Beatrix went to find Kol afterward.

He was drinking a glass of bourbon in the library balcony, his hands shaking. "What happened?" asked Beatrix immediately. "Kol—"

"I heard your conversation with Finn," he said scathingly. "You see, how he tries to smarm up to people? He thinks he can butt in— you know perfectly well that you're free and you've known it for ages. I'd like to—"

"Whatever it is you're planning," came a stern voice behind them. "Don't."

Kol didn't turn to face Elijah. "He cursed me to die, Elijah. Slowly. In front of Davina. And now he thinks he can turn Beatrix against her. I owe him for that..."

"Perhaps," said Elijah, coming to stand beside Beatrix. "And perhaps the best revenge is to simply expel him from our lives altogether?"

"No!" snarled Kol, whirling to look at his brother angrily. "He doesn't get to live happily ever after!"

Elijah held up his hand. "I haven't made my final decision— I only ask that you stay your hand."

"That isn't your decision to make!" Kol spat, smashing the glass in his hand.

"Kol," said Beatrix, stepping between them quickly. "Breathe—"

"Don't bloody tell me to breathe!" he roared, picking up a chair and throwing it across the room.

"Control yourself!" Elijah said sharply. But Kol simply fumed and made to flip the table, and Beatrix had to intervene. "Unless you can't..." finished the older Original.

"It's worse than I remember," Kol said, shaking as he sank down. "The rage... the hunger..."

He was crying, and both Beatrix and Elijah felt themselves tense as he continued to speak, "I'd like to blame my anger on Finn, but it's been growing worse since I came back. I never did learn how to keep it in check. I never really cared to..."

"But now you do," Elijah whispered.

He nodded and covered his face. "I couldn't live with myself if I hurt Davina. But, hurting the ones we love, whether we mean to or not... That's just what we do, isn't it?"

Elijah hesitated to answer. "It's who we are..."

"It shouldn't be who we are!" he said. "Did you not hear what Finn has been telling Beatrix? We've made life unbearable and dangerous for anyone who associates with us! Davina is in danger every moment I'm with her because I might lose control and kill her. All these years, every woman has been ruined by their association with us. Beatrix is the only one who has survived, but she's been tormented more than the rest. You, Elijah, you forced her to put away her magic and left her with a mental breakdown and now Klaus," he looked up at the Heretic, "he wants you again even though he's done nothing but be rude to you. He takes advantage of how forgiving you are. But he will never treat you with respect, not the way you deserve. Finn is right— you should leave."

"Don't say that," she told him, kneeling in front of him. "I will help you learn to control that hunger, Kol, I'm sure there is a spell to make it easier—"

Kol ignored her and got up, walking out of the room.

The Heretic got back to her feet. "Something is wrong," she murmured. "I hadn't thought his behavior was different but something is off."

"He hasn't had a girlfriend who is mortal in a very long time," Elijah muttered. "That last... mostly serious one... was... before we even met you. She was a vampire, and she was a Ripper. Not a good influence."

Beatrix pursed her lips. "We have to do our best to help him. As for Finn, I'm not even going to give input, I already know that anything I say will be disliked by at least one party, so I shouldn't get involved."

Elijah opened his mouth to speak, but they both faltered, hearing the sound of a commotion below. They sped down just in time to keep Kol from shoving a lit candle through Finn's chest.

"ENOUGH!" bellowed Elijah, jumping between his brothers. Behind them, Lucien and Freya had come, and Davina was even further back, looking shocked.

"This isn't your fight!" Kol spat.

"I told you to stay your hand!" Elijah retorted.

"Fine," Kol growled, throwing the candle across the room. "I'd rather take my chances out there with white oak then stay here with you lot."

He turned to leave, and Davina followed. Freya rushed to check on Finn, who remained mostly unscathed. "He'll be fine," said Elijah, reaching into his pocket. "Marcel has paid us a visit. The last remaining white oak in the world..." he extracted the wooden bullet, "right here."

Finn glared at the bullet as Elijah held it up for Freya. "Sister, if you would be so kind?"

She nodded and flicked her wrist at the nearby fire pit, making it burst into flames. Elijah threw the bullet, and Finn yelled out his protest, speeding to the fire and diving his hand in to get the bullet before it could be burned to a crisp.

"Brother!" said Elijah sharply.

Finn fell to his knees. "The little witch has condemned me to this! To remain a beast! Elijah... I can't bear an eternity with no hope of escape. Can you?"

"Finn, give it to me," Elijah said, holding his hand out to receive the white oak. "Give it to me..."

But Finn did not concede, and Lucien sighed, speeding to Finn, snatching the bullet from him, before stopping beside Elijah and handing him the bullet.

Elijah, however, did not immediately incinerate it. Beatrix and Freya both glared at him, like, 'what are you waiting for?'

"Come on, then," said Lucien impatiently. "After all this time... go on and destroy it!"

Elijah still looked conflicted.

"Forever is a burden that nobody should have to bear!" Finn pleaded with him.

"You cannot keep that white oak in this house, Elijah," Lucien insisted. "It is already a beacon drawing your enemies to you."

"I agree with Lucien, for once," said Beatrix.

"For once?" he teased. "You wound me, love. But perhaps the best solution is obvious. Entrust it to the one who loves each of you most."

Finn's eyes widened at this and he looked at Freya, who at last, nodded. "I can cloak myself. If it has to exist, at least I can take it far away. Hide it under a thousand spells, somewhere where no one else will ever find it."

Beatrix frowned. "Well, yes, that's an alternative, but I can also vanish it— I've vanished many things and only I have access."

"That's flawed, love," said Lucien. "What happens when someone needs release and you're not around to get it back?"

Freya agreed with this. "Yes, I will take it. That way, I can retrieve it when someone is ready, and needs it."

Elijah looked unsure, but after much deliberation, he placed the bullet in his sister's hand. She dropped it into her pocket and smiled at him. "I will get ready to leave, then," she said before walking up to her study.

Looking mostly satisfied, Finn and Elijah left the courtyard. Beatrix sighed and sat back into the nearest chair. "I really think it would have been best that I vanished it."

"I just thought they might protest," said Lucien sincerely, sitting across from her. "I know you're trying to rekindle things with Klaus, and with his paranoia... he might have grown distant with you if he knew you were the only one with access to the weapon that could kill them. He trusts you, but it might have been dangerous for the future of your relationship. He doubts anyone and everyone who isn't blood— he even doubts blood, for that matter."

She pursed her lips. "Well, you're right... I didn't think of that. They wouldn't have liked that I'd have access to it, if something went wrong and we had a falling out."

"At least this way, Freya can take her older sister role and they won't protest. The less fighting, the better."

She offered him a smile. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"Oh, courting Freya," Lucien answered casually.

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh, really?"

"Yes. She seems mostly uninterested but alas... you're no longer available, are you?"

She blushed. "Lucien, that was a one time thing, I never meant to hint that it would be more. If I led you on, then I apologize, but that was certainly not my intention."

"No, don't worry, love, I actually never thought you led me on. I just meant that perhaps, in other circumstances, things would've been different."

Beatrix hummed. "Yes, that's true."

He stood up. "You know what you should do?" he said. "Now that Freya is leaving with the white oak and Klaus can return, you ought to put on something sexy and wait for him."

She raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure you're not just trying to get me in bed again?"

"Nonsense, darling, I respect my sire too much to try and snatch his girl. I just mean, well, with a body like that, you'll be a perfect welcome home gift."

Beatrix felt her cheeks heat up as Lucien took her hand and kissed the back of it. "If he ever breaks it off, though, love, you know where I'll be. I do advise you, be careful. He can get impatient and you don't deserve to be rushed. You still need time to heal and you shouldn't feel ashamed about that. A good man would wait, and if he doesn't wish to wait much longer, then that's a bad sign, isn't it?"

He didn't wait for her response, and simply walked out.

Beatrix, of course, didn't end up dressing up in her sexiest lingerie because Klaus wasn't going to be returning that night. Instead, she grabbed a tub of birthday cake ice cream and a tub of strawberry and used magic to mix them before digging in and watching as many movies at 4x speed as she could, which for some reason, made sense.

Really, she was trying to distract herself. Lucien had gotten her thinking of Klaus and Kai. Soon, the one year mark of Kai's death would arrive, and she felt guilty, because she really did feel she was moving on already. She wondered if that was bad. And Lucien hadn't been wrong— they both knew Klaus was highly impatient, and she worried, too, deep down, that he wouldn't want to wait for her to be ready for a relationship.

But in the morning, there was no time for her to think anymore. Freya had disappeared overnight, and Davina and Kol had arrived to the Compound pale and worried with a video message from Vincent Griffith.

"Davina, listen," said Vincent in the video as Elijah pressed play on the phone for himself, Finn, and Beatrix to watch. "I know we are not on the best of terms, but I need you to listen to me, okay? Um, we're in serious trouble. Now, I'm recording this here because it's— it's free from magic, and magic is our enemy. The Ancestors got me on the hook doing some pretty twisted magic, and I want no part of it, but they're forcing me to help Lucien Castle."

Beatrix tensed as Vincent kept speaking, "And, if you don't help me, Freya Mikaelson's gonna die. Before they forced me to take her, they had me put up a cloaking spell, so we can't be tracked. Now, Lucien's taking us out of town someplace, I don't know where... but there's a loophole."

Davina motioned for Elijah to pause the video. "That loophole is Finn, I know it."

He made a face. "Just how am I the loophole?"

Kol's response was clearly impatient. "Last year, when Esther first brought us back, I got put in the body of a gormless twit, but you got housed in one of the most powerful witch bodies in the city— Vincent's. And, even after all this time, there's still an echo of a body-soul connection between you two. Press play again, Elijah."

He did, and Vincent kept speaking, "And Davina, that's where you come into play. I need a powerful witch that's off the Ancestors' radar. I would ask Beatrix, but I fear that Lucien's taken precaution, and made sure the Ancestors are keeping tabs on her. She is New Orleans born and even without a Coven, she hasn't been shunned, and we can't risk her doing this kind of magic and ruining the plan. If the Ancestors find out she's meddling with it, the spell can backfire and kill her. So Davina," in the video, Vincent used a knife to slice into his palm, dripping his blood into a small vial that was currently in Davina's hand. "I want you to find the thread between me and Finn."

Elijah turned off the video and looked up at Davina. "Have you ever done anything like this?"

"No," she admitted. "I don't even know if it's possible. But, I do have Vincent's blood. If I can take Finn's blood and do the spell right, I should be able to track Vincent down."

Finn stood, and began to pace the room. "I should have sensed something was wrong when Freya didn't call. Now Lucien has a head start."

"No wonder he didn't want me vanishing the white oak," muttered Beatrix, rubbing her temples. "I feel so stupid. He brought up Klaus to distract me..."

Finn let out a gruff sigh. "Go, witch," he said to Davina. "Tend to your spells. I won't rest until she's found."

Kol scoffed. "Behold, the selfless martyr! First, he wants to rip Davina's head off for trapping him in his body. Now he can't wait to be spelled."

Finn walked over to him, but Elijah stood and spoke first. "Finn, you shall accompany Beatrix and I in our search. Kol, you stay here with Davina."

Kol was shocked. "You're going with him? So, the two people responsible for not destroying the white oak when they had the chance, thus putting us in this bloody mess, are now off to try and fix it. That's just marvelous. I mean, what could possibly go wrong, especially taking a witch who's compromised when it comes to fighting these Ancestors?"

Beatrix frowned, but Davina addressed Kol. "Look at me," she said. "I don't know this magic. I need your help. Come on."

She led him out, and Elijah handed a knife to Finn. "Let us begin."

"Do not give me orders, brother," he snapped. "And make no mistake— I do not look to you as an ally, or even family. The only reason I tolerate your presence is the hope of finding Freya."

He took the knife and cut into his palm, depositing his blood in a nearby glass.

"Lovely," said Beatrix with a wry look. "Time for the best roadtrip ever."

She likely manifested it with her sarcastic statement.

It was quiet. Elijah was driving, Finn was riding shotgun, and Beatrix was in the back, her seatbelt off and legs up in boredom, careful not to do any magic. She planned to sleep at first, but she was too anxious. Stupid Lucien.

It took forever to arrive, and it was worse that no one spoke at all until they had passed the 'Welcome to Mystic Falls' sign.

"Of course," scoffed Finn when they stopped at a railroad crossing for the train to pass. "Mystic Falls. Birthplace of our sorrows. At least, I know the witch in the backseat shares my distaste for this town."

"The witch in the backseat has a bloody name," muttered Beatrix as she sat up, leaning back as Elijah looked at her through the rearview mirror, as if wanting to roll his eyes. Instead, he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel.

"So," continued Finn, "are we to drive around this entire pathetic town, hoping to run into my sister before Lucien murders her?"

Elijah let out a loud sigh. "Kol has a plan."

Finn scoffed. "Kol and his ridiculous gambits."

Elijah glanced back at Beatrix through the mirror again. "Nine hundred years in a box... and zero patience."

"Elijah," she said sternly.

Finn was obviously offended. "It's all a joke to you, isn't it? 'Nine hundred years in a box' just rolls off your tongue as if the time passed without consequence. I assure you, it did not."

"What are you suggesting?" Elijah asked. "We never experienced anything, least of all the passage of time."

"Being daggered for decades and being daggered for centuries are very different things," said Finn angrily. "It starts off as a dim pinprick of light, growing brighter year after year, a slow consciousness that I was paralyzed, entombed in my own mind. The despair... utter loneliness... all amplified and made endless. The one time I heard a voice, you kept her from freeing me, and another century passed."

Elijah was quiet. He looked almost guilty as he began to drive again.

Another awkward silence. Beatrix felt like a third wheel to what would probably soon become a brotherly brawl. Elijah parked the car near the center of town, and they got out, walking onto the town square sidewalk.

"How will we know when or if this magic trick of Kol's works?" asked Finn, sitting back on the hood of the car.

"He says you'll know," replied Elijah. "It's strange... The birthplace of our very misfortune, beyond that hill. Do you recall the first time we fled together, Finn?"

Beatrix awkwardly shuffled as Finn rolled his eyes. Elijah continued, "We were but children. Nothing but the clothes on our back, desire we had no idea how to control, and a father hellbent on erasing us from the earth."

He began to walk into the park, and Finn and Beatrix reluctantly followed. "The first of many times we ran together over the next one hundred years," said Finn, "'til you all left me entombed for nine centuries..."

Elijah sighed. "You were a danger."

"Danger?"

"Yes."

"Klaus and Kol killed everything that moved, yet I was the one considered too dangerous to undagger?"

"Despite their bloodlust, you were the poison that crippled—"

Beatrix jumped between them as Finn lunged at Elijah. "Poison?" Finn snarled. "I anchored us!"

"You despised us," Elijah shot back. "You despised yourself, terrified of everything that we became. You threatened our very survival, Finn, just as you have every time we made the mistake of freeing you from that box."

"I was made that way because of that box!" Finn sneered. "Every time I close my eyes, I go back to that black horizon, that place where I was abandoned and forgotten by my own family. So yeah, I came out mad. And I remain so."

"Let's focus on finding Freya," Beatrix interjected, yanking both forward by the neck of their shirts. "In a civil manner, if you please."

She pulled them until they stopped struggling, then walked toward the Mystic Grill, taking the path toward the back entrance.

"I hate it here," Finn muttered as they made their way down the steps. "This place birthed all our pain and sorrow. I refuse to let it be the place where our sister dies. Let us not wait for Kol and his witch's tricks— let us simply tear this town apart and find her."

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen."

They all turned and looked up to see the Sheriff pointing a handgun at them. "See, I just ran every single vampire out of this town. So, visiting hours are, well... never."

"I'm fucking terrified," said Beatrix, rolling her eyes. "We're not on a vacation, silly boy."

The male stared at her. "Beatrix La Salle. Elijah Mikaelson."

"Matthew Donovan," replied Elijah simply. "How adorably inconvenient." He held up his wrist to check the time. "Unfortunately, we don't have time to play right now. I'll pass your regards along to Rebekah."

Matt ignored him and looked over at Finn. "Finn, isn't it? Sorry, I suck at names, but I never forget a face— especially when it's someone I've already killed." He pointed at a spot behind them, on the stairs they'd already walked down. "That was right over there, right? Did you come back for some more?"

Finn glared at him patronizingly. "Do you expect to scare me with that crude little toy? Two Originals... a Heretic who has no restraint... you're outmatched."

"Why are you here?" Matt demanded.

"My sister Freya has been taken," said Eliijah. When Matt made a face, Elijah rolled his eyes. "Yes, we have another. Option one— you go about your business like a good little boy. Option two? Violent disembowelment. What's it gonna be?"

"I'm gonna go with option three," said Matt. "This is my town, my business. Especially when it comes to anything with fangs. Now, you, me, and these ten wooden hollow points can stand here and argue that fact, but... how much time does your sister really have?"

Beatrix's eyes flashed murderously. "Seriously, I don't wish to murder you knowing that Rebekah had a liking for you. So put that little thing down."

"You're more scared of it, are you?" he taunted. "They don't need to be white oak bullets to kill you."

"Darling, your little friend group can't damage me more than I already am. Why don't you—"

But she stopped, because suddenly, Finn started to let out several groans of pain, leaning onto the restaurant wall. He fell to his knees, clutching his head. Elijah sped to his side. "Finn?"

It took several deep breaths before he spoke. "I know where they are."

"Perfect, time for a field trip," said Beatrix, waving her hand and making Matt be brought through the air toward them. She gripped his wrist and grabbed onto Elijah's hand, whose other one was holding Finn's. "Come on, bus driver."

Finn glared at her before speeding all of them out into the forest, where they arrived just as Lucien was putting Freya into a chokehold in front of a stone bowl and an unconscious Vincent.

"Lucien," said Beatrix sharply.

He turned to face her, keeping Freya in a headlock. "Oh, just in time for the party! Cheers—" He took out a bottle of a strange mixture and drank it. "Let the fun begin! Can anyone get to me faster than I can rip your darling sister's head off? Didn't think so. And before you try, love, your Heretic magic won't work on me. The Ancestors made sure of it."

Beatrix wasn't about to take that for an answer, and she raised her hand, intending to blast Lucien back, but immediately, she let out a scream, her hand folding itself back, fingers cracking and snapping, causing her to drop to her knees from the pain.

Behind her, there was movement, and Matt's gun fired three times. She looked up wildly to see three gunshot wounds in Freya's body, which had gone through her and gone into Lucien's heart.

"Oh, you clever bastard," Lucien hissed as he dropped down. Finn and Elijah immediately sped to Freya. Finn held her head as Elijah bit into his wrist and began to feed Freya his blood.

"What the hell was that?" said Matt, who had come to see if Beatrix was alright. "Caroline said your magic had no limits!"

"Apparently, all the New Orleans Ancestral witches are ganging up against me," she said, rubbing her wrist as her bones began to heal.

There was a loud gasp, and Freya looked around wildly. "Where is h-he?" she croaked.

"That guy?" said Matt as he went to see if Vincent was alright, nodding toward Lucien. "Dead."

"N-No..." Freya whimpered.

"Listen to me," said Elijah urgently, "it's done, it's over."

"You d-don't understand," she stammered. "He d-drank the s-serum!"

"What?" said Finn incredulously.

"H-He wanted you to k-kill him— y-you helped him t-take the final step—"

There was a rustling of leaves, and Beatrix's eyes widened as Lucien stood up, eyes red, and an extra set of fangs on both the bottom and top rows of his teeth.