Tensions ran high among Mystic Falls' vampires, hybrids and vampire hunters in this week's episode of 'The Vampire Diaries' entitled "My Brothers Keeper." After an unexpected breakup of Stefan (Paul Wesley) and newbie vamp Elena (Nina Dobrev), things between the Salvatore brothers are anything but okay.
Stefan isn't taking the breakup too well and is leaning on Caroline (Candace Accola) for moral support. While in the woods exercising to ease his frustrations, Stefan is attacked by a very unhappy Original hybrid Klaus (Joseph Morgan), who is mad that Stefan told his brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder) about the vampire cure. Luckily for Stefan, Klaus has no plans to kill him for his slip.
Back at the Salvatore house, Damon meets Stefan as he's making his way out of the house. Damon, unsure of his brother's latest moodiness, is surprised to hear about his and Elena's breakup. Despite the obviously good news, Damon pretends not to care and instead tells Stefan what he knows about the vampire hunter's tattoo map and his weariness of Professor Shane (David Alpay).
Damon tries to get Stefan to help him out or at the very least bond with him, but Stefan is not up for it. "Let's not pretend that this isn't the best day of your life," Stefan tells his older brother before leaving him.
Over at the Lockwood estate, Caroline is in full preparation mode for the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant. As the previous winner, she's taken on the responsibility of organizing the event and has enlisted Elena's help. The always in-control vamp, who is clearly on Team Stefan, becomes increasingly annoyed at Elena's unnerving and increasing affections for Damon. However, the two don't have much time to dwell on Elena's love life when Professor Shane surprisingly shows up at the event and says he's a judge for the pageant.
Meanwhile, Elena's little brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) is experiencing some super strength powers after being awoken as a hunter and member of The Five. Good friend Matt (Zach Roerig) tells Jeremy that he should probably tell his sister what he's going through before he hurts her. Despite Matt's concern, Jeremy affirms that he "would never hurt my sister."
Without Jeremy knowing, Stefan is on a mission to get Jer's hunter's mark to grow. In order to do that, Stefan heads over to the hospital and turns a convicted murderer into a vampire. Stefan apparently plans to have Jeremy kill the newly turned vampire so that his hunter's mark continues to grow.
Back at the pageant planning, Klaus manages to convince Caroline to let him be her date after he reminds her that she owes him for sacrificing one of his hybrids for Elena's sanity. Meanwhile, Caroline's possibly ex-boyfriend Tyler (Michael Trevino) and his shewolf friend Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) continue their efforts to un-sire Tyler's fellow hybrids' bond to Klaus.
While hanging out with Matt, the youngest Gilbert reveals that he's having intense and murderous dreams about his vampire sister. Matt seems to reach a boiling point and tells Jeremy that he needs to tell Elena what's going on, or he'll tell her himself. Jeremy reluctantly agrees to tell her.
The big day arrives and Caroline and Elena are helping April (Grace Phipps) pick a dress for the pageant. Damon un-expectantly arrives, catching Elena's undivided attention. As he heads out, Elena catches up to him to talk to him about her breakup with Stefan. "Stefan told me about the breakup," Damon says. "I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not."
Right when Elena spills that he's the real reason behind the breakup, Professor Shane arrives, diverting Damon's attention in the process. Damon, increasingly suspicious of the professor, questions Shane about his connection to the town pastor and accuses him of the mass murder of the town council.
Meanwhile, Jeremy, who has promised to be April's date, answers a message from Stefan who has called him back to his house. Jeremy heads over to the Salvatores only to find Stefan's new vampire chained up and ready to be killed. Not taking no for an answer, Stefan forces Jeremy to kill the newly vamps murderer so his hunter's mark will grow.
Over at the Lockwoods, Klaus shows up to the pageant in a stylish suit, prompting Caroline to call him perfect. At the same time, Tyler shows up with his date Hayley right before the contestants of the pageant are announced. As the contestants are called, Elena notices that Jeremy is nowhere to be found. Matt decides to tell her about Jeremy's dream, causing her to worry about her brother.
Elena goes on to share her concerns to Caroline and Damon, who helps calm her down. Caroline, frustrated at Elena for her bizarre behavior towards Damon tells Elena that she's completely changed since becoming a vampire.
After killing his second vampire as a hunter, a very pissed off Jeremy stakes Stefan in the gut before heading back to the Lockwoods. The youngest Gilbert seems to be filled with an increased desire to kill vampires-including his sister. He suits up ready to kill a small army of vampires and soon runs into his sister.
Meanwhile, Damon approaches Shane again and demands answers about Shane's purpose for being in Mystic Falls. After revealing that he's a vampire, Damon finds out that even after finishing the hunter's mark, they will need a Bennett witch to help them break the spell for the vampire's cure.
A couple rooms away, Elena runs into Jeremy, who's hurt his hand enough to draw blood to cause Elena to vamp out. Before she can get away, Jeremy stakes his sister in the neck and prepares to stake her through the heart. Thankfully, Matt walks in just in time to distract him long enough to have Stefan swoop in and save her.
On his way out, Stefan tells Elena that Jeremy is the only key to saving her and making her human again. But Elena firmly tells him that she won't risk her brother's humanity to save her own. "You don't have to love me like this," she tells him, adding, "The old Elena died..."
Over at the Gilbert house, Jeremy starts to pack his bags to leave but is confronted by Matt who tells him that Elena has moved out and he has moved in to keep an eye out for him. Elena heads over to the Salvatores to stay with them, causing Stefan to find a new place to crash and leaving Elena alone with Damon. After drinking some whiskey, things between Elena and Damon quickly escalate to kissing and presumably sex.
Stefan, unaware that his ex-girlfriend and older brother are getting steamy, tries to figure out with Caroline why Elena has been acting so differently since making her transformation. In a moment of clarity, Caroline realizes that Elena is somehow sired to Damon.
The next episode of 'The Vampire Diaries,' entitled "We'll Always Have Bourbon Street," airs December 6 at 8 p.m. on The CW.
WATCH THE PROMO FOR "WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE BOURBON STREET"