The next day ended up being pure crap.

It hadn't started off all that bad, and Esmeray had been fooled into thinking that everything was fine when it wasn't. When she'd awoken, she'd decided that she did want to leave with Klaus. He'd been overjoyed to hear it, and immediately gave her as many boxes, bags, and suitcases as she might need. She'd packed her things into the provided containers and used magic to help protect some of the more fragile items that she owned. Knowing that some other trinkets and clothes were still at the Salvatore House, she made her way there to collect them.

"So you're leaving," said Damon, who was putting on his jacket as if he was going to run an errand as soon as she walked out the door. "Like... actually."

"I can't stand to not be a full hybrid any longer," she sighed. "I've waited long enough. I got lucky that I didn't have to turn last full moon... even if it meant that stupid Esther was channeling me. I've been awake for nearly eight months now. According to the birthday I decided on... I'll be twenty soon, and one thousand twenty-six in real time. I want to be a full hybrid before then."

"Will you visit?" asked Damon, looking saddened to hear that she really didn't want to stay. "Once you're more wolfy than witchy?"

She shrugged. "Or maybe you can visit me. Get away from Mystic Falls for a bit and see the world again. You've been stuck here for a long while, tackling problem after problem. You need a break, too, Damon."

"How about this— the instant that you become a full hybrid, you call me, and I'll drop everything to go where you are. We'll have non-alcoholic drinks and go to a club to celebrate. You can invite Anya, too."

Esmeray grinned, pulling him into a hug. "I'll always be one phone call away," she told him.

"Even if I want to call you at four in the morning?" Damon asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Sure. Just expect me to be groggy."

"Think you might get frisky on the trip with Anya?"

"Definitely not," said Esmeray, shaking her head. "Anya understands that it's not... going to happen. And she's respectful about it. Either way, she isn't the type to want to get frisky until we've really solidified a relationship. Sending each other memes and Tumblr posts really isn't enough, and even the occasional existentialist conversation doesn't help. I don't think she feels all that attracted to me anymore, but..."

"But things might change once you two are staying together and preparing for the ritual," finished Damon, wiggling his eyebrows. "You know, Klaus shouldn't be angry with you if you choose to try out a relationship with her first. I'm going to say this only because you're my friend: I think you'd be happier with Anya than with him. Her wolf may not be your soulmate, but I'm sure she'd be more loving, and that's what you deserve. Plus, you don't want kids, and at least with Anya, you won't have to worry about accidentally conceiving one."

Esmeray mulled it over. "I guess we'll see what happens. I imagine she'll still want to journey with me to find more Poldarks. She is really sweet... and once I help her with something, she'll be a lot more comfortable with traveling. I think she's going to start growing out her hair."

"Ah, that's right, you did say she was bald," said Damon. "You know, bald chicks are honestly really hot."

"Oh, trust me, she is absolutely gorgeous."

The goodbye with Damon was fine. Esmeray appreciated his support and his help with packing the rest of the items she wanted to take with her. And even what happened afterward was decently nice, too, though she wouldn't have been so happy if she knew the truth behind it all.

"Rebekah is insistent that I attend that bloody Decade Dance," huffed Klaus as he brought a moving trolley to take her boxes to the foyer.

"Then go," urged Esmeray. "I can stay and pack everything else."

"Nonsense, love, I won't leave you here to do all the work. The servants can take care of that, that's why they're employed here." He came to stand in front of her. "I was actually wondering... if you'd like to be my date."

Esmeray, who had yet to go on a proper date or even be someone's date to any formal occasion, blinked several times before answering. "Well, alright. I admit... the idea of a high school dance isn't appealing... otherwise I would have said I was seventeen and enrolled alongside Rebekah."

Klaus grinned, because he didn't want to go either, but at least he wouldn't be suffering alone. "Perfect. The theme is the 1920s, and while you were not around, you have all my memories of it. Meaning—"

"You're going to choose a dress for me to wear, aren't you?"

"Only if you're comfortable with it, love. Otherwise, you can choose your own dress."

Esmeray smirked. "Or I can not actually wear a dress. Mind Spells are useful there."

The hybrid across from her looked skeptical. "What do you mean by that, love?"

"I mean, I could go dressed in pajamas and just do an illusion spell so that everyone thinks they're seeing me in a flapper dress and heels, with my hair curled, but really, I'll be perfectly comfortable."

Klaus looked intrigued. "In that case, you might as well use a spell to make it look like I'm in a suit. I've packed all of mine."

Esmeray decided that this was a good idea. With several gentle waves of her hands, she created the illusion of both of them being dressed in proper 20s fashion before they made their way to Mystic Falls High School. The hybrids didn't expect to have any fun, but they were both pleased to be in each other's company.

They found several high school students already dancing by the time they walked in, but none of them bore any slight resemblance to Rebekah, which was strange. The song playing was relatively slow, and Esmeray could see Elena and Stefan off to the side, as well as Caroline, who was with Tyler Lockwood.

As soon as Klaus saw him, his jaw went slack, and he made his way toward him, which made Tyler tense as he sensed his sire approaching him. "Where've you been, mate?" asked Klaus, looking at him beadily.

"I just got back in town," said Tyler, trying to keep his voice level.

Klaus gave him a tight-lipped smile. "That's funny— I don't recall giving you permission to leave in the first place."

"Klaus," said Esmeray sharply, frowning at him. "Stand down." She moved to shake Tyler's hand, not really acknowledging Caroline, for obvious reasons. Clearly, the blonde was not very delighted with the sight of Klaus and Esmeray together.

"Nice to see you again," said Tyler politely, nodding at her as he let go of his hand.

Almost immediately, Klaus put his hand in hers, pulling her back, a low growl escaping his mouth. Caroline and Tyler looked startled, and Esmeray snatched her hand away, glaring at him. "Calm down, I was just saying hello," she said, trying to talk to his obviously very jealous inner wolf. "You don't have to be rude just to pretend you're the Alpha male in every situation."

"I'm not pretending," said Klaus, still staring down Tyler as if he was wondering how best to kill him. "I am the Alpha male."

"Tell your wolf to sit down like a good little dog, before I hex you out of your stupid mate trance," Esmeray threatened.

Tyler made a noise that sounded half like he was choking, and half like he was laughing. "You two—?"

"Yes," said Esmeray flatly. When she saw Klaus wasn't backing down, she put her finger on his arm, sending electric shocks through his body, making him take a step back. "Don't think so highly of yourself, inner Klaus, because right now, I'm the Alpha, and I'm telling you to back the hell down unless you want me to make your brain bleed."

Klaus looked at her almost with puppy eyes before nodding. She motioned for him to follow her away. "You need to have a conversation with your wolf," she said, her face becoming flushed once they were out of the gymnasium. "Let it know that when I greet people, I'm not trying to start a problem. Your wolf needs to understand that we're not together, and even if we were, there is absolutely nothing wrong with me saying hello to one of my friends who I haven't seen in awhile. We'll establish a code of loyalty if and when the time comes for that. You might end up killing your own hybrids out of jealousy. You don't have to prove anything— we all know you're the Alpha to them."

"But not to you?" he asked curiously, feeling his anger dissipating. He really hadn't been able to control how defensive he got, thinking Tyler wanted to make a move on her. He had somehow imagined a terrible scene of Tyler kissing Esmeray, and despite knowing that it would never happen, he just wanted to rip that stupid heart out of the Lockwood boy to guarantee it could never be a reality.

"Of course not. For one, I'm assuming that in this mate relationship thing, the one who has the most control over their inner wolf is the Alpha. Right now, it's me, because I haven't met her yet, and my actions don't become clouded by her desires. And I don't really feel comfortable addressing anyone as my Alpha anyway. I only did it with my father because, well, he led our entire Pack, and times were different. I'm not in a Pack anymore, and I'm not one of your hybrids. So addressing you as a superior feels wrong. We're supposed to be equals."

"Equals," he repeated, smirking coyly as if to tease her. "And yet you're the Alpha?"

"I said it was an assumption. Again, that terminology is just strange now if I'm not going to be part of a Pack."

"I don't mind it either way, love. I'm perfectly fine addressing you as my Alpha..." he leaned closer. "Because I am quiteeager to do anything I can to please you, and that's not my inner wolf talking. That's me saying that if you were to tell me to lay down right now so that you could sit on my face, I would do it without hesitation."

Esmeray felt like the wind got knocked out of her, and she forced a laugh, her face feeling like it was on fire. Klaus winked, knowing exactly what he was making her feel. Her stomach churned as she watched him move off to the side, pulling out his phone to call Rebekah as he made his way back toward the parking lot. His entire tone changed as he left her a voicemail. "Rebekah, call me back immediately. I only came to this ridiculous dance because you begged me to, and now you're nowhere to be found."

Just as Esmeray caught up to him, he stopped, seeing a line of salt on the floor. "What is this?" he demanded lowly.

"Your mother is back," said Stefan Salvatore behind them. Klaus turned as the younger vampire said, "Bonnie is already working to try and remove the barrier."

"Barrier?" said Esmeray in confusion. "But I don't feel anything..." she reached her hand out, and took a step. She made it easily to the other side of the salt line. "Maybe it's only for vampires?"

"That means you have a head start," said Stefan, looking relieved. "Esther has Elena. We don't know what else—"

He and Klaus both suddenly tensed, because Esmeray was suddenly standing there in her pajamas, her spell to disguise herself having melted away the instant she crossed the salt border. "Love," said Klaus worriedly. "Step back over the line. Now."

Esmeray started to, but it was already too late. Unbeknownst to her, Esther had solidified her hold on her once more by washing away her magic with the salt. The werewitch stumbled, and collapsed into Klaus's arms, her body shaking. "Klaus," she managed weakly, her consciousness starting to slip away. She thought maybe this time, there was something he could do . "Klaus— please—"

But there was nothing he could have done. She stopped speaking, and her eyes shut themselves completely. The hybrid had to keep her from sinking to the ground, his eyes wide with panic. "No," he said lowly. "No— not again— no—" he put his hand tenderly on her face. "Esmeray... Esmeray, love, I know you can hear me... you have to fight back against whatever control she has over you..."

The only problem was that this time, her entire world had gone black.

_

She didn't wake up, even when Esther had already died.

"Bloody fucking hell," said Klaus shakily, cradling her in his arms. He'd already tried feeding her his blood, giving her water, and trying to enter her mind. Even Bonnie had done a spell to try and cut off her connection with Esther, all to no avail. She was cold and still breathing, but only just. "Love, come on... wake up. Wake up, please...."

And she did wake up, moments later. Her eyes opened, and Klaus immediately beamed, thinking this meant all was well.

It clearly wasn't. Esmeray swiped her hands up, and Klaus was thrown back, kept against the wall as if bound with magical chains. She looked to be in a trance, and as he thrashed around trying to get away, she coiled her fist and made him yell out in pain as blood started to leak from his nose and eyes.

"You wouldn't dare harm this body, would you, Niklaus?" said Esmeray, and Klaus stared down in horror, realizing who Esther's next body-jumping victim was.

"No," he breathed. "No—"

"Niklaus," snapped Esther, waving her hand again to silence him. "Do not misbehave. Perhaps, instead, you should think of what Finn understood, the day he saw this girl. She is a child. She may have been born a mere five years after you, but there are a thousand years between you, and she has yet to learn about what truly makes her happy. That is not you. You will only ruin her. She is the only hybrid who should be allowed to exist, because she is entirely natural. Let her go, or I shall be the one to take her from you."

Klaus could do nothing more than stare as Esther, in Esmeray's body, walked right out of the house. The Original witch had only a very small hold on the werewitch's body, and it wouldn't last much longer, but it would be just enough to finish the task she'd left incomplete.

As she neared the Salvatore crypt, Bonnie came up beside her. Esther had been expecting her, and nodded appreciatively. Inside, Alaric and Damon were drinking, waiting for the former to die, not wanting to complete the transition. The latter perked up at the sound of footsteps, and sped out, looking confused at the sight of the two witches.

With ease, Esther swiped out her hand and snapped his neck, clearing the path to Alaric. The two girls moved into the crypt, and with a delicate swipe of her finger down Bonnie's throat, Esther made her bleed, and shoved the witch down beside Alaric.

He couldn't have resisted even if he tried. He immediately yanked her forward, biting into her and leaving Bonnie unconscious. Esther calmly drifted her hand over the Bennett witch's forehead as Alaric took the indestructible white oak stake in hand, ceasing the bleeding and letting her sleep peacefully.

"Esmeray," said Alaric, holding up the stake.

"Esther," the witch corrected. "I have only a few moments before I will be gone for good. Listen carefully." As soon as the man relaxed, she continued to speak. "You need to plan accordingly, my hunter. You cannot just go on a rampage and attempt to kill my children."

"I thought she was a target, too," said Alaric, gesturing to Esmeray. "You said—"

"I know what I said," Esther snapped. "But I am telling you to strategize. My children are too fond of her, and even while trying to avoid you, they will protect her. She should be the last name on your list. Weaken the defenses around her before you kill her. Make sure that you either isolate her here or force her to run. If she manages to complete the ritual, she will easily be able to strip you of your powers. Lure them into traps. It is a better use of your time and abilities."

Alaric nodded. "Well then, as soon as she's knocked out, I'll take her with me."

Esther sighed in frustration. "Don't be foolish! She will still be strong enough to pose a threat to you. If you wish to lure Niklaus in first, use the doppelgänger. He still needs more of her blood. Do not try and harm Esmeray Poldark until you have killed as many vampires as possible. Her magic can still corrupt you."

"If I kill Klaus first, it will break her," said Alaric darkly. "I can kill her once I kill Klaus."

"So be it. But I would hope that you aren't rash enough to lose your strength just as I've given it to you. Bide your time if need be." She swayed, and Esther was gone. Esmeray slumped down beside Bonnie, at Alaric's feet. Distastefully, he kicked her aside before speeding away, choosing to let Damon live for now, because he had another plan to lure Elena away.

As soon as Damon had woken up, he'd gone into the crypt, cursing loudly when he realized what must have happened. He hoisted the two unconscious girls over his shoulders and sped away. The sun was already rising as he got to the Gilbert residence. Bonnie had awoken by then, but not Esmeray. She was muttering to herself, shaking her head lightly as if arguing with someone in a dream.

"We have a problem," said Damon as soon as Stefan opened the door to let them in.

Bonnie and Damon had immediately gotten to explaining while Stefan and Jeremy tried to wake Esmeray up. She sat up not long after Jeremy splashed water in her face, and she looked around wildly before realizing what had happened.

"Damn it," said Esmeray, covering her face and looking mortified. "She did it again. I think I got her out, but..."

"So Alaric turned," said Stefan in exasperation as Damon helped Esmeray into a chair. "What was the point of you standing guard, Damon?"

"Don't blame me!" he snapped. "Blame Bonnie the blood bank. She fed him."

"Esther and the witches led me there!" said Bonnie coldly. "It's not my fault, and it's not Esmeray's fault, either. The witches wanted him to feed so he turned."

"So, where's the stake now?" asked Stefan.

"Oh, you mean the white oak one?" said Damon, glaring at Bonnie. "The one that can kill an Original and wipe out an entire line of vampires? We don't know."

"If you're so upset with me, then why didn't you just abandon me over there?" Bonnie hissed.

"Because I do stupid things, Bonnie," Damon hissed back, getting right up in her face. "I do things, like let my friend die with dignity when I should have just killed him."

Esmeray looked between them and let out a soft snort, shaking her head. "Sorry," she said when they all turned to her. "Just— yikes. The sexual tension is so high in this room."

"Your senses are entirely off," muttered Damon, though he and Bonnie instantly looked away from each other.

Stefan clapped his hands together. "Alright, so how do we kill him now?"

"I've been thinking about it," said Bonnie. "A witch can't truly make an immortal creature, there is always a way to undo a spell. I managed to hear a few things while Esther was in Esmeray's body... she said something about someone easily being able to strip him of his powers. Then I remembered— Abby. She desiccated Mikael for a long time. If Katherine hadn't woken him up, he'd still be there. We can do the same thing to Alaric. Esmeray and I can manage that kind of spell."

"I'll need to feed on a vampire's blood to replenish my strength, first," said the werewitch. "But yes, I expect I will be able to help with that..."

They all paused as the doorbell rang. Jeremy made his way down the hall and opened it, seeing Klaus. "What the hell do you want?" Jeremy demanded.

"Now, is that any way to treat a guest?" asked Klaus, unable to see Esmeray because Damon and Stefan had sped to the door and were blocking his view.

"What are you doing here, Klaus?" inquired Stefan.

"Well, for starters, young Jeremy here could show some manners and invite me inside," said the hybrid. "I know Esmeray is in there, and I'm here to get her."

"No," snapped Damon defensively. "Look, I may have kept my mouth shut when we all found out that you have a thing for her, but your mother just sucked out her power for the second time. She's not going anywhere with you."

But by then, Esmeray had made her way to the door, and moved Damon aside. "Klaus," she said gently, stepping over the threshold. "I expect you'd like to talk."