D o w n T h e R a b b i t H o l e

"Tell me you're not serious" came the voice of Caroline over the phone.

"I wish. When we got back from looking for Jeremy, Shane and Bonnie were gone too. Shane needs Bonnie to cast a spell on Jeremy's tattoo in order to find the cure, and he managed to sneak them both out from under our noses. Malik is here but we cannot track them using magic."

"And where's Damon in all this?"

"We had an argument. I thought he was just taking a walk, but then when we went to the beach, we saw signs of a struggle. Meaning somebody probably jumped him and then grabbed him!"

"Do you think Shane took him?"

"No I mean, he's not strong enough to take Damon on, even with the element of surprise. He must have someone, or at least a few others helping him."

"I'm sorry. I wish I was there to help."

"Well, maybe there's something you can do from home" butted in Malik immediately leaning closer to the brunette.

"Anything! Tell me."

"Shane's looking for the cure. We think we can find him. We have pictures of Jeremy's tattoo, but we can't translate the map."

"Unless you get the Hunter's Sword from Klaus."

"Exactly" spoke Malik with a big smile.

"He'll never give up the sword, not even for Malik. He's terrified we'll use the cure against him to make him mortal, and even if he wasn't, he wouldn't want any of us to derive a moment's worth of happiness from being human" interrupted Rebekah while pacing up and down anxiously.

"Well, maybe he doesn't have to give it up. I mean, Klaus is stuck in Elena's house by Bonnie's spell. He can't go anywhere. There is only so many places you can hide a three-foot piece of metal" explained Stefan but Caroline was paying close attention to everything they said.

"I'll find it, don't worry. Just e-mail me photos of Jeremy's tattoo. I'll find the sword, and I'll call you back."

"Thank you, Caroline."

"Bye."

Putting the phone away Elena looked at Malik who nodded and the warlock walked to the water and standing there watched the horizon for a bit while Rebekah wandered around the beach and Elena sat down next to Stefan.

Waiting around wasn't his ideal state not knowing where Bonnie was. There was another witch on the island who managed to block locator spells on both Bonnie and Jeremy, and since he had nothing of Shane on him that was a dead end.

Listening to nature around him helped with his anxiety. Closing his eyes he was gently rocking himself back and forth, focusing on nature. The water hitting the shore, the cold wind, the trees and animals... that was until he began to hear very quiet whispers.

For a moment he sensed the spirits which alarmed him. Breaking himself out of that state turned around and walking closer to Stefan dropped himself on the ground and spoke gently to the vampire.

"I'm getting antsy. I'll try and see what's happening... can I trust you lot to protect my body?"

"We'll keep you safe" offered Elena to which Malik just gave a small smile and closing his eyes began chanting quietly and focusing on his connections he felt a vortex in his stomach, but once he opened his eyes he stood in the Gilbert house.

Walking around he arrived to the kitchen and seeing Kol's burnt body  he slowly leaned down and wanted to touch the blanket when he heard a voice from behind.

"And I thought you've come to visit me."

"Klaus" greeted Malik nonchalantly. "Fancy seeing you here."

"I bet" responded the hybrid and watched the boy with a small smile. "What brings you here all by yourself... shouldn't you be on that island?"

Malik just chuckled seeing Klaus' knowing look and walking closer to him stopped at the other end of the barrier. Looking at the hybrid he stayed quiet for a bit but then spoke gently.

"The barrier is bound to the new moon... you won't be here for too long."

"If I were you, I'd be more worried about what's going to happen once I get out of here."

"I know, I know" sighed the warlock. "Revenge and all."

Klaus remained silent and watched the boy carefully, until he took a step forward arriving right at the barrier and looking into his eyes asked quietly.

"Why are you really here?"

"I wanted to check on Caroline and Tyler but it seems I was too early."

A smirk appeared on Klaus' face who took a step back and sitting down on the coffee table spoke in a teasing tone.

"So you're using me as your anchor? I'm flattered, little witch."

Malik was about to argue with him but when he opened his mouth nothing came out. He couldn't come up with an excuse as to why he used Klaus as an anchor that wouldn't make his ego boost.

Instead, he tried to hide his blush but luckily the door opened up and Caroline strutted in with Tyler. The blonde had a laptop in her hand while Tyler had the sword wrapped in a blanket.

"Well, if it isn't little orphan Lockwood. Come to show how impotent you are against me?" taunted Klaus to which Malik just rolled his eyes.

"I'm just trying to help my friends find the cure" spoke Tyler then revealed the sword from the blanket. "Found this in your attic."

"And you think finding the sword brings you closer to the cure?"

"You tell me. I was playing around with the handle on the ride over, and I found this."

Tyler unwrapped the leather on the top of the sword, revealing some sort of turning device. Klaus got up and walked over to Tyler.

"And what do you think 'this' is?"

"It's called a cryptex" spoke up Malik making his presence known which shocked Tyler and Caroline but only made Klaus' smirk grow wider. "You turn the different sides to the different symbols to get the translation on the other side."

"Malik!" screamed Caroline excitedly  and vamp-sped in front of the warlock, but as she was about to hug him her hands went through his body like the thin air.

"Sorry Care... I'm only here as a projection. It's good to see you though."

"I'm glad to see you too. Alright then... back to business. Cryptex! Now that we have that and the pictures of Jeremy's tattoo. So now all we have to do is cryptex away" Caroline sat down next to Tyler and looked at Klaus with gentle eyes. "If you happened to want to help, we wouldn't stop you."

"Right. Well, might I suggest using the magic of the internet to purchase an Aramaic-to-English dictionary from your nearest retailer."

"What's Aramaic?" asked Tyler turning towards Caroline and Malik, the duo just exchanged a look and spoke at the same time.

"It's a dead language."

"Qetsiyah's native tongue, I'm guessing. You know, even if you had the best dictionary in the world, it could take days to translate" spoke Klaus and sitting down looked at the ground. "Perhaps weeks. "In bas so-teen-too ara-ma-eet.""

"What does that mean?" asked Caroline immediately looking at Malik who shrugged, that just made Klaus have a bigger grin on his face while explaining.

"If only you spoke Aramaic."

On the beach, Rebekah kept raising her cell phone in the air hoping to find a spot for a good connection in case they were to receive a phone call but got only a busy signal. She let out a sigh and gave up, turning around looked at the warlock who was still sitting there on the ground with his eyes closed, his breathing barely noticeable but the tiny stones lifting up from the ground around him ever so slightly made the original sure he was still projecting himself.

She looked at the warlock and Rebekah was really hoping he could get some answers out of Klaus, she wanted the cure and didn't want to loose it because of Shane and the others.

Malik kept his eyes on Caroline and Tyler while standing close to the entrance of Klaus' prison. Caroline had the pictures of Jeremy's tattoo and index cards of the Aramaic symbols lying on the table.

"Okay, this is it. We've translated all the symbols on the tattoo. "Passage inside... requires a young senator, and a pretty flower." Okay, none of this makes sense!" finished Caroline irritated, Malik wanted to comfort her but Klaus had better ideas. 

At first, he spoke in a different language then decided to translate it for everyone seeing their surprised faces.

"Requires a powerful witch and a hunter in full bloom."

"What are you doing?" came the suspicious voice of Tyler, and even Malik turned to the original hybrid and keeping his eyes on him watched intently.

"I don't need to tell you my reasons. Caroline, bring my sword over here."

Caroline has brought the sword close enough for Klaus to read the cryptex, Malik excitedly moved closer to Caroline and kept his eyes on the device while Klaus began translating.

"Silas rests on the far side, the means of his destruction at hand" he glanced at the pictures of Jeremy's tattoo on the computer screen then looked at Caroline. "Turn the cryptex to the right... Stop. The top of the hilt reveals a key to a nautical map. Turn it to the left... Now turn the other piece. There's something else."

Everyone looked at Klaus who spoke in Aramaic, confusing the trio, the warlock was quick to try and get answers out of him.

"What is it?" Klaus instead of responding just looked the boy in the eye and smiled, Malik had a weird suspicion it was something really bad.

"Klaus, what does it mean?" demanded Caroline to which the hybrid just spoke casually.

"Get Rebekah on the phone and you'll find out. I want to speak to my sister."

Caroline was confused, looking at the other two boys Tyler just shrugged while Malik nodded. The blonde walked to the table and sitting next to Tyler rang the original vampire.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Caroline. We have the translation of the tattoo. We're emailing you pictures of the map and instructions right now."

"Got it. Thanks."

"Actually, it was me" clarified Klaus, making his presence known to his sister.

"Nik, you helped?"

"You sound so surprised, little sister."

"Shouldn't I be? I mean, you don't want me to be human. You don't want any of us to be human. Why would you help us find the cure?"

"Maybe I finally realized the longer I stand in the way of what you want, the longer you'll continue to hate me. Perhaps I want my sister to finally know happiness."

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me a hundred times--"

"No more fooling. No more games. I hope you get to live and die, as you wish."

"So do I."

"There is one more thing, Rebekah" and there it was. Malik just let out a sigh and leaned back against the wall, Caroline and Tyler looked up and Klaus spoke quickly. "There is only one dose of the cure. You need to find it first and take it. It's the only way you'll-- "

Tyler panicked and quickly ended the call but Klaus still had a smirk on his face. Caroline gave the original hybrid a disbelieving look then she turned to Malik immediately.

"You have to warn them!"

"Even if I leave now what's to stop Rebekah to murder all three of us without blinking? I'm sorry Caroline but... I'm going to stay out of this. Quite honestly if there is only one dose... I'd rather see it being shoved down Silas' throat."

"I have to go" spoke Tyler suddenly and getting up began walking out, Caroline right after him, trying to calm down the hybrid, leaving Malik and Klaus alone. Once the door closed Malik's gaze turned toward Klaus, only to look him in the eye.

"You know your friends would love to see that cure used on me."

"I won't let them use it on you" responded Malik immediately. "They're idiots thinking that the cure would break your connection to your sire line. I mean... when Esther tried to kill you she wanted to turn you back to mortals, then kill you... and she was certain to take every vampire with you."

"That's what I enjoy the most about you... not just a pretty face" teased Klaus earning a look from the warlock.

"I better head back and keep an eye on them before someone starts slaughtering us all."

"I'll see you later love" was the last thing he heard before he got pulled back into his own body.

Opening his eyes slowly he felt a little dizzy but taking in his surroundings noticed Rebekah standing there trying to hide her worry. Malik just sent her a reassuring smile and slowly standing up turned to Stefan and Elena.

"I think we should get going, Rebekah has the map now."

The warlock walked away from them after picking up his bag. They all followed the map sent to Rebekah, Elena walked in front, Stefan and Rebekah after her and Malik in the back thinking about this whole mess.

He was worried about Bonnie and Jeremy.

"What did Caroline say?" asked Elena suddenly while walking ahead still.

"I don't know. We lost the signal. Come on, this way."

They came to the edge of a cliff and stopped, looking at it Rebekah raised her phone searching for signals while glancing at Malik every now and then but then decided to look away and speak up.

"We need to get down and across. As vampires all we have to do is jump."

"Not all of us are vampires" butted in Malik. "So if you don't mind Rebekah I'll need you to help me out."

"Why Rebekah?" questioned Elena confused to which Malik just shrugged. 

"Oldest, strongest and indestructible... my chances of survival are the highest with her... sorry Elena."

"No, that... kinda makes sense" admitted the doppelgänger then turned to Rebekah. "Um... maybe you should leave the map behind. In case you fall, you don't want anything to happen to the phone."

"Are we doing this again? I thought we were a team?" came the exasperated voice of Rebekah, but Stefan was quick to interrupt them in attempt to ease the situation.

"Guys, we don't have time for this. Elena, you go first. We'll be right behind you."

Elena hesitated before she took a running leap off the edge. Malik just nodded his head in appreciation and watched her disappear. 

Stefan was about to jump when Rebekah threw out her arm and stopped him.

"There's something you should know about the cure."

"What is it?" asked Stefan but their attention was drawn when Malik suddenly stumbled and groan slightly. "Malik, are you alight?"

"It's Bonnie" panted the boy. "I can feel her... she is using magic... NO!"

Before Rebekah or Stefan could have said or do anything Malik clapped his hands together and releasing magic he was engulfed in a powerful vortex that moved everything around them , making the vampires back away slightly until the warlock disappeared from there.

The boy was confused. 

He stood in a cave with rubbles all around him when a moment ago he was standing next to Rebekah and Stefan at the edge of the cliff. It felt different.

He wasn't projecting himself to a distant place.... He sent himself there. But how?

"Bonnie! Bonnie!" came the voice of Jeremy suddenly which drew his attention immediately.

"I'm fine. Look! It worked!"

"Guys?" asked Malik worried that they wouldn't see him but seeing their heads snap to him a big smile appeared on Malik's face. "Oh my god guys, I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Mal!" exclaimed Bonnie and rushed to her brother.

They embraced each other tightly, happy tears on their faces and shortly Jeremy embraced the two of them with a happy laugh. Once he put them down they all turned towards the passage way which has revealed itself to them finally.

"You did it."

"We did it" corrected Bonie looking at Jeremy who smiled and put his shirt back on. Malik looked at Bonnie, his eyes gleaming with happiness seeing her sister safe. Once Jeremy got his shirt on they all began to move towards the new path to find Silas and the cure.

"Hey, guys, I need a hand. My leg's broken" called out Shane breathlessly.

"Best to stay off it then" came the cold answer from Bonnie.

"Bonnie. Wait, come on. Help me! Come on, please!"

The trio however simply ignored his pleas and headed into the tunnels. Getting into the lower chambers they continued to walk along the passage, their flashlights held aloft. Malik walked ahead focusing his magic and senses on any incoming danger while Bonnie and Jeremy continued to talk.

"Look at us. A newbie hunter and a witch who needs adult supervision. How are we the ones that made it this far?"

"I'm glad we're here together."

"Me, too."

Malik slowly looked back and seeing their exchanged look he just smiled and looked around seeing the multiple tunnels ahead of them.

"Where is "here" exactly?" asked Jeremy looking around as well.

"This way" spoke Bonnie with a warm smile and kept her eyes on one of the entrances.

"How do you know?" asked Malik confused and turned her eyes where Bonnie was looking.

"I just know... Hi, Grams."

Jeremy turned his flashlight towards the place Bonnie was looking at but doesn't see anybody. Exchanging a look with Malik the warlock shrugged, but the girl continued to talk.

"What are you doing here, Grams?" continued Bonnie and began walking ahead.

"Bonnie, what's going on?"

"I am so sorry about what happened" spoke Bonnie ignoring Jeremy. "How?"

"Bonnie, stop! "shouted Jeremy and grabbed Bonnie quickly, turning her around tried to snap her out of her state. "Hey, you're not seeing your grams. If she were here, I'd be able to see her, and I can't. It's not her ghost. It's a hallucination. What you're seeing isn't real. It's me. I'm real, okay?"

Malik's face turned sad and slightly painful hearing those words, but he knew Jeremy was right. Bonnie was also visibly upset, she stared at Jeremy but as they touched hands Bonnie took a deep breath and looking around she turned to Malik.

"What happened?"

"Silas. He was in your head. He was trying to control you" explained Jeremy immediately.

"And Shane. Illusions of his wife. That's how Silas controls him" realised Malik and began to worry.

Jeremy looked at Malik who just indicated him to go to Bonnie and support her.

Jeremy was a hunter, Silas couldn't get in his head, it seemed their connection was strong enough for Bonnie to ward of the immortal. Malik knew seeing images of grams would get to her easily. Bonnie had to be safe from mind control.

"You need to block him out of your mind. Listen to my voice and only my voice. I'm gonna get us there."

They began to walk ahead once more, Jeremy guided Bonnie ahead while Malik followed them slowly. He was worried about Silas but also... there was something bugging him at the back of his head and the sensation was familiar enough for the warlock to know... there was something happening.

They found Silas.

Looking at the tomb they noticed how it was shaped like a human figure lying on a table, covered in vine-like decoration. Its hands are holding a small box on its chest.

"This is the cure? How is that supposed to cure every vampire in the world?" questioned Jeremy.

"It doesn't" stated Malik earning their attention. "There is only one dose, intended for Silas and Silas only."

Jeremy and Bonnie watched how Malik walked up to Silas and putting his hand on the box his eyes were on his face. Jeremy walked up to him and tried to wrest the box out of the figure's hands.

"It's stuck. Help me move it."

"It's fossilized in place. It's like trying to bend stone" explained Malik and Bonnie exclaimed suddenly.

"Oh, my god."

"What?" questioned Jeremy and the boys watched as Bonnie backed away while Bonnie looking at the entombed figure. "What, Bonnie?"

"There's only one way we're gonna get the statue to unfreeze."

"How's that?"

"We have to feed him our blood" sighed Malik knowing full well what Bonnie was thinking. "If we want to get the cure out of his hands, we have to wake him up... No!"

Malik was angry, grabbing a stone threw it at the wall, began pacing around while Jeremy violently struck the tomb with a rock.

"Ah, come on!"

"There's got to be a way to do this without raising him" continued Malik and Jeremy nodded and continued to strike the tomb. "Maybe if I..."

Malik quickly walked to the figure and put his hand on the figures' head but the moment his eyes turned golden for a moment Malik breathed in abruptly, his eyes turned white, blood trickled down from his nose and looking up he began speaking in a different language.

"Malik!" screamed Bonnie and Jeremy was quick to pull the boy away from the immortal.

"What's going on?" asked Jeremy worriedly.

Bonnie looked at Malik and seeing his eyes she remembered the time when he touched the moonstone.

"He was careless, Silas is over 2000 year old he should have been more careful. He needs time to get back... let me see."

Bonnie put her hands on Malik's forehead and closing her eyes focused and soon enough the blood disappeared from the boy's nose and his eyes closed. Moments later Malik's breathing became even and it seemed he was sleeping.

"There, he should be fine now. A good sleep and everything will be okay."

"That's good" sighed Jeremy and turned back to the tomb. "But this is still an issue."

"We'll find a way—" started Bonnie when suddenly she was cut off short as Vaughn drove a knife into her back. 

She fell to the ground screaming out in pain which alarmed Jeremy and his anger rose looking at the stranger.

"Don't listen to the witch, boy. We have to raise Silas, and we have to do it now" spoke the stranger and walked past Bonnie and Malik.

"Bonnie!" exclaimed Jeremy and ran over to her.

Vaughn headed towards the tomb and sliced open his hand with a knife, allowing the blood to flow into Silas' mouth.

"What are you doing?" questioned Jeremy looking at the other hunter.

"What you should have done already. I'm going to raise Silas. Then I'm going to kill him."

Jeremy was quick to move, he attempted to attack Vaughn from behind but the older man threw him off easily.

They engaged in hand-to-hand combat but with his knowledge and experience Vaughn easily got Jeremy into a chokehold.

"You're a bit confused, Mr. Gilbert. We're on the same team here."

Jabbing Vaughn and breaking his hold on him, Jeremy managed to get a grip on Vaughn from behind, turning around their situation.

"You stabbed my friend!" it seemed Jeremy wasn't strong enough to hold the man, they tussled a bit more and Vaughn threw Jeremy over his head.

"I don't mess around with witches."

"You can't use the cure on Silas" grunted Jeremy crouched on the ground.

"It's what it's meant for! What else would you use it for? Your friends... Your sister... Sorry, lad. It wasn't meant for that. Nothing personal" he bent down toward Jeremy but suddenly Elena swooped in and attacked Vaughn, about to go for his jugular when Jeremy stopped her quickly.

"Don't! The hunter's curse!"

Elena paused and instead threw Vaughn to the ground, knocking him out unconscious. She helped Jeremy up and looking at the boy spoke in a worried tone.

"You okay?"

Jeremy nodded weakly and the boy went to Bonnie, crouching down next to her spoke reassuringly.

"Elena's here now, okay? Everything's gonna be all right."

"We did it" spoke Bonnie weakly in an attempt to cheer up Jeremy.

"Come on. We gotta get you up" came the voice of the doppelgänger.

"You have to help Bonnie. The hunter stabbed her, you have to feed her."

"Okay. I just need to make sure that you're okay first."

"I'm fine. What are you doing?"

"The cure. Jeremy, after everything we've been through, it's right there" gestured the girl behind them to Silas' tomb.

"It'll be there after we help Bonnie" argued the boy and he crouched down to Bonnie again.

"God, I forgot what a brat you were."

"What?"

"I'm done playing nice."

She suddenly grabbed Jeremy and vamp-sped him over to the tomb, sliced open his wrist and held it over the stone figure's mouth.

"Katherine" breathed out Jeremy looking at the vampire.

"It's been too long, little Gilbert" smirked the girl but noticed how Silas' body started to move. "Sorry. Family reunion is gonna have to be cut short."

She pulled him up again and sank her fangs into his neck, then forced the screaming Jeremy down again, his bleeding neck over Silas' mouth.

Silas' arm swung up and held Jeremy in place by his neck.

Katherine saw the box containing the cure finally freed from Silas' grasp, without a moment of hesitation she took it then disappeared out of the chamber.

Silas grabbed Jeremy's throat, strangling him before snapping his neck with a loud crack.

Jeremy fell to the floor, his eyes open but lifeless.

Bonnie lied nearby, unable to move.

Malik laid close to Jeremy, his eyes closed but suddenly a tear fell down his cheek, feeling all the pain, suffering and death of his best friend.