"So the doppelganger isn't the problem, her blood is the solution?" said Rebekah, seated on the car bonnet.

"Seems so." Said Klaus, shortly.

"How did you know?" she tilted her head, watching him.

"You remember how much the original witch hated me. Did you honestly think I'd do anything but the opposite of what she said?"

"A thousand years in the grave and she's still screwing with you."

"Ahh, it makes sense if you think about it from her perspective. It was her failsafe in case I ever broke the hybrid curse. The doppelganger 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."

"Leaving me alone for all time." He looked down, unwilling to meet his sister's eye.

"Is that what this is about? Your obsession with hybrids? You just don't want to be alone?"

"What I want, is to take my girl, take my hybrid and get the hell out of this one pony town." He turned away for a moment before turning back. "You know why don't you get the truck? I'll get Elena." Rebekah silently slid of the car bonnet, annoyed by his swift dismissal but for once to airing her grievances, and walked off in the direction of the truck. Klaus watched her go, relieved that his instructions hadn't sparked another argument from his baby sister, before heading into the hospital, up to the room where he'd left the doppelganger. The nurse was still there, dutifully collecting the blood into bags for him. He thanked her and collected it. There was enough for now. He could always get more from her later after all, he told himself before picking up the sleeping doppelganger and carrying her out to the waiting truck. Rebekah watched him place the unconscious girl in the back, tucking her under his jacket with an almost tenderness in his actions. She felt resentment flicker inside of her at the gesture. Why was she never enough? Why did he always need to seek out more?

Neither sibling spoke as Klaus directed the truck to the road and out of Mystic Falls.

I woke up in unfamiliar surroundings, dizzy and very disorientated. My head felt like I'd been hit with a truck and everything inside it had fallen out, giving me both a headache and light headedness simultaneously. I winced, wishing away the pain, and tried to concentrate. I was staring up at a raised ceiling with a large crystal chandelier in the centre. I tried to sit up but couldn't. I felt panic begin to set in but I forced myself to remain calm and assess the situation. I systematically tested each of my limbs to make sure they worked and to try and identify the source of lack of movement. They were heavy but responsive which brought me to the conclusion that I was restrained rather than paralysed or anything else like that. This knowledge didn't help quell my panic though, rather it increased it. I tried to work out where I was. The last thing I remembered was the hospital... taking my blood. Klaus had wanted it for his hybrids. The nurse... she'd sedated me. After that everything had gone black until now. None of that really helped me work out where I was and all I had to go on to gauge my location was a ceiling, an over the top light fixture and whatever the hard surface I was lying on belonged to. I realised, when I attempted to move again, that I was missing the comforting presence of fabric against my skin. I lifted my head as much as I was able and saw a bare stretch of skin, only broken by some form of binding. I was naked. And tied up. On, at a guess, a dining room table. Fuck. This was not good, at all.
As I struggled to come to terms with what was happening, I became aware of voices nearby, talking softly but getting louder as they got closer to me.

"See?" said a soft British accent behind my head. "I told you I heard her wake up." I strained my neck, trying to see who was speaking, without much luck. I couldn't see anything. Whoever it was, was stood just out of my field of vision. By the sound of it, they were male and from his words, I suspected they were a vampire as well. Which, considering the number of times I'd been abducted, tormented and terrorized by the species, wasn't too great a stretch of the imagination.

"Yes, brother, well done," said a nauseatingly familiar voice. Klaus. I groaned and closed my eyes, hoping that this would all dissolve back into nothing, I'd wake up in the hospital and this would turn out to be some horrible nightmare. Or at least that Klaus would go away and leave me in peace for a while. I'd rather not have him around but if I had to, I wanted to at least be fully within my senses. He really didn't help my headache. He chuckled softly, clearly seeing my ploy. "I'm not going anywhere, love." I kept my eyes closed anyway. It was probably foolish and, when dealing with a vampire, it was probably smarter to have what limited senses I had fully available but I couldn't handle it right now. If I saw him, I wouldn't be able to keep my panic at bay and I would scream. Or cry. Or throw up. Or all three. Not really the impression of pseudo bravery I wanted to give to the immortal. Although, throwing up might repulse him enough to send him away, I considered.

"I don't think she's pleased to see you Nik," said the first voice, the one I didn't know.

"It would seem so. Do you think she'll be pleased to see you Elijah?" At the name, my eyes snapped open and frantically darted around, searching. I considered Elijah an ally, despite his betrayal during the sacrifice. I understood his reasoning behind it. His loyalty was to his family above all else, as was mine and as it should be. I accepted that. His disappearance hurt a little, but I didn't think he'd intended to leave us. Maybe, if he was here, perhaps he could help me! Or at least explain what was going on and ease my panicking heart before it gave out completely.
There was the sound of laughter from the assembled group at my eager searching. I couldn't tell how many people there were but definitely more than Klaus and his friend who had spoken. Elijah's face moved into my field of vision briefly, impossibly handsome and reserved as always. I couldn't help but be reassured by his presence. Even if he'd come at me, fangs out and eyes veiny I wouldn't have panicked… as much as with another vampire. He just had a calm demeanour about him. It was impossible to think that he and Klaus were brothers.

"Hello Elena," he said quietly, face blank, no quirk of the lips or movement of those arched eyebrows like every other time. Then he retreated from my line of sight as if ashamed to let me look at him too long. I wondered if he felt bad about betraying us. But that thought was quickly pushed aside by more pressing issues circulating my mind, like what was going on here, why I was tied up and where my clothes were.

"Well since our guest of honour is awake, we should begin. Firstly, introductions." Said Klaus. I felt hands on my head and I struggled weakly at the touch, which proved futile and went ignored by the surrounding company. "You know Elijah already Elena, intimately if I'm not mistaken." He twisted my head painfully so my eyes landed on Elijah, who was leaning on a chair, eyes averted from me. He jerked his hand slightly in acknowledgement of the introduction. Seated in the chair he was leant on was the blonde girl Klaus had brought to the school with him. Rebekah. "You briefly met my sister earlier. However, first impressions are rarely accurate and I can assure you she is in fact... ten times worse." Rebekah let out an affronted noise at the comment but Klaus ignored it, carrying on, and twisted my head the other way, making my eyes water with the force and the continued pain of my headache. I blinked away the tears so I could see. Two men came into view, one excitable and young looking with unruly caramel hair, the other with a bored, impassive expression on his face and neat, dark locks.

"My brothers, Kol and Finn you've not had the pleasure of meeting yet. They've only recently been restored to existence." The daggered brothers. I couldn't help but be curious about them. Were they like Klaus… or Elijah? Surely Elijah wouldn't have wanted to bring them back so desperately if they were as villainous as the brother he despised?

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine," said the younger one, who I could now identify as the owner of the first voice I'd heard. The other didn't speak, just inclined his head slightly in my direction. My head was sharply twisted again so my eyes were staring up into Klaus', locked into his intense, consuming gaze. I resisted the urge to close my eyes again. I had a feeling if I did, he'd just pry them open. He enjoyed making me uncomfortable.

"Now the introductions are complete, we can start the ritual. Bring in the witch." I heard footsteps as someone left, presumably to fetch the aforementioned witch. I was struggling to control my fear which had flared up at the mention of the witch. A witch meant magic. Vampires I could handle. I mean, they compel, they bite, and they kill. If you met a vampire, it was an easy assumption what would happen. With a witch, there was no certainty. Anything could be about to happen. What were they planning to do with me?!

"I must say Nik, it was incredibly unfair for you to hog the delicious doppelganger so long." Said the younger one, Finn or Kol I wasn't sure which was which.

"It's not my fault Kol, blame it on Elijah." Said Klaus. Kol then. Finn was clearly the more resigned one.

"I was merely keeping her safe until she could serve her purpose, brother." Said Elijah coldly. At his words, I started to thrash, anger fuelling my actions. I struggled against Klaus' hold, curse words flying from my lips. I'd thought he was an honourable man, a true, loyal man but he wasn't. I was wrong. He was a liar, a traitor. He always had been and I'd been a fool to trust him.

"Oooh, she's a fiery one isn't she?" said Kol with delight and amusement at my anger. I felt a hand skim my throat and snarled at him as best I could, trying to twist my head in an attempt to bite him. I knew it would only make him angry or at least mildly annoyed and do very little damage but I wanted to hurt something! "Awww, what's the matter darling? Don't you like me?" He continued his path down over my shoulder, inching towards my exposed breasts. His hand stopped sharply before he got there, as if he'd been grabbed and restrained from further movement. There was no sound accompanying the halted action to indicate what had caused it but for whatever the reason, I was thankful for it. I stayed tense however, unable to let the relief permeate my body.

"It's not you that's got her riled up Kol," said Rebekah. "See that look on her face? That is the look of complete and utter betrayal. I know it well." Did I detect pain in her voice? I felt a slight twinge of sympathy for the girl. "She actually thought Elijah liked her. Pitiful isn't it?" Ok, sympathy gone. I fell still and took deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. I couldn't let them get to me. Yes, Elijah's betrayal hurt but I had to focus on the bigger picture. I had to concentrate on surviving the situation in the best shape I could, not petty grudges against stupid lying vampires that would only lead to damage that would hinder any escape attempt I made.

"Excuse me? Are you finished antagonizing the doppelganger or should I bring the witch back later?" said an unfamiliar voice which I assumed belonged to the last brother, Finn. It was an easy guess even if he hadn't been the only voice I'd yet to hear. He sounded very apathetic about the situation, voice matching his expression, clearly bored by his siblings' antics. I wasn't surprised. If they were all vampires, he'd probably seen them act this way many times before in the past and had long ago lost his tolerance for such behaviour. I barely knew them and my tolerance was already wearing thin. Mind you, the chains were probably a contributing factor to that.

"Oh no, we're about done." Said Klaus. "Hands off Kol, save it for later." I guessed he was what had stopped Kol's exploration. Strange, I hadn't taken him for the respectful type. Kol grumbled but his hands disappeared. A woman with dark skin moved across my line of vision and pushed Klaus out of the way, replacing him behind my head. The siblings surrounded me and I felt hands start to rest on my bare skin. I couldn't tell which was which, apart from Rebekah's obviously female hands, who was by my legs.

"GET OFF ME!" I shrieked, struggling with an almighty fury, trying to pull away from their hands, but the limited space meant I only succeeded to collide with one when I pulled away from another.

"She's a screamer. I knew it." Said Kol. I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. I hated it. He was drawing amusement from my suffering, the sick bastard. Now him, I could easily believe he was related to Klaus. They were very similar.

"We need her silent for the ritual," said Finn.

"Anything you can do? She's irritating." Said Rebekah. My cries were suddenly cut off. I tried to speak but couldn't. Every time, the words stuck in my throat and made me splutter and gag. I stopped trying after realising just how futile an effort it was. I had no desire to choke on my own tongue.

"Aww, that's a shame. I enjoy them loud."

"Kol, shut up. We're ready when you are, Gwen." Said Elijah's voice. A knife was passed over my head, along with a bowl, and I flinched. Magic was bad enough but magic that involved sharp objects was worse. Why was it that every damn spell seemed to involve my blood? Whatever happened to eye of newt and toe of frog and all that stuff?!
I wanted to close my eyes but I decided I'd rather see what was going on as much as possible, even if I couldn't defend myself. There was a soft hiss of pain, and I felt dampness dripping on my skin. I guessed that one of the gathered vamps had cut their hands and the blood was dripping on me. Eww. Gross. Technically I shouldn't be complaining since, at least, it wasn't my blood that was being shed but still… nasty. I trembled, wanting to move away from the sticky liquid as it ran over my skin. The knife was once again passed over my head to the witch, the blade stained red.

"Pro puero isto oravi, et congregata est ad animum redit acciperet. Eorum spiritus implicabitur in saecula. Erit anima eorum, ingenia esse. Corda eorum in unum. Ex maiore illius et miserationes. Vestigium Is cum sanguine. Cutis sanguinem, sanguinem in ossibus corporis sanguinem." A hand was pressed against my forehead, leaving the residue of blood behind when it was lifted. I felt sick, feeling it lingering on my flesh. I saw Finn briefly out of the corner of my eye and guessed it was his hand that had touched me.

"Ex secunda serenitatem suam silentio. Vestigium Is cum sanguine. Cutis sanguinem, sanguinem in ossibus corporis sanguinem." Blood was smeared across my lips like crude lipstick and down across my chin and throat."Ex tertia famem et ambitio. Vestigium Is cum sanguine. Cutis sanguinem, sanguinem in ossibus corporis sanguinem." More blood, this time over my stomach. "Ex quarta amor et desiderium. Vestigium Is cum sanguine. Cutis sanguinem, sanguinem in ossibus corporis sanguinem." I felt a cold hand probe between my legs and jerked away as best I could, failing miserably. Blood was smeared across my inner thighs and fingers slightly rubbed my most intimate parts before retracting. I guessed it was either Klaus or Kol who was responsible for that. They both seemed the type. "A quinto femina, et fortitudo ejus certamque. Vestigium Is cum sanguine. Cutis sanguinem, sanguinem in ossibus corporis sanguinem." Soft feminine hands rubbed blood on the soles of my feet, then a curved nail jabbed sharply into the skin. If I had been able to speak, I would have yelped in pain. I settled for glaring at the ceiling and trying to remove myself from my body as much as possible. I felt disgusting. Every inch of my skin felt like it was covered in the quickly drying fluid, although I knew it probably wasn't as much as I fear.

"Observetis eam sicut et illorum sanguinem super cutem." A bowl was pressed to my lips, liquid lapping at my closed mouth. I remembered the bowl from earlier and put two and two together. Nu uh. Not happening. I kept it closed tight, refusing to let anything enter my mouth. No way was I drinking that. It was bad enough having part of them on me let alone inside me. Someone gripped my skin sharply between their nails, causing me to let out a startled choking noise in pain and shock. The liquid was tipped down my throat the second my lips parted. I gagged as the thick substance coated my mouth and throat; the bitter, coppery taste of blood fogged my senses. All I could concentrate was the taste and my disgust. I gagged and retched, spitting and spluttering, trying to get it out of me any way possible. A hand was clasped over my lips, preventing me from ridding any residual traces of the vile substance from my mouth.

"Observetis eam sicut et illorum sanguinem super cutem. Ut ad eos sanguis in corpore." The cool blade of the knife was trailed over my flesh, sending shivers through my body, before coming to rest over my heart, the point pressed against me, leaving an indent in my fragile skin. My breathing picked up sharply, fear coursing through me. Suddenly she stabbed it into my chest. I screamed. Or at least, I think I did. I heard the sound but I wasn't sure if I'd uttered it or if it was just in my head.

"Observetis eam sicut et illorum sanguinem super cutem. Ut ad eos sanguis in corpore. Ut sanguis in corde subsisterent." I felt something strange spreading throughout my body; my pores began to heat, every nerve was on fire and at the same time numb. Fire and ice, coexisting and destroying my body together. The fire raged before being replaced by freezing ice, flooding my veins. My head was swimming; pressure was crashing down on me from every angle, pain building inside my skull until I thought it might burst. I felt like my body was being dismantled piece by piece, stripped of skin and bone until nothing was left of me. It was too much. I needed an escape, not even a physical one, just some relief from the tormenting agony raging inside me. My mind began to shut down. I felt my consciousness fading. My eyes began to close and as they did, I saw their faces above me. Elijah, Klaus, Kol, Rebekah, Finn. Elijah, Klaus, Kol, Rebekah, Finn. The world spun around me and they blurred into one, and then blurred further into nothing.

As I drifted to oblivion, words drifted to my ears. It was the chant, the same language as all the other words had been spoken, but it wasn't being said solely by the witch. It seemed to fill my head, echoed in five voices, louder than the spoken sixth. The voices were speaking as one but at the time each was separate and clearly distinguishable. They repeated the words over and over, louder with each passing second but never changing volume.

"Soror nostra amator, protectoris nostri, nostri puerum servit. Recede a nobis, et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Et nos unum sumus."

Our sister, our lover, our protector, our child, our slave. Stand with us, always and forever. We are one.