Alcohol was a good way to make decisions.

Or at least that was what my sluggish brain was telling me after I had ordered the 3rd shot. I had been at the Grill since 12:00, mulling over my brainiac decision of meeting with Augustine. Sure, I could possibly get locked up there again, or gruesomely killed, or not even cured at all!

But what did I have to lose?

If I did nothing, I would probably end up dying anyway.

Rebekah had tried calling me numerous times, but I hadn't answered, scared that she was somehow going to convince me not to go.

"Hey Kaitlyn," I heard a voice speak up next to me, almost shyly.

I turned my head slowly to see Damon sidling up next to me on a stool, sunglasses covering his eyes. He looked as if he had had a rough morning. Not that I cared. At least that's what I told myself.

"How are you?" he asked, ordering a drink. "I haven't seen you for a while."

"Yeah, I've kind of been on a blood rampage with Klaus and Ripper Stefan," I droned, indicating with my drink that I wanted to be alone.

"Right," the Salvatore cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well, you look like you're making a life and death situation," he then tried to joke, not realising how accurate he was.

"I am. And it doesn't help that you keep trying to talk to me," I snapped. "You might not see me for a few days after this."

"Why?" Damon put his drink down, looking more curious than ever. "Kaitlyn, you're kind of the queen of making reckless decisions. You should probably tell me."

"Have you ever heard of Augustine?" I asked him tiredly, actually wanting to get someone else's opinion on this.

"W-where did you hear that name?" his voice suddenly went quiet, and he almost choked on his drink.

"Why, do you know it?" I asked him in surprise.

"Do I know them? Do I know them?!" he asked angrily. "I was stuck there for a few years being experimented on!"

"What?" I took a sharp intake of breath. "When? I was there as well for a few years as well. 1906-1956. And you?"

"You were there for decades?" his eyes widened. "Oh my god Lyn. I was only there for 5 years! But I had a friend there who was also stuck there for a while. He's dead now. Enzo was a good man."

"Wait, did you say Enzo?" I asked in shock. "What do you mean he's dead?! I knew him."

"I, um, j-just assumed," Damon scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm actually just guessing. He's probably not dead."

"Well they called me yesterday," I told him. "And I've made a deal with them. In fact, I'm meeting with them in a few hours."

"You can't do that," he said suddenly. "I won't let you. If you go there, there's a big chance you'll never come back."

"I know that Damon," I sighed. "I've already put more thought to this than you have."

"I know we aren't on the best terms now," Damon said, grabbing my upper arm. "But I can't let you go."

"Which is why I had this as a backup," I exhaled, sticking a vervain syringe his thigh as he gasped in alarm. "I was keeping this incase anyone tried to stop me. I guess I'm using it on you."

His fingers let go of my shirt, weakly slipping to his side as he tried to sit upright. I had given him just the right amount to stay conscious, but he wasn't strong enough to get up yet.

"I'm glad we talked before I went," I said sincerely. "I really care about you Damon."

And with that, I left the Grill, leaving him yelling my name after me.

∆ ∆ ∆

They had given me the address via text, and it was a street I had never heard before. I used google maps to find it, until I was sure I was in the right place. I had arrived 10 minutes early to make sure there weren't any strange traps.

2 minutes later my phone started ringing, and I frowned seeng that it was an unknown number. Maybe it was Augustine? Hesitantly, I answered and was pleasantly surprised by a cool British voice greeting me.

"Hello love. You're not by chance doing anything incredibly stupid right now?" he asked vaguely.

"No," I said quickly, looking suspicious. "Why would you even think that?"

"My lovely sister informed me of your plan," he explained. "And she's noticed you're not answering your phone. Don't do this Kaitlyn."

"Are you seriously calling me just to order me not to do something?" I questioned incredulously. "I thought you were busy forming an army of hybrid slaves."

"I'm almost done," he answered. "In fact, I'll be back in Mystic Falls in a few days and I hope to see you there alive and well!"

"You are unbelievable," I seethed. "And how did you even get me number? You Mikaelsons are so creepy!" I added, remembering that Rebekah had also somehow gotten my contact information.

"I have my ways," he said mysteriously. "Anyway, make good decisions. Goodbye."

My mouth dropped open in slight fury as I put my phone away, now impatiently waiting for these doctors to arrive. After a few minutes, a white van pulled up with blacked-out windows.

Suspicious.

An old woman stepped out and walked towards me, barking an order to the driver. She was holding a bag which seemed to be full of stuff. She looked to be about 75 years old.

"You look exactly the same," she said mildly. "Of course you do."

"Do...do I know you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Angie," she drawled, and my eyes widened at the name of my old friend.

"Y-you work for Augustine?"

"How do you think you got captured?" she said boredly. "Anyway, let's go to a more private place."

"Wait!" I followed her in a hurry. For an old woman she sure did move quickly. "That day I was supposed to meet you, was the day I got captured. You were helping them the entire time?! I thought something horrible had happened to you!"

"Well, here I am. Alive and well. A little old, but healthy," she snapped. "We were never friends, get over it. Now, you made a deal for the cure, right?"

"Right.." I whispered, a bad feeling in my stomach. "And you'll be experimenting on me for like a few days right?"

She didn't answer, merely sorting through her belongings. After a few seconds she pulled out a small vial with golden liquid in it. It was the cure, Celestia.

She handed it to me impatiently, and waited for me to drink it. I opened the lid and tentatively sniffed it, then grimaced. Looks like it was not going to taste any better than Hellcraft.

"How do I know this isn't poison or something?" I demanded.

"You don't," she deadpanned, and at my expression added, "It's not though. Just drink it."

"Are there any side effects?"I questioned, and she rolled her eyes.

"Not that I know of. Now drink it!" she commanded irritably.

Slowly I raised it to my lips and gulped down the thick liquid. I gagged a little at the taste, but forced it down with a huge sip. Then wiped my mouth in disgust, giving the empty vial back to her. My eyes widened suddenly, and I felt them heating up, projecting a gold color in the reflection of a puddle.

After a few seconds it was over, and I bent over, panting a little bit. It sure did make me tired.

"Did you tell anyone where you were going?" Angie suddenly hissed, grabbing my upper arm.

"What? No!" I protested, but she tutted in anger, dragging me along the alley. "I don't even hear anything."

I was starting to feel dizzy now and my vision was blurring in a nauseating way. I had no choice but to stumble along with Angie who had a painful grip on my arm. She suddenly turned around, her eyes squinting. She pulled out something from her bag, and aimed in a direction. Without warning, she fired it and I heard a thud as someone hit the floor.

She called for the driver and a big man dragged out an unconscious blond who was hiding behind the alley. My eyes widened at the familiar face. It was Caroline. What was she doing here?!

"I told you someone was following you Ms. Angie," the man said gruffly. "It was a bloodsucker."

"Bring her with us," Angie demanded, and I opened my mouth to protest but I was feeling more light-headed by the second.

"What's wrong with me?" I stammered, clutching the wall next to me as spots began to appear.

"There's a sedative in the cure as well," she stated. "You'll be out like a light in just a matter of seconds now."

"Don't take my friend," I whispered, falling to the ground. "Promise you won't."

Then everything went black.

∆ ∆ ∆

1986 Flashback

Kol and I had met up again many times after I had given him my number. He seemed like a nice guy, but it seemed like he was hiding a lot. I had the suspicion that he knew more about the supernatural than he was letting on, but still, I refrained from telling him that about be, just in case.

Because of this, we didn't have the longest conversations, often running out of things to say because of the fear of oversharing. But making out made up for this time.

We had now been having a fling for 2 weeks or so, and he claimed he would look for a proper witch for me to have an appointment with, so I could properly figure out what I was, but reminded me that it might take a while.

To spend the time, we went to parties, clubs, and he introduced me to various types of foods and alcohol. But our favourite thing was to try all sorts of desserts. By the end of our dates, our stomachs would hurt and we would end up laying on his bed in quiet and mild agony.

"So, have you found a witch yet?" I asked, half-way dangling off his bed with my hair sweeping the ground.

"Almost," he hummed from the kitchen. "I've just finished making this delightful dessert. Want to try?"

I smiled softly to myself before bounding to the small kitchen, delicious wafts of sweetness already tempting me.

"When am I going to meet your siblings that you love complaining about?" I asked curiously as he spooned a bite of chocolate deliciousness for me.

"Not anytime soon," he cleared his throat and fed me a small bite. "They're occupied with stuff."

"Well..." my eyes widened at the taste. "MMMM THIS IS SO GOOD!"

He chuckled a little bit and tried some as well, licking his lips at the rich taste.

We ended the day pretty quickly after that, since a few minutes later he said he had a few errands to run. I went home to my crappy apartment then.

A few days later, he texted me that he had found a witch, and I couldn't wait, my stomach turning with eagerness.

He had texted me the day before and told me to wait for him outside of his apartment, and so that is what I did first thing in the morning. I waited there for 1 hour before I slowly started realising that no one was coming. So I went up to his apartment to find it just as I left it, but with no Kol.

The lady across from him said that no one had seen him since a day ago, and that he hadn't come home that night. It was like he had completely vanished.

I came to the apartment everyday after that, hoping to see him pop up and claim he was one a random vacation or something, but no such luck. I didn't know where he could have gone. Why would he just leave like this, without telling me.

And was it a coincidence that it was right before he had found me the witch?

The mystery was left unsolved, and I didn't think too much about it ever since.

End of Flashback

My eyes groggily opened, adjusting to the dimness of wherever I was. My body felt like every piece of strength had been sucked out of it, and my limbs were so heavy that I could barely move.

Once I got adjusted to the environment, I realised I was in a cage of sorts, and that's when I started freaking out.

1. Where the hell was I?

2. What the hell was I going to do?

3. Where the hell was Caroline?

I wrapped my hands around the bars, wanting to see how stable it was and shrieked in pain as my skin started blistering and smoking. My hands jumped off the material as quick as possible, and I hissed as my skin was completely red and burned.

Tantalum.

4. How the hell did these people know what my weakness was?

∆ ∆ ∆