you forget?" Caroline scoffed, "We've only been waiting for this since like freshman year."

"And it's all Care Bears been talking about lately," Ellie added with an eye roll.

"Yeah, Matt. If I'm doing this, you're doing this," Elena stated as she sat on top of a desk.

Matt shrugged, "I'm kind of surprised any of you are doing this." His gaze fell onto the three eldest vampires, "especially you three. Don't you hate us?"

"Yes."

"Of course."

"Definitely."

The three replied simultaneously.

Caroline gave them a warning look, "no they don't." She gave a faux smile, they all knew that was a lie.

"Caroline made us come," Addie said with a sigh. The trio really didn't want to be there especially with the group they were with but when Caroline came to their house demanding they join them, she didn't really give a chance for them to say no.

Ignoring the glares she was receiving, Caroline spoke, "We're about to be seniors. These are the memories that will stay with us forever, and if we don't —"

"And if we don't create these memories now, then what's the point of it all?" Bonnie and Elena finished, having heard it a thousand times.

"Go ahead and make fun, I don't care," Caroline huffed. She hadn't been spending much time with her old friends, usually off with the three vampires. She was doing her best to keep them in check as they struggled without Mimi, but even she felt the hybrid's absence and she hadn't known her that long. God knows how the people she had been with for hundreds of years felt.

  It was also hard for her because they didn't get along with her Mystic Falls friends. The Scooby gang didn't really trust the trio because of the part Mira played in the ritual and Jenna's death. They even distanced themselves from Caroline which pained her. And the three vampires didn't like any of her old friends because of their dislike towards Mira who they were beyond loyal to.

So she had to try and separate her time to spend time with them all. She thought that if she bought them all together for the senior night then maybe they could make friends. But so far the trio had been excluding themselves from everyone except herself all night.

"You're all lame," Tyler said, "And I've got ten more classrooms to prank." He quickly walked out with a bag.

Addie rolled her eyes at the boy. She hadn't really forgiven him for biting her. It wasn't even because he almost killed her, it was because he was a part of the reason Mimi left. No matter how many times he apologised she never truly forgave him, she just played nice for Caroline's sake knowing the tough time she was having with them all not getting along. She also knew that they slept together the night of Elena's birthday party. Another reason she was pissed at him.

Although she noticed Caroline had been distancing herself from him after his mom had vervained her and called her dad to handle her. In Caroline's mind the night she spent with Tyler was a mistake, something she wished didn't happen for many reasons. She didn't even know why she did it. It was an in the heat of the moment kind of thing.

She knew that she didn't feel anything for him. She didn't want anything more than friendship with the wolf boy. If even that. Especially when someone else made her feel things she hadn't felt before. She just wasn't ready to accept that yet.

Elliana took notice of how quiet Matteo had been. Which was unusual as he normally didn't shut up. She watched as he sat at a desk with a deep frown while staring down at his phone.

"Everything okay?" She asked as she put a hand on his shoulder.

He snapped his head to her in a daze before forcing a reassuring smile, "everything's fine."

She hummed, eyeing him suspiciously, not completely convinced as she saw the worry shining in his eyes. Though she could also tell he was relieved about something.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Bonnie questioned Elena who was heading towards the exit.

The doppelgänger shrugged nonchalantly, "To superglue Alaric's desk shut. I'm making memories."

Caroline grinned, "I love you!"

The trio of vampires shared a look. If there was anyone they hated the most, it was Elena. It seemed she got on all of their nerves. And even though they never said anything, they thought she was a bad friend to Caroline, actually they thought the entire Scooby gang were bad friends to her. They didn't want to say it to Caroline's face in case it upset her but they were more than ready to kill the entire group the second Caroline realised for herself.

  Not to mention they thought and secretly hoped she was dead after Klaus drained her blood. But no, she miraculously came back alive and human.

Elena's smile fell from her face the second she stepped out of the classroom. She felt off when she was around Matteo, Ellie and Addie. She didn't trust any of them, especially Mira and it seemed the trio did whatever Mira wanted.

She laughed though as she watched Tyler instruct a group of boys about a prank. Walking alone through the halls, she pushed open some double doors, only to come face to face with one of her worst fears.

"There's my girl," the hybrid smirked.

"Klaus!" Elena gasped before turning and trying to run, but he was already in front of her.

"You are supposed to be dead," he scowled, "What are we going to do about that?"

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Mimi stood outside of the school near the truck looking down at her phone while Rebekah stood in the back keeping an eye on a temporarily dead Stefan Salvatore who was beginning to wake up.

The blonde watched as he groaned before his gaze fell on her. "Oh, he lives."

"What happened?" Stefan questioned in a state of shock and confusion.

"You took a beating," Rebkah explained, "My brother and Mimi have been taking turns breaking your neck all afternoon. Quite the temper they both have."

"I can hear you!" Mira shouted from outside the truck.

"Good!" Rebekah retorted with a smirk.

Stefan's brows furrowed as he heard the brunette's voice. He did his best to stand as he wondered aloud, "Why did he bring us back to Mystic Falls?"

"You can stop playing dumb now. It didn't take him long to figure out what you've been hiding. Especially after Mimi did a spell that let her go through your memories to confirm it. She's becoming quite good at that, you know."

Stefan grabbed a hold of the side of the truck to help himself stand up as he replied, "I'm not hiding anything. I've done everything Klaus and Mira have asked me to."

Mimi, upon hearing her name, made an appearance behind Rebekah as she eyed the Salvatore, "yet you seemed to have failed at mentioning that the doppelgänger's still alive."

"Where is Klaus now?"

Rebekah scoffed, "With any luck, ripping that cow's bloody head off."

A moment of silence before Stefan turned around and ran towards Rebekah causing them both to fly out of the truck; landing harshly onto the ground with him on top of her.

Mira stood back watching them with a tired exhale. She was prepared to intervene but knew Rebekah could handle herself better than most, especially when angry or upset.

"Where is she?" The man growled.

Rebekah struggled underneath his grip as she narrowed her eyes, "You really do love her, don't you?" She jumped up, pushing him against the truck before grabbing a crowbar. Putting the hook of the crowbar around his neck to pull him closer to her. "Consider me jealous," she hissed before driving the crowbar into his stomach.

Mira chuckled at that while she eyed the blonde girl's content smirk, "feeling better?" She asked.

Rebekah sighed as she dropped Stefan onto the ground while he withered in pain, "a little. I'll feel much better when the bitch is dead though."

"You and me both."

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  Caroline and Adelaide were in the hallway, squirting honey on the door handles in silence.

  "How is this fun?" Addie wondered aloud, incredulously. Puzzled on how teenagers these days found joy in such activities.

  "Because it is," Caroline replied, "at least try to enjoy it."

  "I am trying, but it's not working," Adelaide complained.

Caroline turned to her, seeing the deep frown on her face. She wanted to ask what was on her mind but knew better than to think the older girl would tell her. Addie had been avoiding her ever since she helped her mom rescue her from her fathers torture. She wasn't sure why and it left her feeling down as well the past couple of days.

"Okay!" Caroline snapped, setting down the bottle of honey, "what's going on?"

Adelaide shook her head, avoiding the girl's eyes, "nothing is going on."

"Do not lie to me Adelaide Rymer," Caroline said sternly as she crossed her arms.

  Adelaide rolled her eyes as she threw her now empty bottle of honey onto the ground, "I should go find Theo and Ellie. Sending them with Bonnie was probably a bad idea."

  As Addie turned to walk away, Caroline sped in front of her with a look of hurt showing on her face, "why are you being like this?"

  Adelaide huffed as she tried to hide her own pain with fake irritation, "like what, Caroline?"

  "Cold," Caroline mumbled, "distant."

Both blondes stayed silent as they stared at one another, their bodies so close together they could feel each others breath.

Addie sighed as she let her cold exterior disappear and her face turned into a solemn one, "Caroline, I —"

"Hey guys," a voice interrupted the moment.

Caroline turned around with an annoyed expression to face the person behind her, only to see Tyler. Adelaide stepped away from the girl with a deep breath. There was awkward tension in the room and all three of them could feel it.

Tyler had been a good friend of Caroline's and they had been getting closer and closer. The morning after Elena's birthday party, when they had ended up back at the Lockwood residence and had slept together — Caroline only felt regret in what she had done because she didn't want to be with Tyler like that.

She had snuck out while he was asleep only to be stopped by his mother, Carol. The woman had practically kidnapped her and handed her off to her father, Bill, to be tortured. Tyler had told Addie once he had gotten his mother to confess but he hadn't shown up to help save the young vampire like Adelaide expected.

  "Everything alright?" Tyler asked while he took note of how agitated both girls were.

  Adelaide hummed boredly, "everything's fine."

  Caroline spun around to narrow her eyes at the Rymer girl, knowing that was far from the truth. She could only sigh as Addie, once again, avoided her heated gaze.

  "What do you want, Tyler?" The younger vampire queried with a sigh.

  "Um," the boy cleared his throat, "I was wondering if you knew where Matt was."

  "I'm pretty sure he went with Bonnie to the pool," Caroline answered.

  Tyler nodded awkwardly as he stood there before he asked, "what's going on here, exactly?"

  "What do you mean?" Caroline tilted her head in confusion at his question.

  "I mean, you've been dodging my calls and avoiding me a lot lately."

  Caroline's face fell as she glanced at Addie who looked as if she were about to walk away, "you really want to have this conversation now?"

  "I mean, yeah," Tyler shrugged.

  Adelaide clapped her hands together to get their attention as she gave a tense tight lip smile. "I'm gonna go. This seems like a private talk."

  "No!" Caroline protested, "you promised to spray paint the lockers with me."

  "Look," Tyler cut in before Adelaide could reply, "I just wanna know what I did wrong."

  Addie suddenly scoffed, "you're mom drugged her, called her father and handed her over to be abused. That tends to make things a little weird."

  "You three give me a headache."

Their heads snapped towards the voice, and they frowned at the unfamiliar blonde walking towards them with a smirk.

"Uh, do we know you?" Caroline questioned.

"You're Caroline, Elena's friend," Rebekah turned to the Lockwood, "which makes you Tyler. The werewolf." Her gaze finally set on Addie, "I'm guessing you're Adelaide, my replacement."

Adelaide stepped closer with an intense glare, "And who the hell might you be?"

Rebekah grinned, "I'm the new girl."

"Adelaide!" Caroline cried as Rebekah showed her vampire face and ran towards the girl.

Addie's eyes widened as she had no time to do anything so she just waited for some sort of impact, but it never came. She could only gasped as a familiar brunette appeared in front of her holding the unfamiliar blonde back.

"What did I say?" Mira spoke to Rebekah.

The Mikaelson girl crossed her arms and pouted, "don't harm them."

"Mimi," Adelaide whispered, eyes widened. After months she was right in front of.

The hybrid turned to face her with a sad shameful smile, "hi Addie." She made eye contact with the shocked girl behind her, "sunshine."

"You're back," Caroline mumbled, not believing she was actually there in the flesh.

Rebekah rolled her eyes in annoyance. They went a few months without her knowing damn well they'd eventually see her again. She herself went a thousand years without her whilst believing she was dead. "Nik's waiting, Lettie."

"Lettie?" Adelaide scrunched her face up. She had no idea who the other blonde was at that moment but she seemed awfully close with Mira.

"I'm sorry girls," Mimi sighed, regret written across her face, "but this conversation has to wait." With that, she sped towards a confused Tyler, grabbed him and rushed off to the gym with Rebekah behind her.

She felt horrible. This wasn't the reunion she had hoped for. Right now she could only pray that they would let her explain later.

Adelaide and Caroline shared a look, confused about what had just happened and a little pissed off that Mira didn't even talk to them. Not a second later, they both followed after them.

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In the gym Klaus watched as the human girl he compelled struggled. He had compelled two humans, a girl, Dana, had to stay on one foot and a boy, Chad, was to bash the unbalanced girl to death if she failed.

"Keep it up," the hybrid encouraged.

"Where's Stefan?" Elena asked, "What did you do to him?"

Klaus rolled his eyes, "Stefan's on a time out."

Suddenly the gym doors opened and in walked Matt and Bonnie with a pissed off Ellie and Theo right behind them.

"Bonnie, get out of here!" Elena demanded in a frantic tone but she was too late.

Klaus was already running towards the young witch, "Ah, I was wondering when you'd show up. Now we can get started."

"Klaus?" Matteo frowned. This being the first time he had actually faced him.

The said hybrid turned to him and his face fell as he took in the familiar boys, "good to see you again theo."

"Wait, Klaus?" Ellie questioned as she looked between them.

  "That's me," the man grinned, "I take it, you must be Elliana."

  Ellie nodded slowly before her eyes widened in recognition, "if you're here, then so is Mimi."

"Indeed she is," Klaus chuckled as he turned back to the compelled humans. "Dana, why don't you relax? You and Chad sit tight." His gaze then fell back onto Bonnie, "I assume you're the reason Elena's still walking around alive?"

Bonnie nodded without hesitation. "That's right. If you want to blame someone, blame me."

Klaus clicked his tongue tauntingly, "Oh, there's no need for blame, love. Just your witchy interference seems to have caused some undesirable side effects. And since you caused the problem, I'm going to have you find the fix."

As if on cue, Rebekah and Mira entered with a struggling Tyler. Adelaide and Caroline soon followed in a few minutes after.

"Get off of me!" Tyler ordered but to no avail.

"Hush now," Rebekah shushed.

Mira's grip tightened on him as she said, "the more you struggle, the more pain I put you through."

"Now I believe you all know Mira. I'd like you all to meet my sister Rebekah," Klaus gestured to the blonde original. "Word of warning, she can be quite mean."

Both Matteo and Rebekah's eyes widened as their gazes met. The expressions on their face speaking a thousand silent words. Matteo slowly held his hand up in an awkward manner as if to wave. This caused Rebekah to roll her eyes.

  Adelaide and Ellie also wore shocked expressions as it set in who she was. Mira had told them a lot about each Mikaelson. Rebekah, the best friend, practically little sister.

"Don't be a dick," Mimi scolded as she shoved Tyler towards her ex. She turned to Matteo and her red haired best friend, "brother, Ellie," she said with a sheepish smile as they stared at her.

"Leave him alone!" Elena appealed firmly.

Ignoring her words, Klaus said, "I'm going to make this very simple," he began as he dragged Tyler, "Every time I attempt to turn a werewolf into a vampire hybrid, they die during the transition. It's quite horrible, actually." He bit his wrist before forcing Tyler to drink his blood. "I need you to find a way to save my hybrids, Bonnie. And for Tyler's sake," Klaus shoved the boy towards Mira who caught him with ease.

"This is for biting my best friend," the female hybrid whispered before snapping his neck. Many gasps of horror were let out.

"You better hurry," Klaus smirked.

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Mira groaned as she was suddenly being dragged out of the gym away from everyone. She looked to see it was her brother with Ellie and Addie not far behind them watching them leave with upset faces but staying away letting the siblings have their moment.

"You know I can walk on my own," she hissed in annoyance at him.

"I don't care," he snapped. "You wanna tell me what the hell is going on?"

Mira shrugged casually, "I mean Klaus kind of just explained it."

"I mean the last minute text that said 'surprise, I'm back in mystic falls. Missed you loads, can't wait to see you' I mean, what the hell, Mira?"

The girl rolled her eyes, "that is not what the text said."

Matteo scoffed, "it may as well have been. You didn't think to warn me that Rebekah would be with you?"

"It's good to know that you've missed me," Rebekah snarked as she and Klaus joined them.

"Well, isn't this quite the reunion," Matteo laughed humourlessly, "we're only missing a few people."

Klaus raised a brow with a sarcastic smile, "just like old times."

Matteo glared at him, "you, buddy, are on very thin ice after you kidnapped my sister for months."

Klaus returned the glare, "I didn't kidnap her. We made a deal. There's a difference."

"Nonetheless, you took her away. You want to be lucky I don't kick your little ass for that." Theo scowled.

"I'd like to see you try," Klaus snarled.

"Now, now, boys. No need to act like children. We're all over a thousand years old here," Mimi intervened.

  "Good to know we all missed each other," Rebekah scoffed with an eye roll. "and it's not like we've mourned your deaths for the last millennium," she mumbled as she glared at the Emeberson boy.

  Matteo rubbed his forehead in an irritated manner before he snapped, "Ok, yes, we've let you think we were dead for a thousand years, I sincerely apologise for that. I know, I know, it's amazing we're alive, especially me. We also clearly have a lot to talk about, but right now I need a moment alone with my sister who I haven't seen in months, no thanks to you."

  Mira sighed, "could you two just give us a moment?" She pleaded to the Mikaelson siblings.

  Reluctantly the two nodded and walked off back into the gym, still very much able to hear the conversation that was taking place.

  "I'm sorry," Mimi mumbled as she turned to face her upset brother again.

  Matteo shook his head with a frown, "no, no, no. You have nothing to apologise to me for. I'm overreacting. I've just been worried even though you've kept me updated. I have no right to be angry because I left for months on end without so much as a text to you. But you're my little sister, no matter how powerful and scary you are, you'll always be my little sister first and it's my job to look out for you."

Mira's eyes glossed over as they filled with tears. She stared at her older brother in slight shock, not expecting that to be what he would blurt out to her. She said nothing as she wrapped her arms around his shoulder and squeezed him tightly. She missed the days when they were human and he was the protective big brother doing his best to scare off guys — or better yet, scare off Niklaus.

Now they were living different long chaos filled lives. Both of them go through different things at separate times. It wasn't just Matteo and Miralette anymore, no, it was Theo and Mira now. The impulsive and vicious vampire siblings. But as they were wrapped up in each other's arms, it was those two teenage kindhearted human siblings that had their whole lives ahead of them.

  "I'm sorry," Mira whispered with a crack in her voice, "I'm sorry for everything, Matteo."

  This wasn't just about her leaving with Klaus for the summer.

  Theo shook his head as stroked her hair in a soothing manner. This wasn't the villainous Mira Delgado. This was Miralette Emeberson, his baby sister who sought him for comfort after tripping and scraping her leg or hid behind him after angering their parents for something dumb.

  "You never have to apologise to me, little sister. You know I'm always going to be here for you to run back to no matter what's been said or done," he mumbled into her hair, wishing to stay in the moment forever.

  Mimi pulled back with a sad giggle as she wiped her tears away, "I love you, dumbass."

  Matteo scoffed playfully with a grin growing, "I love you too, bitch."

  This was one of the first tough conversations she had to conquer tonight and it was definitely the easiest. Question was, how many tears would be shed by the end of the night after those other hard talks?

  "Come on," Theo beckoned, grabbing her arm and pulling her back into the gym, "we're missing the drama that you've created by killing that god awful tiring dick of a wolf."

  Mira laughed loudly, letting him drag her back into the chaos that would surely only get worse.

  "She killed him," they heard Matt say mumbled as he was crouched by Tyler's dead body.

  Matteo sent Mira a proud smirk for her murdering the Lockwood. She in return just rolled her eyes at his immaturity.

  They saw the Mikaelson siblings sitting on the stands watching them all in amusement, Ellie sat beside Rebekah seemingly getting along with her and talking up a storm.

  Adelaide stood with Caroline away from everyone. Mira feared what the Forbes girls reaction would be after what she had done tonight but despite Addie somewhat comforting the younger girl, she didn't seem too sad or worried for Tyler like her other friends were.

  "He's not dead," Elena explained, "Klaus' blood will turn him into a vampire."

  Klaus suddenly hopped off the stands and made his way over to them and he said, "And if Bonnie's successful, he'll live through his transition." He shooed the said witch off with his hand, "Go on, then. Go and fetch your grimoires and enchantments and what-not. I'll hold on to Elena," he grabbed the doppelgänger's arm roughly, with a smirk, "for safe-keeping."

  Bonnie gave Elena a reluctant look, not wanting to leave her alone but Elena gives her a nod, signalling her to listen. With great hesitation Bonnie heads for the exit with a fearful Matt behind her.

  She paused as she caught Caroline's eye, "Care, are you coming?" Bonnie asked in confusion.

  Caroline glanced between her, Matt and Tyler, then Adelaide, Ellie, Theo and Mira before avoiding all eyes and saying, "I'm gonna stay."

  Matt gave her a look of disbelief, "Caroline —"

  "She said, she's staying," Adelaide glared at him, daring him to give snark to Caroline.

  He and Bonnie shared a look before he shook his head, "what are you letting them do to you?"

  Veins appeared under Ellie's eyes as she was seconds away from ripping him apart, "I suggest you stop talking and get out of here before I'm the one killing people."

  Matt finally remembered all the vampire that surrounded him who were all giving him murderous stares. Bonnie too realised this and pulled him out of the gym without another word.

  Rebekah took this moment to sneak up behind Elena and give her a scare of her own, "So this is the latest doppelgänger," she looked the Gilbert girl up and down with a judging look, "The original one was much prettier."

  Matteo and Mira struggled to hold in their laughter at her words. Classic Rebekah.

  "Enough, Rebekah," Klaus rolled his eyes. "Take the wolf boy elsewhere, would you?"

  Rebekah gave Elena a faux smile before walking over to Tyler's limp body and dragging him behind her by his arm as she left them all.

  "Just ignore her," Klaus whispered in Elena's ear, "Petty little thing." He then turned to Adelaide and Caroline, "you too, go with her."

  Adelaide gave him an irritated expression as she laughed, "you think I take orders from you?"

  The male hybrid let his gaze fall onto Mira with a raised brow causing her to sigh loudly.

  "Addie," the brunette breathed hesitantly. "please, go and keep an eye on Rebekah."

  Adelaide was prepared to send a snarky remark her way but as she saw the sad and pleading look on Mira's face, she remembered how much she missed her despite how pissed off she was at the moment. She remembered that the reason Mira had left in the first place was to save her and she remembered that she would do anything and everything for the woman that was her sister.

  "alright," she mumbled as she grabbed the silent Caroline's hand and pulled her over to the door.

━━━━━━━

  Mira, Matteo, Ellie and Klaus all sat up in different places on the stands. Elena was crouched beside the humans Klaus had compelled, comforting them or at least trying to.

  Mira and Ellie hadn't had a moment to talk but they didn't exactly need to. It was clear that Ellie was relieved to have the girl back as she was talking to her here and then, even gave her a tight hug along with cursing her for talking to Matteo and not her. Ellie, just like Matteo, had no right to be mad at her because she had up and left with no contact many times.

  The two girls had a silent agreement that they didn't ever ask what had happened during their time apart unless they wanted to talk about it. Maybe they'd talk about it later but neither of them felt that it was needed. They'd just go back to how they usually were.

  Suddenly everyone's attention turned to the door that was being opened. Mira rolled her eyes as she watched Stefan cautiously enter.

  "oh, there's the bunny muncher," Matteo said to himself, "I was wondering where he was."

  Mira and Ellie both snorted at his words, shaking their heads at him.

  "Bunny muncher." Ellie cackled silently, "that's the best one yet."

  Elena ignored them not finding any humour at all, as she stood from her crouched position while staring at her boyfriend, "Stefan..."

  Stefan ignored her as his eyes were trained on the amused hybrid. "Klaus."

  "Come to save your damsel, mate?" Klaus asked casually, his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward.

  "I came to ask for your forgiveness," Stefan replied. "And pledge my loyalty."

  "Because that's believable," Mira scoffed.

  "Well, you broke that pledge once already," Klaus shrugged, not trusting him at all.

  "Elena means nothing to me anymore," Stefan insisted, "And whatever you ask of me, I will do."

  Nik looked over at Mimi, each of them sharing a look before Klaus' turned his attention back to Stefan. "Fair enough. Let's drink on it," he stood up to walk over to the scared humans, "Kill them."

  Mira also stood as she stared down at the reluctant Stefan who in her opinion was waisting their time, "well, what are you waiting for, Stef? Kill them."

  Ellie leaned over to Matteo and whispered in his ear, "they'd make a hot and powerful couple."

  Theo made a noise of disgust but nonetheless, nodded in agreement. It was blatantly obvious that, even if Nik and Mimi denied it now, they would end up together eventually. As long as they didn't let their problems get in the way like they usually do. Although in his eyes, the two were far too similar in so many ways. That could cause things to go really good or extremely bad.

  "No! Stefan, don't," Elena insisted, "They're not going to hurt me. He already said —"

  Klaus sped at her and backhanded her before she could finish talking. She collapsed harshly to the ground.

  "oh, my," Theo gasped, "where is the popcorn when you need it?"

  Ellie, who was smiling at the scene, frowned at his words, "now I want popcorn."

  "Could you two at least try and keep quiet?" Mira raised a brow at them though there was a smile on her face. She had missed them.

  Stefan had angrily rushed over to Klaus, his fangs out. Klaus easily held him back before wrapping a hand around his throat.

  "She means nothing to you?" the male hybrid mocked, "Your lies just keep piling up."

  "Let her go!" Stefan begged in a strangled voice, "I'll do whatever you want, you have my word!"

  "That's Elijah's line," Mira whispered to herself, missing the older Mikaelson brother.

  "Your word doesn't mean much. I lived by your word all summer, during which time I never had to resort to this," Klaus stared into the Salvatore's eyes and he compelled him, "Stop fighting."

  Stefan shook his head pathetically as he pleaded, "Don't do this, don't do this."

  "I didn't want to," Klaus noted, "All I wanted was your allegiance. Now I'm going to have to take it." Nik glanced over at Mira, who nodded her head slightly.

  "Don't, don't..."

  The hybrid ignored his words as his eyes dilated due to the compulsion, "You will do exactly as I say when I say it. You will not run, you will not hide, you will simply just obey."

  "No. Stefan," Elena cried.

  "Now kill them. Ripper," Klaus and Mira smirked villainously.

  "I repeat," Ellie whispered, "hot couple."

  Stefan, under the compulsion, let his vampire face out and rushed over to Dana, draining her of her blood. All bar Elena watched, entertained.

━━━━━━━

  Caroline, Rebekah and Adelaide all sat silently in the halls, leaning against some lockers. Caroline had reluctantly given her phone over to Rebekah so she could go through it and try to learn about them despite Adelaide telling her no.

  "We didn't have mobile telephones in my day. Would have made life a whole lot easier, I suppose," Rebekah sparked up conversation as she took a selfie.

  "Hm, that's nice," Caroline mumbled.

  Rebekah looked at the silent Addie and asked, "what's got you so down?"

  Adelaide glared at her, "don't talk to me."

  Rebekah furrowed her brows, "you realise we're on the same side right. Lettie's side."

  Addie scoffed at the nickname.

Rebekah smirked, "oh I get it. I'm back in her life now, and you're annoyed you might get thrown to the side."

  "Mimi would never throw Addie to the side," Caroline said, "they're sisters."

  Rebekah scowled, "No, me and Mimi are sisters. Not her. I know her better than anyone."

"I'm sorry, haven't you spent the past millennium thinking she was dead?" Adelaide grinned. "I'm pretty certain I know her best."

"Shut up," Rebekah demanded lowly.

"Spend seven hundred years with Mimi and then come talk to me," Adelaide retorted as she crossed her arms.

  The two blondes glared at each other causing Caroline to shift uncomfortably, not wanting a fight to break out over Mimi.

  "So what happens to Tyler?" she changed the conversation as she stared at the unconscious boy beside her.

  Rebekah let her glare fall into a blank expression as she turned her attention back into the phone, "Think of it as he's having a nap. When he wakes up, he'll be a hybrid."

  "Right," Caroline mumbled, not sure what to say to that piece of information. She cared about Tyler but the last couple of weeks she felt as if she didn't really want anything to do with him. She knew her decisions were now putting her relationship with her childhood friends at risk but something drew her to the older vampires and she wasn't willing to let go. Especially of Adelaide.

  The original swiped through the photos on the phone before she came across a happy picture of Stefan and Elena, "Ugh. Vomit," she gagged. She narrowed her eyes on Elena's neck in the photo, zooming in and looking at her necklace, "is that my necklace?"

  Caroline and Adelaide frown at her sudden change in demeanour as she stood angrily and stared down at them, "Why is that doppelgänger bitch wearing my necklace?!"

━━━━━━━

  "It's always nice to see a vampire in his true element," Klaus mused to a frightened Elena, "The species has become such a broody lot."

  "No," Elena seethed, "You did this to him."

  Klaus grinned, "I invited him to the party, love. He's the one dancing on the table."

  "I like his humour," Ellie chuckled.

  Theo shook his head, "his anger issues outweigh all other emotions, trust me."

  "He's not wrong," Mira shrugged.

  "You can't talk," Matteo scoffed.

  Rebekah abruptly marched in. Mira took one look at her expression and stood up noticing she was beyond angry.

  "Where is it?!" the blond ordered, "Where's my necklace?"

  Klaus sighed, used to his sisters antics, "What are you talking about?"

  "She has my necklace. Look." She showed him the phone that had the photo displayed on it. Mira sped over to them, taking the phone into her hands. Klaus watched over her shoulder as she zoomed in, both of them realising Rebekah was telling the truth.

Mira groaned internally, all the time she had spent with Elena, not once did she realise the necklace she wore was the same one Rebekah had been given a thousand years ago.

  "Well, well. More lies."

  Rebekah clenched her jaw, "Where...is it?"

  "I don't have it anymore," Elena said.

  This made Rebekah angrier, "You're lying!" she sped towards Elena and bit into her neck.

  "holy shit," Ellie laughed.

  Theo sighed, "anger issues run in their family."

Klaus gave Mira a look as he realised she wasn't planning on stopping her. With a reluctant sigh, Mira grabbed Rebekah and pulled her off of the doppelgänger.

  "Calm down!" She demanded.

  "Make her tell me where it is, Lettie!" Rebekah cried to the brunette.

  Mira rubbed her temples before crouching down in front of the doppelgänger. "Where's the necklace, darling? Don't lie to me."

  "I'm telling the truth," Elena trembled, holding her new wound as she fearfully stared into Mira's eyes, "Katherine stole it."

  Mira grumbled, "Kitty Kat. Why am I not surprised that she is involved."

  "Well, that's unfortunate," Klaus spoke, "If we had the necklace it would make things a whole lot easier for your witch, but since we're doing this the hard way, let's put a clock on it, shall we?" He turned on the large gym clock. "Twenty minutes. If Bonnie hasn't found a solution by then, I want you to feed again. Only this time, I want you to feed on Elena," he compelled Stefan once again, "You know you want to."

"No, Klaus! Don't do this to him!" Elena begged.

  Klaus ignored her as he turned to Mira, "now, love, why don't you show everyone your new trick."

Mira smirked, "gladly." She sped towards Stefan, stopping behind him and she held her hand out letting purple energy flow from her hand into his head as both their eyes shined violet. She used her new form power, hypnosis, sending Stefan into a horrific vision of his worst nightmare.

  Everyone watched in fascination as Stefan stood in a trance whilst Mira stepped back from him, "he will be back in about ten minutes."

  "What did you do to him?" Elena mumbled out as she stared at her boyfriend in concern.

  "I hypnotised him. He is currently stuck watching his worst fear come true."

  Klaus smiled at her in awe before he said, "No one leaves. If she tries to run, fracture her spine."

  With that the former lover walked out with Rebekah, Matteo and Ellie following behind. The latter's with many questions on what they just watched the female hybrid do.

━━━━━━━

  "As soon as you're feeling better, I'm going to kill you," Bonnie said to Matt who had just drowned himself to talk to his dead sister. Bonnie had only just been able to save him.

  "But It worked. I saw her. I saw Vicki," Matt replied.

  Bonnie's eyes widened, "You did?"

  Matt nodded, "She said she had a message for you."

  "For me?"

  "From the witch that put the hybrid curses on Klaus and Mira. She said that Elena shouldn't have survived Klaus' ritual. The hybrids can't transition because Elena's still alive."

  "What?" Bonnie gasped, knowing Klaus will kill Elena if he has to.

  "That's not all," Matt spoke again, "she said that not just Elena has to die. Mira does too.

  "Wait, what, Mira can't be killed," Bonnie furrowed her brows.

  "Vicki said that the power Mira gained that night of the ritual was too much power for anyone to have. She should have died that night but she didn't. Vicki said that she needs to die not only for Klaus' hybrids to work but for the balance of nature to be restored."

  "Tyler..."

  "He's going to die, isn't he?" Matt questioned.

  "I wouldn't be too sure about that," Klaus made his presence known with Mira beside him as they leaned against the wall. "Given the choice, doppelgänger or a hybrid, I go hybrid every time. But then again, of course, Mira or hybrid, I'd choose Mira."

  "Except, I have a strong suspicion your dead sister wasn't telling the whole truth," Mimi said, "her words sound similar to someone I used to know and hate."

━━━━━━━

After Klaus and Mira figured everything out, they found that Stefan was fighting the compulsion, stopping himself from hurting the girl that he loved. Unfortunately Klaus wasn't going to let them slide so he compelled him to turn off his humanity. To which Stefan did and then he fed on Elena with nothing stopping him.

  Now Mira, Klaus and Rebekah stood outside the hospital while Elena was inside having her blood drained. Simply because her blood was the key to the hybrids working. They knew this because Tyler was able to turn without problems after drinking the doppelgänger's blood.

  "So the doppelgänger isn't the problem. Her blood is the solution," Rebekah said as she had listened to her brother explain everything

  "Seems so."

  "How did you know?" Rebekah asked.

  Mira answered, "Well, you know how much the original witches hated Nik and I. They said that I needed to die for the hybrids to work which made no sense."

  "And do you honestly think I would do anything other than the opposite of what they say?" Klaus wondered rhetorically.

  "A thousand years in the grave and they're still screwing with you two," Bekah mused.

  "Well, it makes sense if you think about it from her perspective. It was her fail-safe in case I ever broke the hybrid curse. The doppelgänger had to die in order for me to become a hybrid, but if she was dead..."

  "Then you couldn't use her blood to sire yourself a new species," Rebekah finished.

  "Leaving me alone for all time," Klaus pointed out sadly.

  Mira furrowed her brows, "Is that what this is all about? This obsession with these hybrids? You just don't want to be alone?"

  Tears filled Klaus eyes but he pushed them away, "What I want is to take my girls, take my hybrid, get the hell out of this one-pony town."

  Mira sighed deeply, "Nik," he turned to her with a raised brow at her tone. "I can't leave."

  Silence overtook the night air, the male hybrid unsure he had heard her right until Rebekah spoke, "what? what do you mean?"

"When I left with you this summer, I didn't think I'd be coming back. I didn't think I'd have to face my family this soon. But now that I have, I can't just leave and go radio silent again. I left them once, but I sure as hell can't do it again."

  "Please tell me you're not serious," pained shined as bright as the sun in Klaus' eyes.

  Mimi wanted to cry there and then at the looks they were giving her. She was conflicted. Being with Klaus and Rebekah again made her feel nostalgic, even in the short amount of time she'd spent with both of them it made her realise how much she missed her old family. But that didn't mean her new family wasn't at home waiting for her, believing she was back with them once and for all.

  she couldn't rock up home just to tell them that she had to leave again. She honestly wanted out of Mystic Falls and she had every plan to leave, she just hoped and brother and sisters were ready to follow her wherever they were led to next.

  "I have too," she whispered, "at least for now. This isn't forever, I swear that I will come and find you again. First, I need to get my life together again."

  "How can we believe you after you've hid and lied for the last thousand years?" Rebekah asked as she angrily wiped her tears. She had just gotten her back three days ago and they were already once again saying goodbye.

  "I mean it this time. You think I wanna stay here in Mystic Fall? this town is a supernatural disaster, I don't want to be here anymore than you do. But I have people that rely on me and I can't leave them behind, not again."

  But look at all the people you've already left. You're about to leave two very important people in your life for others. No matter what, you always leave, Miralette. That was what a voice in Mira's head said and all she wanted was to bash it out.

  "You have to give me a little faith to prove that I mean it," the brunette pleaded. "I won't leave any of you again. Not forever at least. I'm not dead, i'm only a phone call away. Either of you ring, i'll be there."

  "You swore to stay by my side for eternity," Klaus quickly reminded. Remember their conversation before they left Mystic Falls a whole summer ago when he gave her his blood to say her best friend.

  Mira sighed, "We both knew that was never going to happen. I'm mine own person, Nik. I can't glue myself to your side for eternity. I really would lose my mind. I can't leave with you tonight."

After a few tense moments of silence, Klaus spoke, "alright."

"Really?" Mira wondered, hopeful.

Nik nodded, "I have to learn to trust you again."

Rebekah shook her head, "I'll trust you when you prove yourself. Until then your words mean nothing."

Ouch, Mira thought. But nonetheless, nodded. "You'll see me soon, I promise."

Klaus moved closer to her while Rebekah walked away with an eye roll, not letting how much she wanted to cry show.

As Nik stood in front of her, he brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, "I better. Or I will find you, sweetheart. Do not think for a second that I won't."

"Is that a threat?" Mira asked as her eyes hardened.

Klaus smiled as he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, "It's a promise, angel."

With that he walked after Rebekah, leaving the female hybrid dumbfounded. She planned to keep her end of the promise. They would definitely see her soon.

If only she knew what was to come.

━━━━━━━

Mira took a deep breath as she stood outside of the house she hadn't seen in three months. Her family was inside and this was the first time she'd be properly facing a hot headed blonde.

As she finally worked up the courage, she opened the large door and slowly walked in. She froze in place as she saw Matteo standing in front of her with a grin.

"You've been out there for ten minutes, you know," he laughed obnoxiously.

Mira rolled her eyes, "fuck off."

"Damn, you've been home 5 seconds and you're already being feisty," he scoffed, a hand on his chest dramatically.

Mira sighed as she rubbed her eyes tiredly, not in the mood for her brothers attitude, "where is she?"

"Where is who?" Matteo retorted with a smirk.

"You know who," she groaned, "stop being a fucking ass."

"Well I don't know who exactly," he mocked with a grin, "you said she, there is two 'she's' in this house right now."

  "Matteo!" Mira snapped.

  "Alright, alright," he caved, his hands up in defence, "she's in her room."

Mimi headed for the stairs without another thought, ignoring Matteo's warnings about her being extremely moody and that they had to talk about her new witchy voodoo powers.

  She paused as she stood in front of the closed door, her hand held towards the handle in an hesitant manner, unsure whether she was prepared to finally talk to her.

  Very few things scared Mira anymore. For her, when living for a thousand years she tended to suppress any and all emotions. Especially fear. Being feared was much more enjoyable than being fearful, as she would say.

  There was just one thing that could get her every time. That was hurting someone she loved. She herself had been betrayed and hurt by many people that she loved and cared about. So knowing that feeling, one too many times, she never wanted to be the one scarring those around her.

And in the seven hundred years of knowing Adelaide, never had she ever hurt her. But now in a span of a few months, she had broken more promises to the girl than she could count.

  Before Mira had the chance to open the door it was being swung open. And the hybrid came face to face with Adelaide.

Adelaide immediately froze in place as she came face to face with her, "Mimi," she breathed.

"Addie."

The blonde's face fell into a blank one as she crossed her arms, "I wasn't sure that you were back for good. Figured you'd run off into the sunset with the original nightmare siblings."

  "I had to stay," Mira mumbled as she fiddled with her fingers. "I couldn't leave you all again."

Adelaide hummed, "I thought I had been replaced," she stated, pettiness lacing her tone.

Mira's head shot up as her eyes moved from the ground to the blonde, her eyebrows furrowed, "what the hell are you talking about?"

"Rebekah kept talking about how I was your replacement for her and that now she was back i'd be thrown to the side."

The brunette shook her head as she stepped closer to Addie, slowly taking the vampire's hands into her own, waiting for her to pull away. but she never did, instead Adelaide squeezed Mimi's hands and sighed in relief.

"That's not true, Ad's. You have to know that. Rebekah was just trying to provoke you out of jealousy," Mira shaking her head, regretting ever letting Caroline and Addie go with Rebekah.

  Adelaide said nothing as she stepped back inside her room, taking a seat in her bed with her eyes trained in the ground. Mira stood there watching her for a moment before she took a deep breath and stepped over in front of the blonde, she crouched down with her hands on her knees to meet Addie's eyes.

  "Adelaide," Mira mumbled, taking the blonde out of her trance. "I am so sorry. I know i've really fucked up these last couple of months but I truly believed I was doing what I had to do and what was better for everyone." Tears filled Mimi's eyes as she continued, "seeing you, laying in this bed on the brink of death scared the hell out of me. And I was going to do anything I had to, to make sure you didn't die on me. Even if that meant breaking every promise i've made to you. Maybe that made me selfish, but I didn't care. All that mattered was saving you."

  Addie shook her head as a few tears escaped her eyes, "You saved me and than left me, Mimi, that made me wish you had just let me die."

  Mira choked out a sob as soon as she said that, "Addie, no, that's ridiculous."

  "Maybe," Adelaide laughed humourlessly as more tears began to fall, "but I genuinely didn't know how to live without you. Going months without you for the first time in seven hundred years was harder than I ever expected."

  Adelaide knew she may have been a bit dramatic. But she had come to realise that Mira was her lifesaver. She had saved her from dying a human all those years ago and continued rescuing her time and time again. And without her it felt like she was drowning without her and the only one that was going to be able to bring her back above the water was Mira. Adelaide just couldn't do it on her own and maybe that made her pathetic but she didn't care.

  The world pictured Mira Delgado as a villain, but Adelaide had the chance to know Mimi Emeberson. And the last thing Mimi was, was a villain. Deep down she was still that broken girl who was stabbed in the back by her mother and those she trusted. And it terrified her to ever go through something like that again so she became the person doing the stabbing. But she helped those she cared about. She gave up her own happiness for the people she loved and Addie was one of the few people that had the chance to see that.

  "I'm sorry," Mimi whispered as she cried, "I'm sorry for leaving you when I swore I wouldn't. I'm sorry for sending you with Damon and letting you get bit by the Lockwood. I'm sorry for bringing you into the mess that is my life. I —"

The hybrid was cut off by Addie standing and dragging her up with her before pulling her into a bone crushing hug.

"If you said sorry one more time for another stupid reason I was going to slap you," the vampire mumbled in her best friends ear.

Mira laughed tearfully as she squeezed her tightly. Knowing she meant ever word.

"you have no reason to apologise for all of that, Mimi. Not everything bad in our lives is your fault. I'm not mad at you for leaving. I'm a little pissed that you never called or even texted but that doesn't matter."

The Emberson girl's lips twitched upwards, "yeah, that was my bad."

"And I still owe Klaus Mikaelson an ass kicking," Addie said as she pulled back to look at her. "Where is he and his sassy sister anyway?"

Mira sighed as she wiped her tears that stained her cheeks, "they were leaving."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"You okay with that?" Adelaide asked worriedly.

Mimi nodded truthfully, "yeah. I mean they know i'm alive now and they'll probably annoy me to no end for the rest of our very long lives but I have my own life that doesn't revolve around them."

Adelaide gave her a knowing look, "you are gonna miss them though, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Mira nodded once again, this time with a guilty smile, "yeah I will."

Addie pulled Mimi back into her arms, "i've got you now though."

The Emberson girl's lips twitched upwards, "you've got me."

"always and forever."

"aww," they suddenly heard, causing them to pull apart. They turned to Adelaide's still opened bedroom door to find Matteo and Elliana standing there. Ellie was handing Theo a tissue to wipe his tears.

Mira and Addie rolled their eyes.

"How long have you two been there?"

Ellie shrugged, "not long. but we heard the whole conversation and I couldn't stop this crybaby from ruining the moment."

"Hey!" Theo exclaimed, "you shed a few tears as well. Don't lie, Voland."

"I didn't not!"

Addie and Mimi shared a look as they both laughed at the now bickering pair. Mira missed this. The Mikaelson's would always be important to her even when she hated them but so we're those three. Matteo, Elliana and Adelaide were her family. She had no idea what she'd do if something happened to them.

It was good to be home.

At least for now.