GILBERT HOUSEHOLD

Aella entered her bedroom and handed Elena the drink she'd just made, a warm mug of hot chocolate.

She turned back to the door, muttering an incantation under her breath with her eyes closed. "Phasmatos veras nos ex malom. Terra mora vantis quo incandis per vasa quo errum signos."

A bright flash of green light flickered past Aella's eyes as the Bennett Sealing Spell settled upon the room. "Let's see the all-powerful Jonas beat that spell," she muttered to herself before turning back to Elena.

"Don't let it go cold, E; it has my secret ingredient in it, you know, that only comes out on special occasions," Aella said, gesturing to the steaming drink.

Elena managed a strained smile. "Special occasions? More like whenever one of us is the target of a madman."

"Potato, potahto," Aella shrugged, taking a seat beside her friend on the bed. She nudged Elena playfully. "Hot chocolatey goodness with a secret ingredient I will take to my grave."

Elena looked up from the drink and dryly replied, "You mean cinnamon and vanilla essence?"

Aella gasped dramatically. "How did you know?" She glanced around the room in mock suspicion. "Did you put a microphone in here to hear my secrets?"

Elena chuckled softly. "And listen to what you and Stefan get up to? No, thanks." Her smile faded as she continued, "The last time one of us cooked with spices, Jeremy ended up in the emergency room. It didn't take a genius to figure out what the cinnamon and vanilla were for."

Aella looked genuinely surprised. "Wow! Maybe you should become a cop instead of a doctor."

Elena shrugged. "I think I've got the bedside manner suited to a doctor rather than a cop." She glanced up at Aella. "Good at keeping secrets, bad at admitting I was wrong."

Aella grimaced, her cheerful demeanor faltering. "So we're going to talk about it." She busied herself around the room, straightening objects unnecessarily.

"I don't think there's a better time," Elena said softly, setting her hot chocolate down. "You've locked us in here for god-knows how long. What better time for you to admit you hate me for lying to you?"

Aella dropped what she was doing and turned to Elena in shock. "Hate you? I could never hate you, Elena."

Tears welled up in Elena's eyes. "I wouldn't blame you if you did. You've done nothing but try to keep me alive, yet I decided to keep Damon's secret and risk everything you've done." She gestured to the sealed door. "All this, with Jonas and Luka, could have been avoided if I'd told you Damon's plan, and we stopped him from daggering Elijah."

Aella bit her lip, her expression conflicted. She moved to sit opposite Elena on the bed. "What you did didn't help things," she admitted. "But Damon, Luka, and Dr. Martin... that's on them. We'll never know if Elijah's plan would have worked, but the Martins' actions are their own. You shouldn't feel responsible for Luka or what Jonas did either."

Elena managed a grateful smile, but her relief was short-lived when she heard voices outside the room. Aella reassured her, "Don't worry, he can't get through the barrier. Plus..." Aella closed her eyes and whispered a spell too low for Elena to catch; when Aella's eyes, the green brighter than previously, the teen smiled softly, "It's just Bonnie, Jeremy, and Anna."

Elena relaxed slightly, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

As Aella began to pull away, Elena grabbed her hand and held her there. Aella tensed at the unexpected touch.

"You're still upset with me," Elena said quietly.

Aella withdrew her hand, worry flickering in her eyes. "Yes, I'm upset," she admitted, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm upset that you lied to me. But I'm more upset that from now on, I don't know if I can believe you."

Elena felt a pang of guilt at her friend's words. Aella turned away, fidgeting with objects around the room, and Elena reached for the now-cold mug of hot chocolate. Tears mixed with the chocolatey goodness as she wished for a way to mend the rift between them. She wished she could turn back time.

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Bonnie, Anna, and Jeremy entered the kitchen with heavy hearts, their steps weighed down by grief.

"Luka..." Bonnie shook her head, her gaze distant as she struggled to comprehend the reality of his death. "I can't believe he's dead. After what we did to him."

Anna and Jeremy quickly countered her words. "No, after what he did to you," Jeremy asserted firmly.

"Jeremy's right," Anna added, reaching over to hold Bonnie's hand. "You made your amends when you and your grandmother met up with them. Their actions have caused this; it's not your fault."

Bonnie's eyes welled with tears as she squeezed Anna's hand. "I couldn't do anything to help. I was useless. I hated it."

Their somber moment was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Bonnie glanced back to see Stefan and Elena entering the kitchen. Without hesitation, she rose from her seat and hurried over to Elena, relief flooding her at the sight of her friend.

"Thank god," Bonnie murmured, her grief palpable and her magic gone. Unaware that she was embracing Katherine instead of Elena, Bonnie held on tightly.

Anna instinctively stepped forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Jeremy, while Stefan shook his head at her briefly.

"What's going on?" Jeremy asked, his confusion evident.

Katherine gently extricated herself from Bonnie's embrace, her features barely masking her disdain as she addressed Stefan. "Too much. He'll explain. I'm going to clean up."

With a quick retreat, Katherine disappeared upstairs, leaving Bonnie bewildered.

Turning to Stefan to voice her concerns about Elena's behavior, Bonnie was met with his inquiry. "When did you guys get home?" He turned to Anna and Jeremy, concerned, "I thought you were going to the movies?"

"We were," Anna answered, standing guard before Jeremy. "Bonnie called us as we were about to head into the movies. We picked her up and came straight here. We got here a few minutes ago."

Stefan suppressed a frustrated sigh. "Did you check the house?"

Jeremy's agitation was palpable. "Why would we check the house?"

Elena's piercing scream, echoing through the house, abruptly cut short their conversation. Without hesitation, they all bolted up the stairs, their hearts racing with fear and apprehension.

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Elena's eyes widened in recognition at the sound of the familiar scream, her hand instinctively flying to her throat as she gasped, "That was me; that was my scream."

Aella's movements froze as Elena's words sank in. With a sense of urgency, Elena reached out, seeking answers, but Aella silenced her questions with a desperate hand wave, her focus fixed on the noises outside the door.

"That was Katherine's scream," Aella corrected, her voice tense as she pressed her ear against the door, straining to listen to the commotion unfolding.

Footsteps thundered up the stairs, accompanied by voices raised in alarm. Among them, Stefan's voice stood out, his words sending a shiver down Aella's spine.

"He's dead."

Without hesitation, Aella muttered the words of the unsealing spell, tearing open the door and bolting down the hallway toward Elena's bathroom. Behind her, Elena called out anxiously, questioning whether leaving was safe.

Reaching the doorway, Aella's eyes widened at the scene before her. Jonas lay lifeless on the floor, blood pooling around him, while Katherine stood nearby, seemingly unfazed. Stefan, Bonnie, Jeremy, and Anna surrounded her, their expressions a mix of shock and apprehension.

"You're welcome," Katherine chimed in, her tone casual as she continued to fix her makeup in the mirror.

"God! You are such a bitch," Aella's anger flared at the sight, her voice dripping with disdain as she turned to her cousin who knelt beside Jonas. "Is he really dead?"

Katherine's smirk widened, her attention still on her reflection. "I repeat: You're welcome."

As Bonnie moved to close Jonas' eyes, the unexpected happened. With a sudden gasp, Jonas grabbed hold of Bonnie, sending her into a panic-induced scream. Aella reacted swiftly, pulling Bonnie away from the grasp of the seemingly lifeless body.

In a moment of swift action, Stefan rushed forward and snapped Jonas' neck, ending the chaos as quickly as it had begun.

Collapsed on the ground, Aella and Bonnie gasped for breath, their hearts pounding in their chests. Katherine, unfazed by the turn of events, turned her attention away from the mirror, her gaze meeting Stefan's with a sly smile.

"Huh, looks like he wasn't dead," she remarked casually, her tone laced with amusement. "Always there to be my Prince Charming."

FORBES HOUSEHOLD

Caroline's eyes remained fixed on Matt's face as she sat by his side, her heart heavy with worry and guilt. She had rushed him to her home, placing him gently on her bed, and now she waited anxiously for any sign of improvement. A text from Aella had brought some relief, Jonas was dead so Elena was safe, but her attention never wavered from Matt.

As Matt began to stir, Caroline leaned in close, her voice soft and comforting. "Hey," she cooed, her gaze filled with concern.

Matt's brow furrowed as he slowly regained consciousness, trying to make sense of the pounding in his head. His eyes fluttered open, confusion evident in his expression.

Caroline watched as recognition dawned on Matt's face, his body tensing with sudden realization. His gaze met hers, and Caroline saw the panic in his eyes, his breath quickening.

She moved to comfort him, but Matt's reaction was unexpected. He pushed her away, his voice tinged with fear and anger. "Stop, Matt. You lost a lot of blood; you need to calm down."

"Calm down?!" Matt snapped, his voice sharp with emotion. "I... I drank your blood."

Caroline's heart sank at his words, her voice trembling as she tried to explain. "You were dying. My blood healed you."

Matt's expression hardened, his eyes burning with intensity. "I told you no."

Caroline shook her head, a forced laugh escaping her lips in a desperate attempt to lighten the mood. "You didn't mean that. You wouldn't mean that because we're together, and we love each other."

But Matt's resolve remained firm, his voice resolute. "Jenna shouldn't have done what she did. It was my choice, and I said no."

Caroline's heart shattered at his words, tears welling up in her eyes. "Matt-"

"No, Caroline," Matt cut her off, his voice filled with bitterness as he backed away. "What if I had died with your blood in me and I became a..." He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

Caroline's voice broke as she pleaded with him. "Became a what, Matt? Became a what?!"

At her anguished cry, Matt turned away, his expression unreadable. "Became a monster... Like you."

With those words hanging heavily in the air, Caroline watched helplessly as Matt left, the sound of the front door closing echoing in the room. She crumpled to the ground, her sobs wracking her body as she was consumed by grief. In that moment of despair, Liz rushed into the room, pulling Caroline into a tight embrace without hesitation, offering her solace in her time of need.

GILBERT HOUSEHOLD

"-Thank you for today."

Aella sat on the patio swing bench, fully immersed in her grimoire. The evening sunlight cast a warm glow around her as she flipped through the pages, her foot absentmindedly swinging back and forth, the slight pause in rhythmic motion the only indication that she'd heard Damon's voice.

"It was for Elena," she muttered, scowling at the book before her. "Even if it was Katherine's idea."

"It was for Elena," she muttered, her tone edged with frustration as she scowled down at the book before her. "Even if it was Katherine's idea."

Damon grunted as he settled beside her, his presence imposing yet familiar. "Still pissed with me?"

"Yup," Aella responded with a nonchalant pop of her 'p,' her eyes still fixed on the closed grimoire in her lap. She didn't bother to acknowledge his presence with a glance.

Damon's curiosity piqued as he peered at the title of the book. "Illusionary Manifestation Spell; that's different."

With a sharp movement, Aella snapped the book shut, her frustration evident in the force of her actions. "Thought I could try and reword a spell to hide Elena away, far away from Klaus."

Damon raised a skeptical eyebrow, his doubt evident in the subtle arch of his brow. "And you think she'd stay?"

Aella's response was a casual shrug, her indifference apparent as she brushed off his skepticism. "She would if she were knocked out."

Damon snorted at her sarcasm, unable to discern whether she was jesting or serious. "Your level of sarcasm has gotten to the point where I don't know if you're kidding or not."

Finally, Aella tore her gaze away from the grimoire, her eyes meeting Damon's with a hint of amusement. "My level of sarcasm has gotten to the point where I don't even know if I'm kidding or not."

Silence settled between them, the only sound the creaking of the swing as Damon rocked them gently back and forth. After a few moments, he spoke again, his tone softer, tinged with regret.

"I'm sorry," he said, his words a tentative offering of apology. Aella glanced up at him, her expression guarded as she waited for him to continue. "This thing with Jonas wouldn't have happened if Elijah was alive... I should have trusted you. From now on, we listen to you."

Aella felt a flicker of satisfaction at his admission, a small victory in the ongoing battle of wills between them. She bit her bottom lip to suppress the grin that threatened to form, but Damon saw it nonetheless, his own lips quirking with amusement.

"Okay, come out with it," he said, unable to resist the urge to tease her.

"I'm sorry, too," Aella responded, her tone tinged with indignation. Damon eyes darted back to Aella in surprise, and the witch sniffed indignantly, "Yeah, I can apologize." She shrugged casually, a single shoulder lifting in a gesture of nonchalance. "I should have made it clear to Elijah that we were a team before I accepted his demands."

Damon followed her gaze towards the house, where Elena was being comforted by Jenna and Bonnie. With a shrug of his own, he offered reassurance. "You saw an opportunity to save your friend and took it."

Aella's lips curved into a smile, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes. "Tomorrow. I'll tell you everything tomorrow."

As Damon rose from the bench and began to walk away, a genuine smile crossed his face. "You know, Pixie," he said, his tone lighthearted and genuine. "I quite like you from time to time... when you're not yelling at me or causing me agonizing pain." He glanced back at her over his shoulder, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "But know, if we die, I'm going to spend the rest of our afterlife reminding you; this was your fault."

Aella chuckled at his jest, her laughter echoing in the quiet evening air. "That's cool," she replied, her tone playful. "I wouldn't mind the company. I think we'd be awesome ghosts."

As Damon turned and walked away, Aella watched him go, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. Suddenly, a question occurred to her, and she called out after him.

"Damon?" she called, her voice breaking the silence of the evening. Damon paused and turned to look at her, curiosity evident in his expression. "Why did you ask me where the site of the witch massacre was?"

Damon's face betrayed no hint of emotion as he shrugged casually. "Because I have no clue."

Aella wasn't swayed by his act, her intuition telling her there was more to his question than met the eye. "You knew that Emily Bennett was the key to getting Katherine out of that tomb, probably did everything in your power to make sure that Emily was safe, yet you have no idea where she was killed."

Damon's eyes gleamed with mischief as he offered no explanation, his response cryptic and enigmatic "Nope!"

Aella chuckled to herself, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the vampire despite their differences.

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When Aella strolled into the kitchen a few hours later, the scene before her was both familiar and amusing. Jenna, seated at the table, was indulging in another round of ice cream, her spoon dipping into the carton with abandon. This time, Elena was her partner in this sweet crime, sharing the guilty pleasure.

"How much ice cream have you had today?" Aella couldn't help but tease, her amusement evident in her tone.

Jenna waved her off nonchalantly, a mischievous glint in her eyes, while Elena held out a spoonful of ice cream to Aella, silently inviting her to join in. Without hesitation, Aella gladly accepted, settling into a chair and relishing the creamy treat.

As Jenna reached for yet another spoonful, she let out a conflicted sigh, pausing in her indulgence. "Ric protected me tonight," she confessed, a hint of gratitude lacing her words. Aella and Elena exchanged knowing glances, understanding the complexities of the situation. Jenna continued to scoop up the ice cream, her thoughts clearly still lingering on the events of the evening. "Tonight was very weird."

"Tell me about it," Elena chimed in, rolling her eyes in agreement.

Jenna sighed again, her expression reflecting a mix of weariness and frustration. "I'm also sick of people dying in my house, evil or not."

Aella couldn't help but snort at Jenna's comment, her amusement bubbling to the surface. Meanwhile, Elena discreetly hid her smile behind her spoon, trying to maintain a semblance of seriousness despite the lighthearted banter. "Is it bad we eat ice cream when someone dies?" Aella quipped, her tone light but tinged with genuine curiosity.

The tranquil atmosphere was abruptly shattered by the unexpected sound of the doorbell ringing, causing Jenna to glance over her shoulder with a puzzled expression. Rising from her seat, she muttered to herself, "Who is that at this time?"

Aella arched an eyebrow at Elena, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I'm sure she bought another pint of ice cream; if it's John, can we kill him and continue the tradition?"

Ignoring Aella's jest, Elena followed Jenna towards the door, her curiosity piqued. Not one to miss out on any excitement, Aella grabbed another generous scoop of ice cream and trailed behind Elena. When they reached the doorway, Jenna stood frozen in place, her expression a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

Peering past Jenna, Aella's eyes widened, with her mouth full of cold ice cream she glanced around Elena and Jenna in astonishment as she spotted the unexpected visitor. Standing on the doorstep, looking somewhat nervous yet undeniably determined, was Isobel.

Isobel smiled nervously at Jenna, "I'm... Elena's mother."

A muscle in Elena's jaw twitched as she muttered, "Isobel."

Swallowing heavily, Aella winced at the instant brain freeze, blinking rapidly she managed to blurt out in a mixture of surprise and humor, "Whoa, Mama!"