A Rose Always Has Its Thorns

Ruthless.

You can tell the villains are ruthless when they make a drop in broad daylight in highly suspicious shiny black vehicles.

In a quiet rural town, the kidnapper removes Elena from his trunk and places her inside the SUV. He's not a vampire, but the purchaser clearly is. As a result, now that his duty has been executed, so will he.

It's just the way things roll in this show.

"Please don't blame yourself."

It's the day after the Masquerade Ball and we find Jeremy Gilbert preparing for school. With every scene, Jeremy's character is solidifying his maturity. He has grown milestones from the brooding teenager he once was and there's no signs of retreat. Hollering at Elena, in brotherly fashion, he realizes that she never came home. After what happened last night at the Ball (being tortured due to a curse that linked her to Katherine), he assumes she probably wanted to sleep safely in the arms of Stefan. He'll consult the "heads up code" issue later.

Over at the Forbes residence, Caroline is giving Damon the rundown of Tyler's transformation. Matt and Sarah were compelled, Tyler snapped, and poof! werewolf. Damon questions her decision to let Tyler off the hook stating, "Guy's a tool," but she assures him that not turning Tyler in was in the best interest of all of them. Besides, she remembers how difficult it was during her own transformation, and she felt bad for the guy. Unfortunately her empathy doesn't bode well with Damon and he harasses her to keep their secret to herself. Then, calmly adds the location of Aimee's body to have passed to Sheriff Forbes to "save some time" in the search and rescue.

Arriving at Mystic Falls High, Tyler finds it booming with students. In most cases, if you see someone die before your eyes, it usually warrants you some time off- more so if it's at your hand. Tyler probably wishes he took that route as he makes his way through the students, the Missing Person (Aimee Bradley) signs, and a memorial in front of Sarah's locker. As Caroline walks by, he demands she share her knowledge. "How did you know?" Instead, she changes the conversation to less explosive topics, then walks off to class.

In contrast, the greeting between Stefan and Jeremy is more urgent. They realize that Elena is missing, and most likely in trouble.

"He's your worst nightmare."

Elena, tied at her wrists and ankles, is hauled in by the mysterious vampire in the SUV. She pleads with him to free her, but instead he proposes "just a taste." Leaning over Elena to satisfy his craving, he stops abruptly as a female vampire protests his hunger. Elena uses this as an opportunity to question their motives, as well as explain that she is not Katherine. Her persistence annoys the female vamp and like a pesky fly buzzing about, she is silenced by a swift, fierce SMACK! "I want you to be quiet."

After Elena comes to, she overhears her vampire captors bickering about their plans. Like Katherine, they, too, are on the run. Rose, the female vamp, wants to stay and end their feud once and for all, whereas Trevor wants to leave Elena, skip town, and call it good. But who are feuding with? As Elena slowly approaches them, she gains as much information as possible meanwhile looking for a way out. (Good for her not being a damsel in distress hugging her knees on the couch until her savior arrives.) She is discovered by Rose, and braves the question: Who is Elijah?

"The cliché of it all makes me itch."

Stefan wants to know how Elena is in danger if Katherine is trapped in the tomb. So, he goes to the number one source- Damon. "She's in the tomb. Period. End of story." Damon reveals that Katherine mentioned Elena needs to be protected, but doesn't want to go to Katherine for help because she'll conjure up a compromise for her release. Smart man. Rather, they seek out Bonnie to cast a locating spell.

Inside Alaric's class room, Bonnie uses Jeremy's blood to track Elena's general location. Stefan is on the move, but insists that Jeremy stay behind. Of course Stefan's not going to be the only hero. Enter Damon. "He's not."

Outside, the sun is about as peppy as Caroline's step. Until Tyler stops her in her tracks, cornering her once again. He is insistent upon her admitting she knows more about his curse than she's leading on. After all, she continues to show impeccable strength (Knocking Matt unconscious; pulling secret agent moves on Tyler, things like that). As she laughs when he's questioning her strength, I wonder if it's a disguise for: "Please, this isn't even the half of it." Nonetheless, he persists, "If you know something you gotta tell me. Because I can't handle this." Rejecting him again, he takes his frustration out on the garbage can. It goes flying for yards and lands with a crash. She is a witness to his struggle.

As for the Salvatore brothers, they are on their way. Road-tripping to save their girl. Stefan is encouraging Damon to open up and express his feelings, but Damon refuses. He doesn't want to have a road trip bonding moment with Stefan and share how he's upset that he has to take the backseat to this romance. He will, however, antagonize him. Much to his dismay, he can't one up his brother with this tactic either. Teasing him by offering him a sip from the blood bag, he learns that Stefan's been gaining tolerance by sampling Elena's blood daily. "How romantic." Questioning whether or not Elena would let the former wild Stefan sample her blood, and where is that fun spontaneous Stefan anyways? Stefan simply answers, "Guess he found something else to live for."

"I'm not invincible."

While Stefan and Damon drive the 300mi to rescue Elena, Jeremy and Bonnie return to the Gilbert house to restlessly await Elena's return. Jeremy confirms that they're in the clear because Alaric has taken Jenna somewhere in order to distract her.

Let us pause. This is what we call an ultimate fail on Alaric's part. What grown man allows kids to run around chasing vampires!? He just felt it best to call out from his classroom duties and his advisory role. Alas, the show must go on...

Bonnie tells Jeremy that she can try to send a message to Elena. She writes a note informing that Stefan and Damon are on their way while he gathers the supplies: Elena's hairbrush and a candle. Holding the note in her hand over the heat of the candle, Bonnie fights through what looks like extreme discomfort to complete the spell. Dazed, nose bleeding she opens her eyes, and in a split second she falls unconscious. Blackout.

When Bonnie finally awakes, we learn that she's been practicing so much that it's beginning to take a toll on her. She's stretching herself even helping them find Elena, but she's to remain in the middle, after all. Although Bonnie and Jeremy are having a moment, it's nice to know that their history together allows them to be comfortable with each other, regardless if there's a love interest or not. (And personal vote is......let there not.) Jeremy agrees not to share her weakness to others, and questions, "Do you think it worked?" Bonnie's unsure, but we see Elena unfold a piece of paper giving her a new hope. Yes, Bonnie. It did.

Breaking from the Gilbert house, we arrive with Caroline at the Forbes residence. Caroline is hesitant because she senses someone is in the house! Tyler? Precisely. He's over getting the runaround and flat calls her out. "I'm not leaving here until you tell me the truth. You're a werewolf. Say it." (Out loud.) Twilight scene reincarnate causes Caroline to giggle. Tyler shows that he is not too happy with that response by pinning her against the wall. Caroline will have none of that, so she flips him so that he's pinned under raging strength and fangs.

She releases him and has no other choice but to explain to him what she has become. Alcohol always helps in times like this (Apparently the Sheriff is still on duty). Tyler inquires about the possibility of other vampires. Caroline denies, then quickly asks about the werewolf population. She's ready to tell him more, but she needs him to confirm his secrecy. With the loss of Mason, Tyler doesn't feel he has anyone he can confide in. "I'm scared." He cries. She embraces her friend. And it's beautiful.

"The blood of the doppelgänger."

Rose is still annoyed at Elena's endless inquiries, but indulges her. She explains that she and Trevor are just the "delivery service," and that it is Elijah, one of the original vampires, who is the true threat. They have a debt to him and that's why they've been running. They plan to use Katherine's doppelicious clone to settle their debt because she's the key. At Elena's death, the curse binding the vampires to the night is broken.

The time to relieve their debt is now. Elijah has arrived. Elena can see that Trevor is scared, will she use that? Rose leaves them to find someone looking more like a big city salesman in the door frame. Would an original really travel alone? He's here for business, so she quickly begins her explanation. Before handing over Elena, she requests her pardon. However, I'm not too sure she correctly requested Trevor's pardon. Still, the old one confirms, "You have my word that I will pardon you."

I begin to see his authority as his presence looms over Elena (that and Nina Dobrev is a fantastic actress giving him everything he needs to be a creep). Slowly bending down, he inhales the scent at her neck confirming she's human. "Hello there." In addition, his authority is not mistaken when he takes off Trevor's head with a backhanded hit. Of course this occurs after he grants him cordial forgiveness.

Elena begs for assistance from Rose, but is unmet. So, she bargains the whereabouts of the moonstone. Elijah has no interest in bargaining so he rips off her vervain necklace and compels her into telling him the location of both the moonstone- and Katherine.

By now, Damon and Stefan arrive with their no "better reason to die" attitude. As Elena's captors attempt to remove her from the house, the brothers distract. Damon pulls Rose out of sight, and Stefan, Elena. Elijah warns, "You can not beat me. I want the girl."

Slowly Elena appears from around the corner. She acts as if she is going to comply, but as Elijah approaches her she throws a vervain bomb at him. (Nice toy, Alaric!) Stefan then tussles with Elijah, but it's Damon who stakes him to the door.
(Really? I know our Salvatore brothers are a fantastic team, but I thought it be more difficult to get rid of an 'old one.')

As Damon turns and sees Elena coming down the stairs he has the biggest smile of relief on his face. Then, Stefan steps into view and gives her a you're-safe-now-my-love hug. Damon's lovestruck smile crumbles away with the beating of his heart. And, is swept away with Elena's unspoken "Thank you."

Finally, Elena returns home. She shares tears of relief from both Jeremy and a recovering Bonnie.

"Guess I just needed my brother."

In the parlor, the Salvatore brothers share a drink to calm the nerves of the day. If Katherine was right, they have to protect Elena, and they agree to do so. In order to assist the united front, Stefan apologizes to Damon for turning him 145 years ago. "I'm sorry. What I did was selfish. I didn't want to be alone." He leaves Damon to ponder this sincere confession.

Soon, Rose makes a visit. Fortunately, she's not there to cause trouble. Finding Stefan, she mentions that she knew Lexi. She doesn't come out and ask to join the Salvatore coven, but she barters that she can help them with Klaus.

Meanwhile, Damon has escaped to Elena's bedroom. Entering bruised and shaken she's hesitant, hoping it's not history repeating. Damon has her necklace, but doesn't give it to her until he confesses: "I love you, Elena. And, it's because I love you that I can't be selfish with you...I don't deserve you, but my brother does." With a tear in his eye, "God, I wish you didn't have to forget this. But you do." Then, he's gone. Elena alone with her necklace securely in place.

Oh my gosh! Heartbreaking! I hope he doesn't do anything harmful. It almost sounded like a suicide note. Ian Somerhalder steals my heart every episode!

On another note, we're back in the abandoned rural house where Elijah was left staked to the door. As an 'old one' they should've disposed of him more thoroughly, because he's not dead. Well, not entirely.

Oh dear.



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Photos: CW