12. Postcards from the Edge

Complete story — includes the ending

Back in Whitmore, Caroline's supernatural pregnancy is affecting her as the babies are siphoners, siphoning away her vampirism magic causing her to desiccate. Valerie tries swapping their magic source for a magic-filled talisman but it is in vain. Officer Penny learns about Mystic Falls brimming with vampires from Matt. Bonnie, Mary Lou and Nora search for Rayna Cruz, "The Huntress" finding her old and feeble in a psychiatric ward. Puzzled, the Heretics carry on their search whist Rayna attacks Bonnie who is saved by Enzo. It is revealed that Enzo sent the 'X' cards to track Rayna; he burns her to ashes only to revive her back in her young true self. Elsewhere, Damon returns to his road-kill antics, picks on Julian and indulges in dangerous games with his mates. The fights esculate with Julian stepping up to fight him. Stefen arrives and begs Damon to stop but Damon continues to fight. Damon begs Julian for death. Stefan interferes and finally gets Damon to step out of the ring. Eventually, Damon discloses that he burned Elena alive. Stefan punches him, and returns to his car. He is now hell bent on killing Julian. Damon looks on bleeding and remorseful. Back in Mystic Falls, Valerie and Stefan finally take on Julian as Stefan catches him off guard and stakes him while Valerie keeps them cloaked. Back in the Salvatore boarding house, Damon gets an unexpected visitor, a brunette (she saved him during one of the ring fights) who kisses him. Wallowing in emptiness, Damon gazes into her eyes accepting the bitter truth of fate and as a final jolt of mental agony, he bends down to kiss her back. Flashforward: Three years from now, near the Dallas news station, Matt vervains Stefan after freeing Caroline (as shown in the previous episode). Inside the news station, the unseen vampire hunter is finally revealed to be a young Rayna, who looks on at Damon as he sits there tied to a chair weakened by werewolf toxin.