It has been a couple of days, Elena's with Bonnie to find her mom, which didn't really end well. Klaus has all of his coffins besides the locked one.

And I've been more aware. Which means I've been more scared lately. I jump at every single thing.

I decided after my run, to practice driving. I want to get good out it before things became crazier.

"You're getting better." Caroline says in excitement. "You didn't hit the curb. A few more lessons then I think you can drive on the road."

"Ok." I smile.

"How are you doing?" Caroline asks.

"I'm scared of everything lately. Yesterday Elena came into my room and I jumped back. I would never do that." I explain.

"It's okay to be scared, Ash. What Stefan did to you was horrible, and it was on your birthday, unacceptable." Caroline says as I see a car drive next to me.

"What do I do in this situation." I ask Caroline.

"I would say drive away but you can't, so put your foot on the break pedal." Caroline instructs me to do, and I listen.

The driver rolls the window down and it's Klaus. After what I felt the other night, I'm afraid to even look at him.

"Here." Klaus hands me a random envelope and drives off.

"Why did Klaus do that?" Caroline asks and I shrug.

"Have no idea." I open the envelope and I read it. "Dinner with us and the Salvatore's, 7 0'clock."

"He likes you. Definitely." Caroline says.

"He's bad and I'm good." I respond.

"That doesn't matter. Bad guys always fall for the good girls. And good girls always fall for the bad guys." Caroline smirks.

"Care, I don't like him, I can't like him. It's morally wrong." I explain.

"Well, yeah but that doesn't mean you can't. Your mom would want you to be happy—"

"With the guy that killed her?" I ask. "I think not." I say.

"Ok, ok. But you're going to that dinner tonight. You'll be girl boss there." Caroline says which makes me laugh. "I got to go see how my dad is doing, but if you don't go I'll kill you." Caroline says which makes me laugh.

"I'll go, promise you." I say getting out of the car.

—

I throw on flare leggings and a pink long sleeve shirt, which is the usual.

I hear a knock on the door, and it's Damon.

"Be careful tonight." Damon says. "I know Klaus invited you and you can't get involved with him. We don't know why he invited you and if he has the hots for you, you're screwed." Damon says.

"I know. I'll be careful." I say. "I didn't crash into a curb today." I say talking about earlier.

"Congrats. I'm still driving. Let's go, we're late. Are you okay with Stefan there?" Damon asks and I shake my head.

"Obviously not but I'll be fine." I say leaving my room.

—

"Niklaus, our guests have arrived." Elijah says, letting us into their mansion type house.

"Damon, Stefan, Ashley. Elijah tells me you seek an audience. Very bold. Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men... and women, shall we?" Klaus asks, mostly staring at me and Elijah saw my face tense up.

"It's better to indulge him." Elijah whispers to me and I chuckle a little.

"I didn't, uh, come here to eat, Klaus. In fact, I didn't want to come here at all. But I was told I had to, cause you would hear us out." Stefan explains.

"Hmm. Well, we can sit and eat, or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. Choice is yours." Klaus sits down and so does Elijah. Damon sits next to Elijah and Stefan sits next to Damon, which leaves one seat left, which is next to Stefan and Klaus, meaning my worst nightmare.

"Isn't this nice?" Klaus asks. "The five of us dining together. Such a treat. Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger out of my brother?"

"Well, I know what he felt about you, so I figured, the more... the merrier." Damon smirks.

"Elijah and I had our quarrels over the centuries, but we always make it through." Klaus mentions.

"Kind of like, uh, you and Rebekah, right?" Stefan asks Klaus. Where is she, by the way? Last I checked, she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her."

"If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother... I've already come clean to Elijah." Klaus tells us.

"Hey, Stef, remember when you killed dad? Might want to dial down the judgment till dessert." Damon says, annoyed, and so was I. Klaus and Stefan going back and forth is annoying, especially if you sit in between them.

"We're heal to make a deal, Damon. Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses."

"I'm just saying, we have a long evening ahead of us. Pace yourself." Damon responds to Stefan.

—

"Stefan. Where's the lovely Elena tonight?" Elijah asks Stefan.

"I don't know. Ask Damon." Stefan says which makes Klaus laugh.

"I'm sorry, you missed so much. Ah, trouble in paradise." Klaus jokes.

"One more word about Elena, and, uh, this dinner is over." Stefan says and Damon agrees.

"And Ashley, what's been going on with you?" Elijah asks. "You look—"

"Exhausted. You're right. Not sleep for nights in a row does that to you."

"What I did wasn't as bad as what Klaus did, relax." Stefan says and i glare at him.

"You kidnapped me, gave me your blood and almost drove me off the Wickery bridge just to make a point. Oh, and on my birthday." I raise my voice.

"And what did my brother do?" Elijah asks.

"Klaus kidnapped her when realizing she's still alive—"

"Which he found out because of Stefan." I interrupt Damon.

"Then punch her in the stomach causing Ash to almost die again." Damon finishes his sentence and Elijah was pissed.

"She said she could take it. And the punch made her realize she needed to get stronger and she did. I help Ashley." Klaus smirks at me and I roll my eyes.

After that argument, they started talking about doppelgängers, which made me doze off.

"Ashley." I hear a women whisper, but confused me since I was the only women in this mansion. I keep looking and see a ghost, it was the 1492 huntress.

"Don't talk. Klaus shouldn't know about this. This is another huntress thing. You can see the other dead huntresses. Since you already died, it was easier for your mind to access this. Huntresses have a connection to the other side, they need help from others."

"Here's the thing. Klaus has a thing for you, we know that and you know that. You're going to need our help, which I will help you until you don't need anyone. I know you think since he killed your mom there's no way, but if your mom was able to see it feel the feeling I know you get, she would make the same decision. Oh, and I know you get butterflies around him now. For now, all you need to know is that it will be okay, just don't go too far with it, not until you're ready to admit It to yourself." The huntress disappears and I have no idea what she just meant.

I look back over at the table and from the view of the side of my eyes, I saw Klaus staring at me, but I didn't engaged with it.

"So why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah says.

"Well, it's very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back. I'm exchange, he, and the original extended family, leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, Elena, and Ashley live happily ever after, no grudges." Damon explains.

"Deal sounds fair, brother." Elijah responds, and we all know Klaus will not like this deal.

"I don't think you understand. Elena's doppelgänger blood ensures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me. I will never leave her behind, and I'll never leave Ashley behind." Klaus stares into my eyes and I could tell Elijah noticed.

"Let's say I do leave them here, under your protection. What then?" Klaus asks. "How long before one of you turns them into a vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies, caught between your feuding? You see, each of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her. And that's simply a delusion. Gentlemen... the worst thing for Elena Gilbert and Ashley Sommers is the two of you."

I could see how mad Damon and Stefan were. I mean, Stefan naturally looks mad nowadays, but I could tell.

"I'm going to get some air." Damon says, excusing himself from the table.

"Let me deal with this." Elijah says, following Damon out of the room.

"Hmm. This reminds me back to Chicago. The three of us." Klaus says after trying to get Stefan to drink human blood, which he refused. "Just that now it's a little more complicated." Klaus smirks at me, in which I just glare at him.

"Where's your bathroom?" I ask.

"Go straight and make a right." Klaus says and I nod, walking out of the room. I walk, and get very much lost, then I run into Damon and Elijah. They were holding 2 daggers.

"What are you—"

"Shh." Damon says and walks out. Elijah was just staring at me.

"I can barely handle when your brother stares at me, so spit it out." I cross my arms.

"You didn't have to go to the bathroom, did you?" Elijah asks and I nod. "I sense that you're scared. Why?" Elijah asks.

"You know why. You just came back today, I know that but you aren't stupid." I honestly tell Elijah.

"Look, my brother has definitely hurt you. Niklaus is impulsive, and most definitely psychotic, but he does have a soft spot. All I'm saying is be careful."

"I'm trying, this stupid curse is eating me in the ass right now. I know if longing looks keep getting exchanged, the huntress part of me that makes me love more will come out and I don't want that to happen. No offense"

"None taken." Elijah responds. "I don't blame you, but you're not going to be able to stop it. I see how you look at him, even if you can't admit it." Elijah says walking away but then turns around. "Are you coming or not?" Elijah asks and I walk with him back out.

We walk in the the 3 arguing.

"See, after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her and Ashley's safety for the rest of their natural life. You know it's what's best for them." Klaus says.

"You know there's nothing natural about what Ashley is, right?" Stefan crosses his arms.

"Yes, I do know. Is any huntresses talking to you yet?" Klaus ask. "Telling you they will guide you to morally right decisions." Klaus makes fun.

"Niklaus, let her be." Elijah says. Believe it or not, he liked Ashley, not in a romantic king of way but he liked her as a person. Ashley has so much good in her it reminded him what Klaus used to be like as a child.

"So what do you say Stefan, hmm?" Klaus goes back to his conversation, ignoring what Elijah said and what he said before that. "Do we have a deal?" Klaus asks Stefan.

"Nice try Klaus, but no deal." Stefan says, which results in Klaus acting out on anger and hurting Stefan.

"Stop!" I shout, which does absolutely nothing.

"Now bring me my coffin before I burn him alive." Klaus tells Damon. "Go with him, brother. You keep him honest. When you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will hand over our family." Elian hand Damon leave the room.

A couple minutes later they walk back out with plates covered.

"Elijah. Why haven't you left?" Klaus asks.

"Well, where are your manners, brother? You forgot dessert." He uncovers the plate which had 2 daggers on it.

"What have you done?" Klaus asks.

"What have you done? See, I leaned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on my terms now." Elijah says in which a guy with short hair comes out.

"Kol." Klaus says.

"Long time, brother." Kol walks up to Klaus while another brother with longer hair comes in.

"Finn, don't!" Klaus screams from Finn stabbing Klaus in the hand. Then Rebekah comes in, pissed as usual.

"This is for our mother." Rebekah says, still in her homecoming dress.

"You're free to go." Elijah tells me, Damon and Stefan, in which we walk out.

"Well, that was—" Damon says and i interrupt him.

"Horrible, torture? Mm-hmm. Can someone drop me off at Caroline's?" I ask and Damon nods.

—

I knock on the door and I hear Caroline's tears. I knew her dad died, and I had to be there for her.

"Care, it's me, Ash." I say and she comes to the door. "I'm so sorry." I say immediately hugging her as she sobs into me.

"Here, come in." Caroline says letting me into her house. "How was the dinner?" Caroline asks.

"Caroline— I don't think you want to hear this right now." I say.

"I do. It will take my mind off of this... I want to hear how it went. Let's go in my room." Caroline says and I nod.

"Tell me everything."

"Apparently I can see dead Huntresses, somehow. huntress thing. Klaus kept staring at me throughout the dinner and Elijah weirdly was sticking up for me."

"Well, he's Elijah. He's weird. Do you have feelings for Klaus?" Caroline asks. "Cause it sounds like you do."

"I— no. I can't."

"Ashley Sommers, I understand what he did to your mom, but I bet she's up in heaven, yelling at you for not going for it. Can you tell me what happens when you're near him."

"Well, we exchange looks, even if the other isn't looking. Since my birthday, that night when he brought me home, I get butterflies around him. the night of my birthday was hell. He picked me up, and drove me home. I was watching the stars in the sky, connecting them and making pictures. I saw him staring. Well I didn't see him, i just kind of knew he was."

"Ashley, even though he's bad, you already have feelings for him. You just won't let yourself admit it, well you just did, but you won't admit it that it's okay to feel this way. Come on, stay with me." Caroline says indicating for me to lay in her bed, in which I do.