CHAPTER 35.5: The Hunters Become the Hunted
WARNINGS: temporary character death, torture, blood, gore, murder, threats, john, damon, stefan, jules, tyler, mentioned/implied past torture

CAROLINE GASPED, JERKING AWAKE. She coughed, sitting up and grabbing onto a piece of metal. Her head throbbed, disorienting her. She could barely see. She whimpered, grabbing at her head.

So much pain.

She dug into the wound in her head and yanked out the bullet. Instant relief. She panted, staring at the bloodied bullet. She dropped it onto the ground, sighing as she felt her head heal.

She was in some sort of cage.

Her eyes went to the limp figure of Lorelei making her heart seize. "Honey," she said, grabbing the metal bars and trying to reach for the girl. She snagged Lorelei's jacket and pulled her closer.

Lorelei's eyes were open and staring out at nothing. She wasn't breathing or anything. Caroline cried softly at the sight even though she knew it was temporary thanks to the ring on Lorelei's finger.

She maneuvered her body so she could be as close as she could to the girl. Then she reached through the bars and worked on getting the bullet out of Lorelei's chest. She was very careful not to touch anything that could potentially make it worse.

Caroline's fingers grasped the bullet and she pulled it out slowly. She sighed in relief, dropping it on the floor of the cage Lorelei was in. Why they put her in a cage when they thought she was dead, Caroline didn't know.

The wound slowly healed and soon there was nothing there. Caroline rested her hand on Lorelei's stomach, waiting for her to start breathing.

"Come on, baby. Just breathe," Caroline whispered.

Lorelei inhaled sharply, her eyes blinking rapidly. The hybrid coughed and grabbed onto Caroline's hand like it was a lifeline. "Oh, fuck... that's the first time I've ever been shot," she said.

Caroline sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "Let's hope it's the last," she muttered, squeezing Lorelei's hand. The hybrid nodded in agreement. "Fuck, I can't believe a man with a gun beat me."

"Ugh, tell me about it," Lorelei sighed.

Caroline patted Lorelei's stomach and then looked around her cage. She was startled a bit when she saw the man that shot them sitting in the corner watching them.

"What the fuck, man?" Caroline said, staring at him incredulously. Lorelei sat up slowly, glaring at the man.

"I see you got the bullets out," the man said in greeting. Caroline just stared back at him, unimpressed. "That was... nasty."

Caroline looked around the cage, trying to find a way out. She needed to get them out of this and quickly.

"I've got lots of wooden bullets... other toys," he continued.

Caroline glared at him. "Can you keep your kinks to yourself, please?" Lorelei asked, scrunching her nose, "we don't want to see that."

Caroline snorted a bit. She looked over at him, "I suggest you let us out before my girlfriends get wind that you, you know, kidnapped us," she said, shifting so she was facing him.

The man raised an eyebrow, smirking at the two of them. "It's gonna be a long night, sweat pea," he said. Caroline snarled at him, of course, a man would resort to pet names like that. He raised the gun and shot her in the shoulder.

She cried out.

"HEY!" Lorelei shouted, panicked. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

"YOU WANNA BE friends, great," Tyler said, smiling sarcastically, "we're friends. Will you go now?" He asked Athena.

"Look, I don't know what else to say to you, Tyler," Athena sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I didn't come to this town to stir up trouble. Honestly, I was only supposed to be here for the summer. Then I was supposed to go meet up with a friend. But I stayed and I wanted a life here where I could have friends and where I could build a family."

She breathed in, thinking about Jenna, Bianca, Caroline, Hayley, Lorelei, and Elena. "I have that here." She gave Tyler a look, "we can both have that."

He shook his head.

Athena sighed, rubbing her forehead. Her phone started ringing with Caroline's ringtone and she pulled it out. She answered, putting the phone to her ear, "hi, love, everything okay?" She asked, standing up and walking a bit away from Tyler.

"That depends," said a woman that most definitely wasn't Caroline. Athena paused. "How badly do you wanna keep her and the little girl alive?"

Athena frowned, her dark side flaring up at the threat. "Who is this?" She demanded.

"Ask your brother," the woman spat, "where's Tyler?"

Tyler looked up at her, confused.

Athena knew who was on the other end of the phone. "Jules," she greeted. Tyler's eyebrows raised, sitting up straighter. "Where's Caroline and Lorelei?"

"You made a mistake, Athena," Jules said, "I'm gonna give you a chance to fix it."

Athena chuckled darkly and it made Tyler shiver. "Do not threaten me, Jules. I am not Damon or Stefan. Where are they?" She demands, a growl to her voice.

"Right here," Jules said, "want proof?" Athena heard her walking for a moment. "She needs proof."

Athena's eyes widened at the sound of her daughter sobbing. She heard Caroline quietly trying to hush her, whispering apologies over and over. Her fingers went right through the cushion, tearing the leather like it was nothing.

Suddenly, a gunshot went off and she heard Caroline scream. "STOP IT! STOP IT, PLEASE!" Lorelei yelled, sounding hysterical.

Athena's eyes darkened.

"What's happening?" Tyler asked, having heard the loud noise.

"Touch either of them again and you're dead," Athena said, her hands clenched into a fist.

"I hurt them again and they're dead. Bring Tyler to me. The clearing by Wickery Falls. You have 20 minutes until she dies."

The call ended.

She called Hayley. "I was just about to call you. I think something's happening to Caroline—"

"Wickery Falls," Athena told her, "meet me there."

"Yes, ma'am."

Athena grabbed Tyler by the back of his neck. 

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"YOU TOTALLY BLEW her off," Elena said as Damon walked over to her. He had just rejected a very beautiful woman and she was kind of in shock.

"I'm steering clear of all women at the moment," he said.

Elena raised an eyebrow. "So, men?" She asked, tilting her head. Damon shrugged. She glanced down at her phone. Lorelei hadn't texted or called her after she had gone to go see Caroline. She assumed they were doing something, and tried not to let herself worry. "You still didn't have to be rude to her, you know," she poked his stomach.

"Trust me, it's in the best interest of women everywhere," Damon smiled fakely.

Elena frowned a bit. "Damon, Rose is okay. You know that. Her getting bit was bad luck—"

"I'm the bad luck, Elena," Damon frowned.

Elena opened her mouth to argue when her phone started ringing. She looked down at it, the hope dying in her chest when she saw Stefan's name flashing on the screen. She sighed and answered. "Stefan?" She asked, rubbing her forehead. She frowned, "what is it?"

"Athena just called me. Said that Caroline and Lorelei got kidnapped by Jules. She wants Damon and I to meet her at Wickery Falls."

Elena's face dropped. Damon gave her a concerned look.

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"WHY AM I just finding out about this now?" Damon demanded as he paced the bathroom.

"I don't know! Athena was probably worried that you'd kill him or something!" Elena threw her hands up, looking frantic, "You don't have the best track record with the Lockwood family."

"Well, yeah! It's what needs to happen," Damon said.

"No, Damon, not Tyler," Elena argued, shaking her head, "you will do whatever you need to do to get Lorelei and Caroline back but just leave Tyler out of it, okay? Obviously, Athena doesn't want him dead or he'd be dead, Damon!"

"Why? He's a werewolf. He needs to die—"

"Lorelei is a werewolf!" Elena almost shouted, anger burning in her eyes, "you're not going to kill her or I swear to every God I will ruin you. Do you know the hell that would rise if you laid a finger on Lorelei or Hayley? Caroline is the only thing keeping you alive right now. Be careful with your words," she spat.

Damon didn't respond for a second, taking in everything she said. He sighed, "I wouldn't've touched Lorelei or Hayley," he grumbled, "just Tyler."

"Damon," Elena warned.

"Okay, okay," Damon sighed. "God, being the good guy sucks sometimes."

Elena rolled her eyes.

John pushed into the bathroom and Damon sighed heavily, annoyed. "Do you mind?" He asked, glaring at the Gilbert.

"What's going on?" John asked.

"Nothing," Elena spat. She glared at her uncle, annoyed with his presence. He was just adding to her fucking anxiety about the situation.

"It doesn't look like nothing," John argued, not fazed by her hostility.

"Well, guess what, John? Trust works both ways. Get out," Damon said, turning to give him a look. He could tell that Elena didn't want to be around him and that he was making the situation worse.

Elena grabbed his arm. "Look, we don't have time for this, we need to get them back. Now," she said.

"No, no. We don't need to do anything," Damon shook his head, "I'll take care of it." He turned to John.

"No!" Elena argued.

"First dad duty," Damon ignored Elena, "ground your daughter. Keep her here." He exited the bathroom.

"I'm coming with you," Elena said, moving to leave but John stepped in front of her.

"No. No, no," he shook his head, "I'm with Damon on this one."

"Mm–mm. No," Elena shook her head, trying to push past him. When he didn't let her, her training kicked it, shoving him into the wall with an arm against her windpipe. "You do not get to boss me around," she spat, glaring at him, "you are not my father. I don't give a shit if that's what my paternity test would say. My best friends are in danger. I'm going to get them back."

She moved to leave when she ran into a hard body. She stumbled a bit, looking up. She groaned when she saw Katherine staring there.

John stared at Katherine in shock, still not fully processing what just happened with his daughter.

Katherine didn't bat an eye at him, giving Elena her undivided attention. "Athena called me too. I'll be there to make sure everything's fine. Neither of them are going to die. I'll get Lorelei back to you, okay?"

"But—"

"Okay?" Katherine demanded, giving her a sharp glare.

Elena sighed, dropping her head. "Fine," she whispered.

Katherine nodded. She glanced at John before looking back. "I'm taking Bianca. Jenna's waiting for you at the table. Go sit with her, we'll keep you both updated." Then she was gone. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

CAROLINE COUGHED OUT some blood, grimacing a bit. Lorelei was out again and every time she saw the lifeless look in her eyes it made Caroline die a little inside.

"So..." the man said, "how many vampires are there in this town anyway?"

She didn't respond, reaching through the bars and brushing back Lorelei's hair. She reached for the wounds and began to dig the bullets out, grimacing as her own wounds shifted.

She was suddenly hit with watered-down vervain causing her to groan and hide her face. She screamed as the poison burned her skin.

"Don't know," the man sighed.

"Why are you doing this to us?" Caroline shouted, her pain turning to anger. She kicked the cage door twice. She breathed heavily and reached for Lorelei again, digging out the bullets. She turned back to the man. "Why are you doing this? Why?"

"You're vampires," he smiled.

"She's not!" Caroline spat, "she's a werewolf you, jackass! She doesn't have anything to do with this! Just let her go and you can do whatever the fuck you want to me, okay?"

He paused for a moment, looking at the girl. "There's no way she's a werewolf. She comes back to life," he said.

Lorelei jerked awake, coughing a bit. Caroline sighed, letting the girl clutch onto her hand. "It's okay, baby. It's okay," she whispered the the hybrid. "Show him you're a wolf. Now, Rory," she said.

Lorelei groaned, slowly sitting up. She held onto Caroline's hand, squeezing it so tight the blonde thought her bones would break. She didn't do what she was told so the man blew a piece of wood into Caroline's neck.

Caroline cried out, her hand going to her neck.

Lorelei's eyes widened with panic. "Caroline!" She sobbed, her fingers grabbing onto the blonde's shirt. The vampire panted, her face screwed up in pain. "Stop hurting her!" Lorelei shouted, turning to the man. Her anger got the better of her and her eyes turned gold.

He raised an eyebrow, surprised. "So, you are a werewolf," he said, tilting his head, "too bad you're a traitor."

"Oh, go fuck yourself," Lorelei spat, "you're the ones stuck in the medieval ages. Vampires and werewolves don't fight anymore."

He smirked at her. "You don't have a pack, do you? Vampires and werewolves are enemies."

Lorelei scoffed. "Only because of people like you," she snapped, "I have a pack. My family is my pack. Not all of them may be wolves, but we're sure as hell stronger than whatever the fuck you and your buddies got goin' on."

He glared at her, scowling.

"Just let her out," Caroline said, glancing at him, "she'll leave quietly. She won't bother you again. Just let her leave and you can continue to torture me or whatever. Kill me. Just let her go."

"No!" Lorelei argued, her eyes wide, "I'm not leaving you!"

"It doesn't matter. Neither of you are leaving," he said, standing up.

Caroline snarled at him.

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ELENA WALKED OUT of the bathroom and John was quick to get in her way.

She sighed, annoyed.

"You're not leaving this restaurant," John said, his arms crossed.

Elena rolled her eyes. "One, you can't tell me what to do. Two, I already said I was staying."

"Yes, I can. Wanna know why?" John raised an eyebrow, "because I'm here to make sure you stay safe."

"I've got that covered," Elena said sarcastically trying to leave.

John slammed his hand against the wall, getting in front of her again. She sucked in a deep breath. "Are you talking about the deal that you made with Elijah?"

She looked at him.

"You really think he's gonna keep his promise to you?" John asked, "putting your faith in him was a dumb move." That's why I put my faith in Athena, Elena thought, rolling her eyes.

"Are you saying, I should put my faith in you?" Elena asked, tilting her head mockingly, "after everything that you did to Athena and the boys?"

"We've had our differences and I've made mistakes," John admits, "but you and I? We're family."

Elena glared at him, "you don't get to use that word. That word is off-limits to you."

"Fine. But it doesn't change the facts."

Elena scoffed. "You're right. Facts are facts, so listen up, you may be my father but I'm never going to be your daughter, you got that?" She pushed passed him and walked over to where Jenna was.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

"I KNOW YOU'RE out there," Jules called out.

Athena grabbed Tyler by the back of the neck, dragging him forward. Hayley followed, watching Jules's every move. "Where are our girls?" Athena asked.

Jules didn't look intimidated in the slightest. "Locked up tight," she replied.

Hayley nodded, "let 'em go and my girlfriend will release Tyler. Doesn't have to get any messier than it already has. We're not your enemies, Jules."

"It's a little late to be waving a white flag, don't you think?" Jules asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Athena scoffed a bit. "You're friend, Mason... he crossed me. Tried to kill me, actually. Exposed me. This is my town. Nobody disrespects me here," she said, her hand squeezing Tyler's neck. He groaned, his knees giving out slightly. "Give us our girls or I'm going to kill you all, hunt down your little pack, and then I'm going to slaughter them all."

Hayley blew a raspberry. "What she means to say is, nobody else has to get hurt if you give us our girls back," she said.

"I'm not leaving without Tyler," Jules said, glaring at the two of them.

"Tyler's free to make his own decisions," Athena said with a smirk, "as soon as you release Lorelei and Caroline."

"My sister the peacemaker," Damon grinned.

Katherine appeared on the other side of Athena, "you give her the warning yet?" She asked.

"She did," Hayley nodded, crossing her arms.

Stefan came up behind Damon while Bianca hovered behind Hayley.

"Since Athena got here before me, I'm gonna let her try it her way before I resort to my way which is a little bloodier," Damon said.

"So give us Barbie and the baby wolf," Katherine finished, tilting her head.

"Let go of Tyler," Jules spat.

"Give us our girls," Athena shrugged, smiling.

"Without a full moon, it's not an even fight and you know it," Damon added. Hayley turned to him, frowning a bit. "I don't mean you. You're scary," he muttered.

Hayley hummed.

"We will take you," Damon finished.

"I'm not so sure about that, tough guy," Jules said. She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled.

Athena sighed as the whole pack surrounded them. Damon and Stefan looked around. Katherine didn't even seem fazed by the amount of werewolves surrounding her. Tyler looked confused. Bianca rubbed her forehead, knowing this was going to end in a massacre. Hayley grabbed Tyler's arm.

"Let's try this again," Jules said, "give us Tyler."

Damon glanced at Tyler, "you heard her. Go," he whispered.

Athena and Hayley let him go and he hesitantly walked over to Jules. Athena grabbed Hayley's hand, gently pulling her beside her.

"Which one of you killed Mason?" A guy with a buzz cut and a black leather jacket asked.

"Uh, that'd be me," Damon raised a hand.

"Boys," Buzz Cut said, pointing a stake at Damon, "make sure that one suffers."

Athena laughed a bit. Everyone looked at her. She squeezed Hayley's hand before releasing it. "Katerina, Bianca," she said, stepping forward with a malicious smirk on her face, "do you remember that game I taught you? The one we used to play with Claire's men?"

Bianca and Katherine glanced at each other, smirking.

"Round 'em, slash 'em, burn 'em," Bianca said, turning around toward the men behind her.

Katherine rolled her shoulders. "I'm gonna winnn," she sang.

"In your dreams, Katerina," Bianca said.

Athena smiled, holding her arms up. "Uccidili tutti," she said. [Kill them all.]

Damon shot at Jules as soon as Bianca and Katherine moved. She jumped up onto the RV and then flipped over Damon. He watched her, confused at the acrobatics.

The man with the propane tank lit up a flamethrower. The flames engulfed Athena, but she merely harnessed it all, throwing it into a man coming at Hayley from behind.

Katherine sped around three wolves, cutting them all across their stomachs. They cried out. "Incedia," Katherine said, her palm facing the three. Flames engulfed them all and they screamed, trying and failing to put them out.

Bianca did the same with two others.

Stefan grabbed the man with the flame thrower, jerking him around so two other wolves were on the receiving end of the flames.

Hayley slammed a wolf into the ground, bashing their head over and over until they stopped moving. She instantly went for the wolf who had been torturing Lorelei and Caroline.

Tyler stumbled into the RV, his heart beating out of his chest at all the violence and blood he just witnessed.

"Tyler!" Caroline said, her eyes wide as she stared up at him, "there's a latch." She reached for the latch, pointing to it. "There's a latch on the door and I can't get to it," she said frantically.

Tyler looked away, shifting a bit. His breathing was slightly heavy.

"Tyler?" Caroline asked. Lorelei lay on the ground of her cage, dead once again. She needed to get to her now.

Outside, Hayley's watch morphed into her ax and she began cutting through wolf after wolf. She hated having to do it, having to go against her own kind, but this was Caroline and Lorelei. Two people she'd do anything for.

Inside, the blonde was staring up at the boy. "Tyler?" Caroline asked again, her voice breaking slightly.

Tyler sighed and rushed to the cage. He unhooked the latch and pushed up the door. Caroline was quick to crawl under it and go to the latch on Lorelei's cage. She pushed up the door with one hand and yanked the girl out with the other.

She cradled Lorelei in her arms, digging out the bullets and dropping them onto the ground. The wounds healed and Caroline sighed in relief, brushing back Lorelei's hair and kissing her forehead.

Outside, Hayley and Damon pinned Buzz Cut to the ground and were about to kill him when Jules appeared, shooting them both. Damon cried out, falling to the ground while Hayley tried to grab Jules. The wolf just shot Hayley again making her go down.

Lorelei exited the RV, looking around at the carnage. She saw Hayley lying on the ground, bleeding, and her mom fighting a bit away in front of her. "Ma—" She was pinned to the side of the RV with a gun to her back before she could finish her sentence.

It didn't last long, Caroline appeared behind Jules, sinking her teeth into the Alpha's neck. Jules screamed, trying to fight her off. Caroline threw her to the ground when she got enough. Jules felt her neck, groaning in pain.

Lorelei stumbled a little and Caroline held her up.

Athena shot over to Buzz Cut, grabbing him by the back of the neck and dragging him over to Jules. The woman looked up, watching her. Athena kept him down with ease even as he thrashed and yelled.

"Say goodbye to your boyfriend," Athena told Jules before shoving her hand through his back. Her hand went through his chest, his heart in her hand.

"NO!" Jules shouted, her eyes wide with pain and rage.

Athena dropped his heart, pulling her hand from his body. She dropped him, letting him fall onto his heart. "This is what happens... when you touch my girls," she snarled, glaring at Jules. Nobody touched Caroline, Lorelei, and Hayley and got away with it.

Athena grimaced when she felt something go into her back. She turned, smacking the wolf who had shoved a stake through her heart. He flew to the side. He had just missed it. She reached behind her, yanking it out and dropping it on the ground.

The werewolf who took Buzz Cut's job and was about to kill Damon started screaming. Jules screamed too, grabbing at her head.

The rest of the werewolves started to scream, holding their heads as well.

Caroline looked around, confused.

Katherine dropped the werewolf she was just about to kill, stepping back. Bianca frowned, walking backward and away from the wolves. Hayley's brows furrowed, looking around as she slowly got up, having pulled the bullets out.

"What's happening?" Caroline asked.

Athena turned as Jonas emerged from behind the truck. Stefan turned to look at him, getting up quickly, eyes wide. Damon stumbled to his feet, groaning a bit.

"Elijah made a promise to Elena," Jonas said, looking between Damon and Stefan, "I'm here to see it's upheld. You need to go."

Stefan nodded, walking over to Damon.

Jonas turned his attention to Athena. "Get out of here. Now," he told her, "he's not happy with you."

Stefan and Damon turn to her, confused.

Athena ignored him, walking over to Caroline and Lorelei. She hugged them both, sighing in relief. Hayley jogged over and Athena opened her arm to let her in. Hayley buried her face in Lorelei's hair, pressing a kiss to her head while her hand twisted into Caroline's shirt.

Katherine rolled her shoulders. Jonas watched her carefully, knowing exactly who she was. She waves to him with a smirk before disappearing into the trees.

Bianca walked over to the group hug, hugging Caroline and Athena while ruffling Lorelei's hair gently.

"Come on. Let's go home," Athena murmured, gently pulling away. They all walked over to where Stefan and Damon were waiting. Athena stopped in front of Jonas, "tell Elijah... that he can suck my dick."

Jonas raised an eyebrow. Athena walked away from him. He turned to Tyler who slowly came out of the shadows. "When your friends awaken, give them a message. They need to get the hell out of this town." Then Jonas followed after the group.

Athena stumbled a bit, feeling pain shoot up her legs. She gasped, falling to her knees. Her head rang, pain shooting up her spine in waves. She cried out, curling into herself as she fell in a heap.

Caroline and Damon were beside her in an instant, the two the fastest out of all of them. "Athena," Caroline whispered, brushing her hair back.

Athena pushed Damon away, coughing up blood right in the spot he was in. He stared at her in shock, his heart quickening in terror.

Jonas knelt down beside Athena, setting a hand on her back. He frowned down at her. "Let him help," he said.

Athena groaned, breathing out as her whole body relaxed. She slowly, shakily got to her knees. Caroline helped her stand up. Athena turned to Jonas, "he's gonna need to try harder," she told him.

Caroline helped Athena back over to the group with Damon's help. She seemed okay, but there was a slight stagger after a couple of steps like she kept getting dizzy. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

"IS LIZ HOME?" Athena asked as she unlocked Caroline's front door.

"No," Caroline shook her head, "she's at work." They entered the house. Hayley was holding Lorelei since the girl was exhausted and half asleep by the time they got out of the forest.

Athena scooped Caroline up after closing the door behind her. "Let's get you two cleaned up, yeah?" She murmured. Caroline nodded, grimacing a little at the pain in her neck.

Hayley and Athena helped the two girls get ready for bed. Hayley pulled out the pieces of wood lodged in Caroline's neck while Athena helped Lorelei get cleaned up.

Lorelei took a shower first since she was most tired. Then Caroline got in.

Athena brushed Lorelei's hair out, watching her daughter through the mirror in Caroline's room. Her under eyes were purple, like she hadn't gotten sleep in days. Her eyes were exhausted, pain shining in them. Even her magic seemed subdued.

"You want to talk about it?" Athena asked gently.

"I'm fine," Lorelei shrugged, yawning.

Athena frowned a bit, "honey, don't do that. Talk to me. What you just went through—"

"Ma, I said I was fine," Lorelei interrupted even though tears were gathering in her eyes.

Athena sighed and pulled Lorelei onto the bed. She ran her fingers through Lorelei's hair, kissing her temple. "I do not expect you to be okay, Lorelei. You do not have to act strong right now. It is me. I'm your mother. Break, cry, scream... Nobody would be okay after what you just went through."

"You would be," Lorelei muttered, not looking at her mother. A tear slipped down her cheek.

Athena frowned a bit, rubbing her daughter's back. "I'm also over 1000 years old. I've experienced hundreds of types of torture... you are 15. Do not compare our reactions because that's not fair. I reacted totally differently the first... ten times or so. Probably more. I've cried over it... I've screamed and broken down. You are allowed to feel whatever it is you are feeling right now."

Lorelei choked on a sob. Athena pulled her in and Lorelei sobbed into her chest. "It was so scary," she cried, "I kept dying... he wouldn't stop. We didn't do anything. He kept hurting Caroline and I just..." She held onto her mother's shirt.

Athena brushed her hand over Lorelei's head, nodding. "He can't hurt you anymore. Either of you. I made sure of it," she whispered, pressing a kiss to Lorelei's cheek.

Lorelei nodded.

Hayley and Caroline came in. The blonde looked exhausted too, her under eyes red.

Athena gave them a small smile. "Hi, loves," she murmured.

Caroline smiled back timidly. "How are you?" The blonde asked Lorelei as she sat down beside the girl. Lorelei shrugged. Caroline laughed a little. "Me too," she agreed.

Lorelei hugged the woman tightly, burying her face into the woman's neck. Caroline huffed a bit, hugging Lorelei back just as tightly. She closed her eyes, listening to Lorelei's beating heart.

Hayley smiled sadly. This shouldn't've happened to either of them. If only she had found Jules... maybe this wouldn't've happened.

Athena glanced at Hayley, frowning a little. She grabbed the werewolf's hand, gently pulling her down onto her lap. "Don't," she whispered and Hayley glanced at her. Athena had a knowing look on her face. The werewolf nodded, sighing.

There was a knock at the door which caused all of them to frown.

"I'll get it," Lorelei said, wiping her eyes, "you three can talk for a minute."

Athena went to argue but her daughter was already out the door. The redhead sighed and turned to Caroline, brushing her hair behind her ear. "How are you, baby?"

Caroline smiled at her. "I'm okay. I'm not girly little Caroline anymore. I can handle myself," she said seriously though the two women could see the pain in the blonde's eyes.

Hayley pulled Caroline over to them, frowning a bit. "I love you."

Caroline smiled up at her, leaning against Athena's shoulder. "I love you too."

Lorelei walked over to the door, and opened it up. She frowned when she saw Tyler at the door. He looked a little shaken up, staring at her with wide eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine," Lorelei replied, her expression blank.

"I had no idea..." Tyler said, his expression pleading, "they would come for you two."

Lorelei frowned, tears pooling in her eyes. "Do you know what they did to me? To Caroline? They hurt her... right in front of me and all she cared about was me."

"I'm sorry," Tyler whispered, "but it's crazy now. Okay? I don't know who to trust. You and Caroline lied to me."

"We lied... to protect our family," Lorelei spat, her voice shaking, "she lied to protect you. Don't you get that?"

"Lorelei..."

"You just stood there. When they were going to kill us? You just stood there!" Lorelei said loudly, "you didn't do anything."

"I didn't know what to do," Tyler argued.

"You help your friend, that's what you do," Lorelei snapped.

"I'm sorry," Tyler said, his voice breaking.

Caroline appeared, pulling Lorelei away from the door. She took Lorelei's place, glaring at Tyler. "It's too late for your apologies," she said, "we're not friends anymore. And what happened to me—what happened to Lorelei tonight that will never happen again. So, you take that back to your little werewolf pack and you get the hell out of my house." She slammed the door on him, turning around. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ELENA WALKED TO her fridge, pulling it open. She hadn't heard anything in a while and she was getting anxious. They had to have gotten them already, right? She felt Athena get stabbed earlier and felt the terrible pain Athena was talking about.

Luckily she had been in her room when both those things happened. She had to lay on the floor in a ball for thirty minutes after it happened, having never felt pain like that before even when she was on her period.

She closed the fridge door after grabbing the canter of juice, gasping when she saw John. She gave him a glare, annoyed.

"I'm sorry about earlier," he said.

"Enough already," Elena sighed, "I don't want you here and I can't make that any more clear."

"I didn't come here to fight with you, Elena," John said softly.

"Yeah, I know," Elena said, setting the canter and glass down on the counter as she looked up at him, "you're here to protect me. Got it. Get in line," she dismissed.

"I thought you might want this," John said, walking over to her. Elena sighed and looked down at the necklace in John's hand. "It was your mother's."

"Isobel?" Elena asked, looking unimpressed.

"No. Your mother, Miranda," John replied. Elena's brows furrowed and she looked down at it. "I remember you wearing it when you were younger. She said she gave it to you. I found it in a box with some things that your dad left me." Elena glanced up at him. "Here. It's yours now," he held out the necklace to her. He set it in her hand.

Elena looked down at the necklace. She frowned a little when she saw Bulgarian markings on it.

"Miranda and Grayson... were your parents, Elena," John said.

Elena's eyes teared up a little. She ran her fingers over the marking. Петрова. She rubbed her eye. [Petrova.]

"I... Did Miranda and Grayson always have me? From birth?" Elena asked, not looking up at him.

John's eyes glazed over. "Yes. From the moment Isobel gave you up they have been your parents," he replied, blinking once he was finished.

Elena stared at him, confused, tears in her eyes. That looked like compulsion. She didn't point it out, but she knew that wasn't true. Elena wasn't always with the Gilberts.

"I know I'm nothing to you, Elena. You have no reason to believe me or trust me. I've done so many horrible things," John said and Elena swallowed, "But when you lost your parents I lost my brother. My family. I lost my way. And I'm probably never going to make things right with you, I know that but... I'm gonna do everything I can to protect you and protect this family."

She wiped the tear that fell down her cheek as John walked away. She clutched the necklace to her chest, her eyes blurring so much that she couldn't see in front of her.

"Elena?"

The doppelganger turned around, surprised to find Athena standing in her living room. She sighed in relief and rushed over to hug the woman. "Are they okay? What happened?" Elena asked.

Athena rubbed her back a bit before they pulled away. "They're... they're dealing. They're back home."

Elena nodded, wiping her tears. "Did you... did you hear that?" She asked, sniffling.

Athena nodded. She gently took the necklace from Elena's hand. She gently put it around Elena's neck, smiling a little. She remembered the day that was made. She had helped make it.

Elena messed with the pendant at the end. "I don't believe him, Athena," she whispered, "I just don't."

Athena hummed. "You don't have too," she assured, "just believe me." Elena nodded, wiping her face once more. The redhead tilted her head, "I could use your help."

Elena nodded immediately. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ATHENA OPENED UP the front door. She let Elena and Bonnie in and closed the door behind them.

"No, he called me sweat pea, Hayley," they heard Caroline complain from the living room, "it was insane."

"At least he didn't call you sweetheart," Lorelei's disgusted voice came next, "that was awful."

Athena chuckled a little, shaking her head. She walked into the living room and the three looked up.

"Oh, finally. We've been waiting for you," Hayley said, smiling at her girlfriend.

Athena smiled back, winking. She looked at Caroline and Lorelei. "I know you two are very adamant about being okay... but I decided to bring some backup." Athena stepped out of the way, letting Elena and Bonnie come into the room.

Caroline's eyes teared up at the sight of her best friends. Lorelei's body sagged in relief when she saw Elena. The doppelganger smiled at them, "we're gonna slumber it."

"We haven't done it in ages," Bonnie added, smiling softly at Caroline.

The blonde got up, hugging them both tightly. They hugged her back, afraid to let her go. Athena smiled and sat down beside Hayley.

Caroline let go of Elena when she noticed the doppelganger's eyes going over her shoulder. Elena was quick to hug Lorelei, almost tackling her to the ground in a hug. The hybrid grunted, holding onto her tightly.

Lorelei buried her face into Elena's neck, breathing her in and relaxing into her. Elena sighed, her fingers wrapped around Lorelei's nape.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

JOHN LOOKED AROUND the corridor leading into the tomb. He had a flashlight with him. Damon had said that if he wanted to get in touch with Katherine to go to the tomb and call out her name and perhaps mention Elena.

"Katherine?" He called. He waited for about five minutes but nothing happened. He frowned. "Katherine, it's about Elena!"

The woman appeared a second later, standing in front of John. She narrowed her eyes at the man. "What do you want?" She demanded.

John cocked his head to the side. "What is your interest in Elena?"

Katherine crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "I have no interest in Elena. I'm here for Athena," she lied easily, staring at him boredly.

John frowned. "I saw the way you handled Elena today. The way she listened to you. You were concerned for her."

"Sure, John," Katherine nodded, "I need to go."

"Elena asked me earlier if she was with Miranda and Grayson the whole time."

That made her pause. "What did you say?"

"I told her yes."

"Then we do not need to talk anymore," Katherine shrugged. She disappeared before John could get another word in. 

AN: the whole torture scene in the show was so sad. i hated the wolf pack, like i understand wanting to get back at damon for killing your friend or whatever, but go after him. not the others especially someone who was trying to help. anyway, hope you guys enjoyed!! thank you for reading.

edited:
finished: 01/29/24
wc: 6446