Angela Kerecz

Caroline does her best to be there for Stefan and Elena in a tough time. Damon tries to convince Stefan to help him uncover Professor Shane’s (recurring guest star David Alpay) motives, but Stefan is intent on carrying out a different plan with Klaus. At the annual Miss Mystic Falls Pageant, Elena and Caroline give April (recurring guest star Grace Phipps) advice on which dress to wear, while Tyler and Hayley (recurring guest star Phoebe Tonkin) work together on a secret project and Damon confronts Professor Shane with his suspicions. Alarmed by the vivid nightmares he’s having, Jeremy turns to Matt for help, but the situation escalates sooner than anyone expected. Olympic gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas guest stars.

Jeremy is furious when Klaus tries to control him by putting Matt’s life in danger. Damon coaches Jeremy as he prepares to take on Klaus’ new vampires, but they find that Kol (recurring guest star Nathaniel Buzolic – Out of the Blue) has beaten them to it. Kol makes it clear that he will stop at nothing to convince everyone to give up the search for the cure. Looking for a new ally, Rebekah (recurring guest star Claire Holt) reminds Stefan that they were once close friends. When Sheriff Forbes (recurring guest star Marguerite MacIntyre) and Mayor Hopkins (recurring guest star Rick Worthy) question Shane (recurring guest star David Alpay) about his involvement in the Founders’ Council deaths, Bonnie steps in with questions of her own, and Shane’s responses push Bonnie to the edge of her powers. Elena negotiates with Klaus to keep Jeremy safe, but when danger suddenly appears from a totally unexpected enemy, Elena comes up with her own daring plan for Jeremy.

As a Winter Wonderland–themed party fills the streets of Mystic Falls, Stefan and Caroline find themselves at odds with Tyler over his plans for Klaus and his hybrids. When Caroline proposes a solution to their problem, Hayley (recurring guest star Phoebe Tonkin) finds a dramatic way to make it clear that she is not on board. Later, Klaus makes a discovery that leads to chaos and violence. Meanwhile, Elena and Damon retreat to the Gilbert lake house to help Jeremy conquer some dangerous inner demons with the help of Bonnie and Professor Shane (recurring guest star David Alpay), who reveals a piece of ancient history that leaves them all speechless.

Terrifying hallucinations leave Elena shaken and confused, causing her to make a dangerous mistake. After giving Stefan some very disturbing news about Elena, Klaus takes matters into his own hands. Professor Shane (recurring guest star David Alpay) reveals a story of ancient witchcraft to Damon and Bonnie. With help from Klaus and Stefan, Jeremy begins a new chapter in his life. Finally, Elena makes a painful personal confession to Stefan, and Matt gives Damon startling new information about Professor Shane.

Appearing unexpectedly at Mystic Falls High, Rebekah (recurring guest star Claire Holt) wastes no time trying to force Stefan, Elena and Caroline to answer her questions about the search for a cure, leading to a bombshell piece of information from Elena. When Bonnie’s father, Rudy Hopkins (recurring guest star Rick Worthy – Supernatural), accepts the role of Interim Mayor, he makes it a priority to protect his daughter, who isn’t at all comfortable with the role he suddenly wants to play in her life. Professor Shane (recurring guest star David Alpay) continues to encourage Bonnie to believe in her powers, but he soon finds himself in danger when he reveals too much to the wrong person. Later, Caroline does her best to comfort Tyler after a violent confrontation. Meanwhile, at the lake house, Damon and Matt train Jeremy, trying to raise his game as a hunter, but Klaus is impatient with their progress and intervenes to speed up the process.