I HAD EPIC.

Clementine knew she looked good in a deep scarlet-colored gown while on the arm of Elijah Mikaelson as they stepped into the Mikaelson manor that was slowly filling with guests. And Elijah looked fantastic in a tuxedo, his hair smoothed back neatly, not a strand out of place.

Though each of Elijah's brothers was jealous of the sight of them, they knew the two looked good together.

Clementine looked good with everyone.

She looked around the immaculately decorated foyer in awe. "You guys sure know how to throw a party," she noted, smiling up at Elijah.

"Well, there are no flaming shots, but we know how to entertain," Elijah told her.

"Just let me and Caroline plan the after-party," she said, grinning. "There is going to be an after-party, right?"

"I'm sure if anyone could convince my siblings to hold one, it would be you," he told her.

"We'll see what kind of mood Kol is in after getting his neck snapped."

From across the room, Kol's head whipped around so fast that he almost snapped his own neck, looking at Clem with wide eyes. And he quickly made his way to her side, pulling her from Elijah.

"My neck is going to be snapped? By who? My dastardly brother?" he asked quickly.

Clementine grinned and reached up to straighten his bowtie. "Not telling," she said in a singing tune.

He huffed childishly before raking his eyes down her form, sneakily sliding his arm around her waist to keep her close, much to Elijah's annoyance. "You look divine, Darling."

"You look alright," she told him, not wanting to admit how hot he looked in a suit.

He scoffed at the word, beginning to detest it. "I am a god amongst mortals, My Darling. I'm more than 'alright.'"

"If you say so," she shrugged before slipping from his hold and grabbing Elijah's hand. "C'mon. I'm sure that the townspeople have missed Mr. Smith and his charming disposition."

Elijah led Clem around the ballroom, and Kol, with nothing better to do, followed them around. He was simultaneously amusing Clementine while annoying Elijah, who just wanted a moment of peace with the girl that had been consuming his thoughts since the moment he was undaggered.

"Just tell me how handsome I am and I'll leave you alone," Kol said, just dying for a compliment from her pretty lips covered in shining gloss that smelled like strawberries. He found the scent heavenly.

With a smile on her face, Clem let go of Elijah and stepped close to Kol, putting her arms around his neck and looking up at him through her lashes. "If you wanna be my pretty baby so bad, all you have to do is ask."

Kol's mouth parted and he wasn't quite sure what to say. He didn't think he'd ever been called pretty before, but it made the tips of his ears heat up.

"Can I be your pretty baby?" he murmured, raising an eyebrow, his hands falling on her hips.

"I'll think about it," she said before standing on her toes to kiss his cheek, leaving behind a pink stain. Then she moved back out of his arms and winked goodbye, going off to find someone else to entertain her.

Kol's mouth felt painfully dry as he watched her go, suddenly feeling like a predator stalking his prey. Because God, he wanted Clementine Donovan. The boy had never been so happy that one of his victims came back to life.

"You look a bit pathetic, brother," Elijah said, a smug smile on his face.

"Oh, fuck off."

☽︎

"Red is certainly your color, Angel," Enzo said, having arrived on his own. Clem thought he looked to die for in his suit, and she found it hard to look away from him. But it helped that any time she did look away, she saw one of the Mikaelson men, who looked just as good.

"Does it remind you of the blood of your victims?" she asked jokingly.

"Close, but no. It happens to match the color in your cheeks when I do this," he murmured softly before dipping low, drawing her lips to his.

Clem sighed happily against his mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck. He slowly pressed her up against the nearby wall, not caring how improper it was. And as he pulled away, Clem's cheeks were flushed a beautiful red.

"There. That's my favorite color," Enzo whispered, brushing his thumb over her cheek.

"You can't kiss me like that when you know I'm here with Elijah," she practically whined.

"Elijah can kiss you however he'd like, Angel," he smirked. "But you can't look like that and expect me to have any self-control."

"I know I look good," she said jokingly before looking over his shoulder, stopping in awe as she saw Elena walking in. She couldn't help but mutter, "She looks better."

Damon had Elena on his arm, and Clementine hated the sight. She knew Damon liked Elena. She also knew Elena didn't like Damon. And she knew Elena liked her. But she couldn't help the pit of jealousy in her stomach.

"Relax your jaw, Angel," Enzo muttered, leaning down to brush his lips against her ear. "Anyone with eyes knows she'd rather be here with you."

"And she's not the only one," Caroline said, storming up to Clem. "You're here with Elijah? Elijah? And I heard that Kol guy pouting about not being with you. Boy talk. Now."

"It's safe to say I've got a lot of suitors, Care, so which one are you asking about?" Clem asked teasingly.

"The Mikaelsons — who are all evidently hot, which is unfair," she pouted. "Which one do you like most? Kol or Elijah?"

"Finn," she answered simply. "He hasn't killed me."

"Elijah hasn't killed you, love," Enzo reminded her.

"No, but before I changed things, he was going to betray Elena and let her die in the sacrifice, so he's on my list even if he didn't know he was on my list."

Elijah scoffed from across the room while Klaus laughed, thinking it was funny that he was in trouble for something he didn't even do.

"Well, we are having a serious, hours-long conversation, and soon," Caroline said, grabbing Clem's hand. Then she looked over her shoulder, seeing Damon and Elena coming their way. "But now it's time for you to seduce Damon's date."

With a smirk on her face, Caroline turned Clem around just as the two reached them. And Elena's eyes were already fixed on Clementine's, thinking she looked like the princesses in the story books that she used to marvel at.

"Elena," Clementine beamed, reaching for her hand. "You look stunning if it wasn't obvious. But you're always perfect."

She blushed from the compliment. "Thank you, Clemmy. You look beautiful."

"I look nice too," Damon muttered, rolling his eyes. He knew he didn't have a chance with Elena, but even still, he couldn't help but feel annoyed.

"Yes, not at all demon-like," Clementine told him with a smile.

"Well, come on, Lena," Clem said, linking her arm with the doppelgänger's. "Keep me company while Elijah does his speech thing."

"I was keeping you company," Enzo said with a frown.

"Me too," Caroline whined, neither wanting to be left alone with Damon.

Clem just smiled sweetly at them both, leading Elena away, who was smiling shyly at the ground. "Can you believe how decked out this place it?"

"I bet Care is jealous she didn't get to help," Elena said, knowing their best friend.

"So," Clementine said, choosing her words carefully. "How's Damon?"

Elena couldn't believe it because it actually sounded like Clem was jealous. She didn't think she was capable of making the girl feel that way. It made her heart stir with pride deep inside of her chest.

"He's being a gentleman," Elena assured her. Then she grinned. "So far."

"Well, I have an arsenal of indestructible vampires at the ready to kill him if he makes the wrong move," she said earnestly, coming to stop at the bottom of the stairs.

The entire Mikaelson family was gathered, and as Esther slowly joined them, her eyes on Elena, Elijah began his speech that he'd already recited to Clem on the drive over, wanting the night to be perfect.

Well, as perfect as they could manage. Rebekah passed the message along to her brothers, Finn included. It seemed he wasn't pulled into his mother's scheme this time around. Rather than just avoid the champagne, none of the Originals dared to drink a sip of anything at all.

Clem was fairly certain the verging-on alcoholics were in agony.

"Welcome, thank you for joining us. You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance," Elijah was saying.

Damon and Stefan both came up behind Elena and Clementine, doing their best to whisper as they eyed Esther suspiciously. "Do you see who I see?"

"Oh, yeah," Stefan muttered, not sure where he stood on Esther and getting revenge on Klaus anymore.

"Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz," Elijah went on, "so if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom."

As Esther retreated silently back upstairs, Elena turned away, not desiring to follow her. Clem smiled sadly at the girl, at least happy she wasn't willing to help the woman.

"I guess I have to let you go now," Clem told her.

Damon rolled his eyes and held out a hand to Elena. "It would be rude not to dance, you know."

"Fine," Elena muttered, relenting and taking his hand.

But it was so clear to everyone who she'd rather be dancing with.

It left Stefan and Clementine alone for a moment in tense silence. "Wanna da—"

"No," Clem said, turning to seek out Elijah who was almost to her. She met the man halfway, greeting him with a smile. "Care to dance, Mr. Smith?"

Elijah smiled and brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly. "Nothing would bring me greater joy, Miss Donovan."

As he passed, Kol made a bit deal of pretending to gag, which embarrassed the random girl on his arm — Clem was fairly certain she was one of the many Fell children and couldn't have been older than fifteen. Dancing with a boy as handsome as Kol must've been a dream for her.

Elijah led Clementine to the dance floor, and soon the music began to flow. It was safe to say Clem was a bit rusty.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled as she stepped on Elijah's toes. He didn't seem bothered though. "They didn't teach ballroom dancing at the hospital."

"You're doing perfect, Elskan," he assured her, not ever wanting her to feel embarrassed. "And I might know a way to help."

She squealed as he lifted her up, setting her on his toes intentionally. Clem held on, letting him spin her around the ballroom, a big grin on her face that made his insides twist in a way they never had in the presence of another woman.

"Thank you," she said, giggling a bit. "And thank you for inviting me tonight."

"Well, I've hardly had you to myself since being undaggered. I selfishly wanted you to myself for the night — most of it, anyway. I know time as precious as yours is to be shared."

"I'm glad you understand," she said as her gaze softened. "And I'm glad you're not deterred. Most would be."

"I am not most men, Clementine," he said, dipping her low. It was only a second, but his lips hovered over hers torturously. But then he was rightening her and spinning her into someone else's waiting arms.

Much to her displeasure, it was Stefan, who had a brooding expression on his face, as usual.

"Clem," he said tensely. When she ignored him and continued focusing on the dance, staring at her feet, he kept talking. "Look, I'm sorry I kidnapped you and that I've lost control of my bloodlust."

"I don't care that you eat people and that you kidnapped me," she spoke, meeting his confused gaze. "Klaus killed me twice and I still have a crush on him."

Caroline, who was dancing with the hybrid, thought he looked like a golden retriever as he whipped around to look at Clem with hopeful eyes.

"I'm mad at you because of how you've been treating Elena," Clementine went on. "She loved you, Stefan. She deserved better even if things can't be fixed between you."

"And you're the reason they can't be fixed," he said sadly.

Clementine's eyes softened, feeling a bit bad for him. "I'm sorry it's like this, Stefan. You deserve someone... epic."

He huffed in amusement at the wording she chose. "I had epic."

"And maybe you'll have it again if you chill the fuck out," she said before he was spinning her away, ending up with Caroline.

Clementine found herself now in Finn's arms, and since he'd been listening to her and Elijah as they danced, he was already prepared, lifting her onto his feet. It made her smile as she danced with him.

"Thanks, Baby Girl," she beamed. "Are you having fun?"

"Decidedly more fun now that I have you in my arms," he flirted openly, making her blush. "And you, ástin mín?"

"I don't like crowds," she admitted. "I was... alone for so long in the psych ward."

"What is a... psych ward?" he questioned, tilting his head. He still didn't quite understand.

She bit her lip, not wanting to be so depressing on such a fun night. "Um, it's a place I was locked up in when I was little. Like, uh, a prisoner. Because I was different. My mind was different. Some people thought I was dangerous," she explained, which clearly distressed Finn.

By some people, she meant her own brother, but she didn't want to get into that. Rebekah had mentioned him earlier that morning but spared them of the details. So, she forced a smile, not helping to ease any of Finn's concerns. "But I'm free, and so are you. I'm just glad we get to exist at the same time as each other."

"Yes," he mused, already thinking of the girl in his arms as his whole world. "Something tells me that my life will be better for knowing you."

As the dance came to an end, Clementine got off his feet and bowed just like everyone else was. Finn smiled charmingly, keeping her close as he pulled her away from the dance floor. He held her hand, looking down at her skin as he rubbed it comfortingly.

"Perhaps you could come by the library tonight? I need something of a tutor if I'm to catch up on this time period," he said, just hoping for some true alone time with her.

"I'll see you at midnight," she promised, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

Then she was off, milling about the crowd. She balanced her time between all her friends and family, having the time of her life as she danced and laughed. It reminded her of her birthday, the last time she had truly remembered letting loose.

Little did she know disaster was brewing behind closed doors.

☽︎

Elena had just been going to the bathroom, needing a break from Stefan's intense stares and Damon's pathetic, kicked-puppy-dog look. She'd been fixing her hair in the mirror when the world around her grew hazy. It was like she blinked and opened her eyes again, finding herself in a new location.

Esther Mikaelson was standing above her while Elena was seemingly trapped on the couch. Her limbs weren't bound and yet she couldn't move. And Esther was burning some kind of herb that smelled funny.

"It's only sage. I've spelled it so we can speak freely without fear of being overheard," Esther said as if that was what Elena was most curious about. "I do hate you didn't choose to meet me on your own."

"What are you doing? Why can't I move?" Elena asked, fear coursing through her veins.

"Because I need you, my dear," she said simply. "I understand Rebekah shared the story of my family. How I upset the balance of nature by turning my children into vampires."

"She said you did it to protect them from the werewolves."

"It's true. But in no time at all, they began to feed on human blood. They ravaged the town with no remorse. Eventually, Niklaus turned against me," she explained. "I've gathered them together to perform a ritual. The first step requires blood from the doppelgänger. Only a drop. Its essence will be in the champagne toast later on this evening."

Elena's eyes went wide, realizing what Clementine meant when she said for Rebekah and her brothers to not drink the champagne. And unfortunately, Elena wasn't good at schooling her expression.

Esther eyed her suspiciously. "What do you know?"

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head.

Not having the patience for it, Esther huffed and muttered her spell. Then she asked again. "What do you know?"

Much to her horror, Elena found that her mouth was moving without her permission, the truth spilling from her lips. "Clemmy had a vision. She warned your children that you're trying to kill them and all vampires."

The Original witch swore under her breath, detesting the Seer more than she already did. "Nevertheless, it will work. Perhaps it will not be tonight's champagne, but any form of ingestion will do. There are a litany of bottles of alcohol Niklaus has planted around the house."

Elena tried to struggle as Esther came closer, a knife in hand. But she couldn't do anything as Esther pricked her finger, collecting a small bit of blood.

"And when they do drink, they will be linked as one," she went on.

"But Klaus can't be killed," Elena reminded her, finding comfort in it surprisingly. She couldn't lose Caroline.

"Tonight's spell links all my children together, so that if one goes, they all go," she explained.

"What?" Elena asked in horror.

"I love my family, Elena, but they are an abomination, just as all vampires are. I betrayed nature when I created them. It's my duty to kill them all."

"I'll warn them," Elena said, shaking her head.

"Oh, but dear," Esther said with a condescending look, coming closer. "How can you warn them if you do not remember this?"

Then Esther brought her hands to Elena's head once more, and all the doppelgänger saw was a blurry haze.