❪ 𝓢𝑰𝑿 𝓕𝑬𝑬𝑻 𝓤𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑹 ❫ ⚰️ ˖ ׁ ⁩ 𓂃
𝚃𝚅𝙳  ⸻  ✸ 🔮⭑.ᐟ
❝ 𝖦𝖮𝖮𝖣𝖡𝖸𝖤, 𝖠𝖲𝖲𝖧𝖮𝖫𝖤 ❞

✦ ╮ 𝟓𝟎. ❝ 𝖧𝖮𝖬𝖤𝖢𝖮𝖬𝖨𝖭𝖦 ❞ ── .✦

"𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 to be here!" Caroline exclaimed down the phone as Anastasia put all of her clothes back into her bag in the guest room of Dylan's townhouse. "It's homecoming!"

"I really don't want to go to some dance." Anastasia tells her, "If you don't recall, Klaus attacked us at the last one. Also, me and Jeremy broke up soooo...,"

"Well, bring Dylan as your date!"

"Yeah, let me bring my ex-boyfriend who I thought was dead for over a hundred years to a school dance after getting into a fight with my human boyfriend about seeing dead ex's which was the cause of our break up." The hybrid shrugged, zipping the bag up. "I don't think so, besides Dylan really cannot dance to save his life."

"Anastasia Eloise!"

Anastasia groans, throwing her head back to look up at the ceiling. "Alright, fine! I'll ask him, but there's no guarantee that she's gonna agree."

"Make sure he comes, you hear me?"

"Okay. I have to go if I wanna make it back in time." She tells the blonde vampire before hanging up, "Dylan!"

"Yeah!?"

"Pack your shit! You're going back to Mystic Falls with me to go to a stupid ass dance!"

"Okay!"

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

"𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 you get really need to buy all of that junk?" Anastasia follows Dylan out of the gas station, the boy's arms filled with junk food as they walk towards her car.

"It's a long way back to Mystic Falls! I need snacks to fill my body!" Dylan exclaimed, opening the passenger door to the black Camaro to sit everything inside just as Anastasia's phone started to ring.

"Just pump the damn gas while I answer this." Anastasia rolls her eyes, walking away from the car as she presses her phone against her ear, "Roadkill Cafe, you kill 'em, we grill 'em?"

"Hmm, you and your unique ways of answering the phone." Klaus smirks from the other end.

"This is why I should really look at the Caller ID before I pick up the phone." She rolls her eyes as she leans against the side of the building. "Why are you calling me? Shouldn't you be making your hybrids wherever you are?"

"Why, I'm in your old stomping grounds. Portland. I can stop by the Gemini cover for you if you'd like me to." Klaus says, "Or are you still band after helping Mal--,"

"What do you want, Klaus? I don't have the time for your shit."

"Well, love, I heard that your Uncle has placed a dagger through Mikael's heart."

Anastasia freezes at the man's name, chills running through her body as she stares out ahead of her. "What?"

"Hmm, Rebekah confirmed it for me, and I was just seeing if you would do the same."

"I -- Klaus, I'm not in Mystic Falls. I'm on the way back from New York, I haven't been home in two days." Anastasia tells him, "How do they even know about Mikael?"

"That's what I was hoping that you could tell me." Klaus says, "Because he wants you dead just as much, if not more, than what he wants me dead."

"I have to go." Anastasia hangs up the phone, quickly moving back towards Dylan who leaned against the side of her car, "We need to go, now!"

"Whoa, whoa, what's wrong? What's going on?"

"That was Klaus, apparently the Scooby-Doo gang in Mystic Falls killed Mikael."

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

"𝗢𝗢𝗛, 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗕𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 the back." Dylan shakes his head as the two walk into Stefan's bedroom where Damon and Elena sit with Rebekah's body. "I know how that feels."

"Will you shut up and go get ready for this damn dance?" Anastasia rolls her eyes. "I'm so tired of your comments."

"Hey, you're the one that showed up on my doorstep two days ago." Dylan points a finger in her direction, "And then you make me leave the comfort of my own home to come to a stupid high school dance as your date!"

"Go!"

"I'm going!"

Anastasia rolls her eyes at the Munson boy, crossing her arms over her chest as he walks out of the room.

"You brought Dylan as your date to Homecoming? Your ex-boyfriend?" Elena looks at her.

"Oh, don't look at me like that." Anastasia gives her a pointed look, "You stabbed a girl in the back, literally. Now, what's this I hear about Mikael being dead? Are all of you fucking crazy?! You woke him up?!"

"We woke him up to help us put an end to Klaus once and for all." Damon tells his daughter.

"Yeah? Well, guess what? Mikael wants me dead." Anastasia tells them, "If he's here, then I am dead, more than I already am."

"What?" Elena looks at her in confusion, Damon giving his daughter the same look. "Why does he want you dead?"

Anastasia scoffed, "Because, Elena, I helped Kol run from him. I helped Klaus get away from him in the twenties. Mikael wants my head on a golden platter, and the three of you gave that to him."

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

"𝗛𝗢𝗧 𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗡! Well, look at you!" Anastasia turns around to find Tyler standing behind her with a smirk on his face, "Red is definitely your color. And I see Dylan is your date."

"She forced me to come."

"Nice party, Lockwood." She smirks, both teens checking each other out. "Klaus plan it?"

Tyler chuckled, "Yeah. It's not really a homecoming party. It's a wake."

"Good evening everyone!" Klaus stands on the small stage in the backyard of the Lockwood Mansion, "I wanna thank you for being here to celebrate! It's been a long time coming!"

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

"𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚." Stefan says as he, Klaus, Dylan and Anastasia walk through the crowd of dancing teenagers.

"I've been planning my father's funeral for a thousand years." Klaus tells him, "Granted, in no version of it were any of these people invited, but you get the idea."

"So, what now? Stop running?"

Klaus glances at Anastasia." Hmm, now I reunite my family."

"Your family. You mean the people you cart around in caskets?" Stefan asked him.

"None of that matters anymore. Mikael is gone. Bygones will be bygones." Klaus said, "Seems the Homecoming Queen still walks among the living, which leads me to believe Rebekah isn't here....where is she?"

"I have no idea." Stefan says, "I thought she was coming with Matt."

"Oh, be honest now, Stefan. Where is my sister?"

"I said I have no idea. How would you like me to take you to your father?"

"Well, it wouldn't be a party without the guest of honor, would it? Bring him to me."

"Alright. Perhaps there's something in it for me?" Stefan asks, "My freedom from your compulsion?"

"Oh, you want your freedom. Well, once he is dead and his weapon destroyed, you'll have your freedom. It'll be my pleasure to give it back." Klaus tells him. "Anastasia, come. We have things to discuss."

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗗 Klaus towards where "Elena" was standing.

"Where's your date?" Klaus questions her.

"Getting me a drink." Katherine tells him. Klaus offers her his drink, but she declines it.

"Well, seems I have you to think for Mikael's demise."

"He came at me. I didn't have a choice." Katherine played her party well.

"I'm still impressed. It's not easy for a human to dagger an Original." Klaus said.

"It wasn't the first time."

"Right. Elijah. You seem nervous."

"I'm not nervous. I just don't like you." Katherine tells him.

"Let's get straight to the point then, shall I, love? People have been after me for a thousand years." Klaus tells her, "And I am always one step ahead. So whatever it is you're thinking of trying, go for it, give it your best shout. You won't succeed."

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

"𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗨𝗣, 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘." Klaus smirked as he tossed another ball into a plastic cup in front of Anastasia, "You used to be a pro at this game."

"You have a visitor." Mindy, one of Klaus' hybrids tells the Original.

"Well, tell my visitor I'm on the brink of victory here." Klaus tells her.

"He said his name is Mikael." She says, causing Anastasia to tense her shoulders.

Klaus grows a disappointed look on his face as he throws another ball into another cup, "Then we mustn't keep him waiting. Move everyone out back. I'm gonna have a little chat with my dad. Tony, you know what to do. Anastasia, you know what to do as well."

Klaus makes his way towards the front door, Mikael standing in the doorway.

"Hello, Niklaus."

"Hello, Mikael. Why don't you come in? Oh, that's right. I forgot you can't." Klaus taunts him.

"Or you could come outside if you want." Mikael tells him, "And where's the lovey Anastasia tonight?"

"Or I could watch my hybrids tear your limb for limb." Klaus says as a group of hybrids gather behind Mikael on the lawn.

"They can't kill me."

"True." Klaus says, "But it'll make a hell of a party game. All I have to do is rub these two fingers together and they'll pounce."

"The big bad wolf. You haven't changed. Still hiding behind your playthings like a coward. You only forget. They may be sired by you, but they're still part vampire. And they can be compelled by me."

Mindy walks up behind Mikael, pushing Katherine towards him.

"Come out and face me, Niklaus. Or she dies."

"Go ahead. Kill her." Klaus states.

"No, Klaus. He'll do it." Katherine protest.

"If she dies, this lot will be last of your abominations." Mikael tells him.

"I don't need them. I just need to be rid of you." Klaus tells his father.

"To what end, Niklaus? So you can live forever, with no one at your side? Nobody cares about you any more, boy! What do you have other than those whose loyalty you forced? No one. No one."

Klaus' eyes start tearing up, "I'm calling your bluff, father, kill her."

"Come outside and face me, you little coward. And I won't have to."

"My whole life you've underestimated me. If you kill her you lose your leverage. So go ahead. Go on. Kill her." Klaus tells him, "Come on, old man. Kill her. Kill her!"

"Your impulse, Niklaus. It has and will forever be the one thing that keeps you from truly being great." Mikael tells the Original Hybrid, just before stabbing Katherine with the dagger, pulling it out as she falls to the floor.

Mikael laughs as Klaus look on shocked. Damon rushes up behind Klaus, twisting him around and stabbing the White Oak tree dagger into his stomach. Katherine gets up from the floor.

Mikael looks over at Katherine as she gets up from the floor, "Katherine...."

Katherine smiles, "Kaboom." She throws two wolfsbane grenades in her hands at the hybrids.

Meanwhile, Damon is just about to stake Klaus, when Stefan knocks him off of Klaus and holds him down.

"What are you doing?!" Damon looks at his brother.

"Now, Anastasia!" Klaus screams, causing everyone to turn towards the Salvatore girl, who rushes to pick the White Oak dagger up from the ground.

Anastasia moves to stand in front of Mikael, "Hello, asshole." She quickly drives the stake through Mikael's heart, causing him to burst into flames and she watches him burn with a smirk on her face, "Goodbye, asshole."

"What the hell did you both do?" Damon looks between his daughter and brother.

"They've both earned their freedom." Klaus tells the eldest Salvatore as Stefan gets up from the floor and moves to stand in front of the hybrid, "Thank you, my friend. You no longer have to do as I say. You're free."

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

"𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 happen?" Elena asked Damon as the two were in the living room.

"We thought of everything, Elena! Klaus having hybrids. Mikael turning on us. We brought in Katherine so you weren't in danger. Anything that could have gone wrong we were prepared!" He takes a drink.

"I don't understand. Stefan wanted Klaus dead. More than anything. That's what we were counting on." Elena said.

"We blew it."

"Where's Katherine?"

"She ran for the hills like usual, the minute things got bad! And who blames her?! Klaus would've crushed her. I had him, Elena. I had Klaus! This could have all been over!!" Damon throws a bottle of scotch into the fireplace.

"Hey. Damon...hey! Hey, listen to me!" Elena grabs his face, "We'll survive this. We always survive. Trust me."

Damon frowns, "We're never getting Stefan back. You know what, don't you?"

"Then we'll let him go. Okay? We'll have to let him go."

Damon nods as his phone rings, "Not interested in the play-by-play of our failure right now, Katherine."

"I'm just calling to say goodbye. I don't know what to tell you. You had a good plan, Damon. And that's high praise coming from me."

"That's not very comforting at the moment. You're going back into hiding?"

"At least until my life is not boring. Goodbye, Damon."

"Take care of yourself, Katherine." Damon hangs up.

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

"𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 feel?" Dylan leans on the bathroom door as Anastasia takes the makeup off of her face, "You killed one of the people you were running from, Ana. You're free."

Anastasia looks at her self in the bathroom mirror, "I'm not free enough."

𑁍˚⸝⸝ --

"𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗘𝗞𝗔𝗛, 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 you? Pick up the phone, darling." Klaus spoke as he walked towards one of the large trucks, "Daddy is dead. It's time for a family reunion." He begins to get another phone call, so he switches, "Stefan! Miss me already?"

"I'm just calling to thank you for my freedom." Stefan tells him.

"oh, I like to believe I'm a man of my word, more or less."

"Thing is, it came at too high of a price. You took everything from me, Klaus." Stefan says.

"Let bygones be bygones, trust me. Resentment gets old." Klaus tells him as he approaches the truth where he was transporting his coffins.

"You know what never gets old?" Stefan asked him, "Revenge."

Klaus opens the now empty truck, all of this coffins gone, "No."

"What's the matter, Klaus? Missing something?" Stefan stands in a room full of the missing coffins.

"What are you doing?" Klaus asked him.

"Just enjoying my freedom." Stefan replies.

"I will kill you and everyone you've ever met!"

"You do that, and you will never see your family again."Stefan said, "I wonder Klaus, as someone who has been on step ahead for a thousand years...are you prepared for this?"